Vacation to Remember

This summer has been as glorious as was expected. We find that whenever there are extended periods of non-working, such glory results. Our final excursion of the summer was a family trip that circled Lake Michigan. We took off and started the trip with a visit to Ben's great-grandparents and extended family. From there we traveled north to the Mackinac where magic prevailed once again. We spent time throwing rocks into a large body of water (which, if you have been following the life of Sy, you may remember that this has been a favorite past time for most of his 4.9999999 year existence!)

We walked along the beaches and boardwalks, ending at a highly recommended dining location that lived up to its praises!! Darrows is the place. to. be. and to eat–to eat white fish and pie. Dutch Triple Berry pie is the food of angels!

Might be excited... not sure 

Listening for mer-people?

Then we walked backed along the beaches to our hotel/motel at sunset––MAGICS! At bedtime, we suited up and went swimming in the rather suspect hotel/motel pool, where the depth was in question, for the bottom of the pool was never seen! #momisnotgettinginbutgoodenoughforthekids

The next morning, we made our way across the Mighty Mack and into the promised-land of the Yoop! We stopped and climbed the lookout at Castle Rock, ate pasties, and hung out at a beach.

Oh yeah, there was plenty of complaints of exhaustion!

Two of them can read, only one has the excuse of not knowing this was wrong!

Mission accomplished #CAKE

That evening, we arrived at our destination (my sister's boyfriend's house) and my parents and sister joined us for a weekend of water sport adventuring! It was nothing short of a magical dreamland where dinners are eaten at 10:00 pm and children can be found roasting marshmallows on fires long into the double digits of the night, for there is just too much fun to be had! Early bedtimes are for quitters!

Wait, who is driving this thing?

I mean, seriously! #icingontop

If we didn't already know it, this girl is at home on the water!

Tallest wooden ski jump in North America

They found raspberries. They cleaned house!

Always has been a sweetheart!

Because we are in that phase!

K-1, J-0

Wait for it... K-1, J-1

Again, with the sweetheart!

Even Oma joined in the on the water-sporting. Not sure why she has her head buried?

Oh, that must be why!

Vacation sleeping!

The end found us too soon, and we made the trek home through Wisconsin. But we got to see more family, which helped to soften the blow of a Vacation to Remember coming to to an end!

I Married Up

I married up, I have always known this but I am often floored by this fact when it comes to watching my husband being a dad. This man was created to be a husband and a daddy. He is irrationally crazy about the three of us, which is contagious, both emotionally and expressively, in this family.

He has created a family that truly loves being together, though he does not judge when I have moments of needed solitude. In fact, the exact opposite for he takes the time to know me well. (#imarriedatherapist)

He expresses daily, truly daily, that he wants nothing more than to soak up as many minutes with us as he can. He is grumpy when he hasn't had enough time with us. He scrutinizes over his schedule to make sure that he is deliberate about savoring "us."

He is the most intentional person I know, he has a reason for all things from what toys the kids are playing with, to the chosen words that come out of his mouth, to the actions he performs in full view of little eyes. He reads the long books at bed time. He cuddles in the chair long after bed time. He snuggles in the morning and is the parent they seek out in the night.

When I asked them what is their favorite thing about their daddy?

He is the "silliest" daddy with a "heart" they and I love times infinity + infinity.

I love being loved by this man!

Poor little blue-eyed boy has troubles adjusting to the sunshine...

This girl is just straight crazy!

Family Reunion 2015

This weekend we made our annual trip to the MI to reunite with family. Our offspring were off the charts excited to head to MI, to see Oma and Papper, and because they have reached the ages where they have distinct memories they were stoked about this year's family reunion. Their excitement reminded me of when I was a kid and pretty much all of our "family vacations" were visiting family in Michigan. We would have trouble falling asleep the night before because we were too excited about getting up at the crack of dawn to begin our 12 hour trek to the mother land. Thursday morning, in the hour of 6, we were greeted by two fully dressed, all the way from underwear to smiles, little-big kids ready to get on the road!
It appears that for all four of us the good times start in the car. We love the long car trip, the being together, the snacks, the conversations, the sing-a-longs, the snacks, the naps, the movies, the snacks... I love that my family loves our family! Yeah there is crying, kicking on seats, and arguing but at least it is all in a "novel" location!

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At this point I am going to dump a bunch of family pictures, so considered yourself warned!

This year it was COLD! The kids were looking forward to swimming in the lake again, but mom and dad are party-poopers and forbade the action. Though they found other ways to have fun and get wet in the process.

Look alive, he doesn't do this but once a year!

He believes his dad is the BEST fisherman. EVER.

BOY!

Wading through the "fishing" lake and she is upset she got dirty. There was an increased lack of sympathy.

Told ya they would figure out something!

Abandon ship!

What could go wrong with a group of kids all spinning themselves into delirium?

Oh yeah, this is what could happen.

That should leave a mark.

Serious work

Attempt 1 at getting a collection of cousin together.

Attempt 2 has my son pouring sand on his sister's head.

Attempt 3 is the best we could do.

These two...

Papper and mini-Papper! Say cheese... literally!

Even Mimi thinks these two are cray-cray