a couple beach days

We have had such a great time the last couple days on vacation with some friends at the beach. We are trying to get the last few days of summer fun before the kids go back to school. Yesterday we went on a little road trip with some walkie talkies in each of our cars. The boys in one vehicle and the girls in the other. We had so much fun laughing the whole way from destination to destination. A little shopping, a little eating, a little walking, a whole lot of laughing and talking. It is so great to have such good friends. What a blessing they are to us. The girls all had their stuffed animals on their laps and Laine is in front of her face. But this is about as good as it gets with a timer on the camera. What fun we have had.

camping trip

We haven't been camping in a reallllllly long time. Like about 5 years. Paige was 2 and still wearing diapers last time we did it. I really don't care for it so much. My husband would love to go alot more. So Friday afternoon the opportunity was given to use a camp site my sister and her husband had reserved for the weekend. Only they weren't going to be able to use it Friday night. So they offered it to us. It was very spontaneous. We decided to go about 3:30 in the afternoon and were all packed and ready to go by 5:00. (They had already set the tent, air mattresses and campfire wood already) That is pretty good! We took our cooler and hobo pie ingredients. For those that don't know what a hobo pie is. You take 2 pieces of bread and butter the outside and then you fill with anything. We made pizza. Sauce, cheese and pepperoni. It makes a little pocket. We had marshmallows, and chips and pop too. We had a good time. I didn't sleep great but that is OK. Laine was so cute. She loved camping and this morning after we had walked to the bathroom she said "are we going back to our new home now"? I love that home to her is anywhere her family is. Paige drew and colored about a 20 page "my camping trip book". It was so creative. She loves to draw. Last night in the tent she just colored and colored. I read a book. Jeff took a little nap. It was so nice just to relax and have fun with no TV or anything. We played card games. Took a walk. Fun family time. What a great day. We really need to do this again.

our favorite vacation spot

Over at Kelly's Korner she is hosting a show us your favorite vacation spots. This one is mine. Frankfort MI. We have been going here for the last 10 years.

walking the beach...

looking for Petoskey stones...

at the beach...

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Dad and Paige a few summers ago

this summer at another beach...





Mom and the girls

trip to the beach

This week we took a little 4 day trip to the beach with just the girls (my mom, myself and the girls.) We had alot of fun (minigolf, beach, swings, shopping, ice cream, and spending time with grammie). We sooooooo didn't want to come home but I have to go back to work Friday so we made the 3 hour trip home today. I love summer!

the fun days of summer

swing to the stars

summer days on vacation

i hope as my girls grow older and have their own families that they will pass along the things from our vacations that make them special. i love our summer trips to the same quaint beach town. it has a wonderful ice cream shop with a walk up window not a drive through. it has an A and W but not a McDonald's. it has a drive in movie theater. it has friendly people who introduce the girls to their dogs and expect us to say hello next time we pass them on a walk. it has beautiful scenic drives along the beach, into the vineyards and the along a simple little river. it has a sandy beach just waiting for the next castle to be built. it has sunsets that can't be beat and petoskey stone hunting trips that we always go on. i could go on about more memories...and maybe another day i will. i love how coming here to this town help us reconnect and spend time together. i love my family.

looking forward

Spring break we are taking the girls to Disney World and we can't wait! This will be Laine's first time there (the last time she was inside me so it really doesn't count). Paige is thrilled to show Laine all of what she remembers and now she will have someone to share it with her. I will take lots and lots of photos and videos. I am so looking forward to being in this magical place again. I plan to turn into a kid again. Only 2 more months!

summer memories and a reminder of the simple things...

Just scrapbooking a few summer pictures lately to help warm me up for the cold. This is my favorite town...Frankfort, Michigan. We have gone for at least 10 years and usually a couple times a summer. We are fortunate to have a special grammie who owns a vacation place there. We love all the simple things about this area. We enjoy coffee and breakfast from a cute little bakery, drive in movies, 4th of July parade, hiking in Sleeping Bear Dunes, cherries from Cherry Republic, walks on the beach to find Petoskey Stone and building sand castles. What I love most is the relaxed pace and being with family and friends.

Just sharing a lemonade with sissy

Last week we spent the week at Lake Michigan for our last 2008 summer trip. We got to visit Glen Arbor and a store/restaurant Cherry Republic http://www.cherryrepublic.com/. It has been a tradition each year that we look forward to. It is everything cherry including wine, candles, butter, salsa, dips, candy (our favorites are cherry sours and dark chocolate covered cherries) and so much more. The girls shared a cherry lemonade during lunch. They had awesome Cherry Chicken sandwiches and pitas with yummy cherry dip. They had Cherry pop too. It was so good!! Looking forward to next summer to enjoy it again. The memories are priceless. But for tonight we are preparing for the first day of second grade. Oh! What to wear?

lake michigan

Just a view that we love every summer (sometimes more than once if we're lucky!) I remember as a kid we visited my aunt and a lighthouse in her town and thought it was so cool. My sister and I climbed to the top. Our little legs had to work so hard to make it to the top but we did. Back then they were special because I only saw them a few times during all my childhood. Now, I look at lighthouses every summer and a couple things come to mind. One, is that the lighthouse guides all those boats who need direction to make it back to shore safely. It is bright, and sturdy and a beacon to guide. It also guides even when it can't be seen. There are times when we have been standing on the beach directly in front of the lighthouse and can't see it because of the fog. The mist floats around and clouds the sky and the boats still can return safely because of the loud mellow horn calling them home.

Faith is like a lighthouse. It is the substance of things hoped for but not seen. Sometimes that path is not always clear. Thankfully God gives us his word to light our little paths. To get us closer to Him. But even when we can't always see exactly what or where to go...he calls us and waits for us to trust in His plans.

I am planning to make more time to reading and studying the Bible this fall. Not just that but memorizing it too. Wish me luck!

times are changing

Well, pretty soon we will be experiencing cool crisp fall air, returning to schedules, tackling homework, attending football games, driving Paige to tennis and swim and maybe piano lessons, watching the colors of the leaves turn, new teachers, and going to school. But until then...

beauty

just a pretty little flower along a path at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park in Michigan...

relaxing times...

need I say more?

summer fun

little shoes......





















swings















cousins on vacation

4th of July

We spent the 4th of July in Frankfort Michigan. It was our second trip this summer and so far we are having a great time. We watched the 4th of July parade yesterday morning and the fireworks last night. They were awesome right off the pier at the beach! We went out on the boat with some friends who are up here on Thursday. Our family (cousins, grammie, and aunt and uncle) are here too and it has been beautiful. What memories!

Our Favorite things this trip:

1) Fireworks

2) Beach days with cousins

3) Swimming in Lake Michigan

4) 4th of July Picnic

5) Homemade breakfast by grammie

6) 4th of July Parade

7) Moomers Ice Cream

8) Walks on the beach

9) Being with our family

10) Boating with friends

Good Bye Lake Michigan

Our trip to Frankfort comes to an end as we headed home today. Here is a picture of the girls and I. Laine stayed healthy the whole trip, thank God. Paige went swimming most every day, Jeff went fishing a couple times, and I tried reading some new books. I recommend the following...1) The Last Lecture, 2) Animal,Vegetable, Miracle and also 3) If you Lived Here, I'd know your name. We went to the beach in a small little town called Empire on Friday. I was so refreshed and renewed after spending an hour or so there. The girls played on the playground and Jeff and I just sat and watched them play and then walked the beach and watch the waves come in. The waves were so strong and splashing and the rough surf caused the sand to make the water an aqua/blue color...it was so beautiful. I wish I could bottle that right up, so on days when I can't figure out how to relax I can pop that lid right off. I always get a lump in my throat when we have to leave. I loved not having a routine for a while. What do you do to relax and renew yourself? JenD

The views of the Mackinaw Bridge

The last couple days we went to Mackinaw Island and Mackinaw City. We also saw the Mackinaw Bridge from both places. A couple things struck me about seeing this enormous bridge that connects our Upper and Lower Peninsula in Michigan. The views stepping back were so much better than when we were on the bridge. The most interesting views were from both the mainland and the island. When we were on the bridge it was hard to see the beauty, the patterns, the uniqueness, and the enormity of this bridge. It looked ordinary, regular, and normal. The bridge didn't change though, just my perspective of it. Isn't that just like our lives..... Our normal, routine, simple, stressful, ordinary days are spectacular when we just take time to take a step back and enjoy "the view". I know we all have reasons why it is hard to take a step back (jobs, illnesses, stress, finances, and schedules). But when you can... just do it! This is as much a reminder for me as anything. Sometimes the routines of the day seem boring and normal but I know that I am blessed beyond measure with these extraordinaire moments with my husband and girls. With God I am able to appreciate all these times. What is your favorite view?

Lake Michigan

What I love about Frankfort Michigan. (It was suppose to be top ten but I had to add a couple)

1) The sunsets

2) The coffee and goodies at the Crescent Bakery (and the fritters of coarse)

3) The sand

4) Sitting on the beach with a good book (This time it is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch)

5) Drive in movies (even though the girls fell asleep)

6) My favorite little bookstore

7) Relaxing

8) Sleeping in

9) The fog rolling in (it is mysterious and magically the way it drifts into town and down the streets)

10) Spending time with Jeff and the girls and doing it all or nothing at all....

11) Papano's Pizza

12) French Silk Ice cream