Trip to Michigan

We just returned from a fun filled week in Michigan visiting Nana, Papa France, Aunt Ammy, Aunt Kristen and Uncle Baron.  I don't think we could have fit much more into our nine days there:  we slept in and had leisurely mornings, ate our birth weights in fresh blueberries that we picked at a nearby farm, swung on the tree swings, pontooned on the lake, swam in Lake Michigan, ate twice our birth weights in desserts, attended a fun (but very warm) family reunion, played lots of cards, corn hole, and Monopoly, picked loads of raspberries, watched the birds, met a possum and a raccoon, fell asleep to thunder and lightening, played with the family dog, Skotta, and took walks through the woods.  In addition, we  biked on the charming, tree covered, thirty-five mile Kal Haven trail (Corey), paddle boarded like a champ (Natalie), fished in a downpour (Audrey) and finished two books on a must read list (Kim).  It was a great trip and we miss everyone already!

Thanks for a great trip, all!  

And thanks for most of my pictures, Kristen!

2nd Tooth Fairy Visit!

Audrey lost her 2nd tooth the day before we left for camping.  She was thrilled to receive a rare $2 bill under her pillow and is now excitedly expecting  $3 and $4 bills for her next two teeth.

  It was VERY wiggly and I think kind of bothering her a bit so she took matters into her own hands and plucked it out one night after dinner.  This kid can be so fearless.  She was pretty proud of herself so she wrote a note to the tooth fairy to leave under her pillow!

"I pulled my second tooth.  Love, Audrey."

Priceless!

Camping

Over the 4th of July weekend we went camping at Willow Creek, off of Highway 49.  We had a great experience there last year so we went back for more fun, food and gold panning on the banks of a charming little creek.  Our campsite this year was just as charming, over a little footbridge and under some beautiful shade trees, but the mosquitoes were relentless day and night.  It's too bad, really, because those little bugs can spoil an otherwise very successful weekend in the woods.  

 Audrey was hit the hardest. We counted 25 bites on her face alone (and that's with the bug balm applied to every exposed inch that we've used successfully in Michigan for years!) but once we arrived home and the swelling started to recede we determined it might have been a combination of bug bites and poison oak.  Oy. Audrey, forever the optimist, said, "those bugs sure love me, don't they, Mama!"  They sure do!  She was just happy that calamine lotion was pink as she spent the last day of our trip covered in it!

 But the kids had fun despite the itchies.  They played in the creek all day every day, enjoyed campfire meals and desserts and loved story time in the tent each night.  I, on the other hand, have never been so happy to see my house upon returning home.  We camped three nights this year which the kids were clearly ready for but I'm not sure I was.  

We were in rough shape on the ride home...I'm not sure Audrey saw a hairbrush all weekend!  But both kids were all smiles!

Lala Visit!

Summer fun continues around here.  Grandma Lala came for a week and we had so much fun having her here.  The girls kept her very busy coordinating art projects, reading challenges and living room theater productions.  So fun.  She even taught them how to play Monopoly and their beginner level endurance was impressive...I think their first game lasted more than 3 hours! Thank you, Mom, for having so much energy for them.  I miss our nightly walks around the neighborhood! My fitbit numbers have plummeted since you left!

Camp

The girls have loved the first two weeks of their summer camps.  The first week we all participated in our church VBS and, as always, it was an inspiring week.  We love our church so much and this program every summer is a big part of why we love it.  The youth pastors, as well as the youth and parent volunteers, do such a fantastic job connecting with these kids.

 And this last week they participated in an outdoor Arts and Animals camp at Sienna Ranch.  They milked goats, collected eggs, held chickens, met a peacock named Kevin, explored a giant tree house, created fairy houses, felted wool pouches and tied dyed bandannas and came home dusty and tired every day.  Natalie had a rough first few days as she dealt with a few campers that were less than kind and cooperative but she stuck it out and ended up having an enjoyable week. Audrey, however, could have spent each night in the treehouse and been perfectly content!  She loved every minute of this camp and is bummed it's over.  Next summer they both want to go back;  Natalie wants to do the woodworking camp and Audrey wants to do the horse riding camp.