This Weekend.

For quite a while, Ben's wonderful sister and brother-in law, have been talking about having our kids up to stay with them in Grand Rapids for the weekend.  A couple months ago, they set the date for this past weekend.  I'll be honest...I wasn't necessarily counting the time down.  I love my kids and I feel like I already don't see them enough, so the idea of spending a weekend away from them when I am already away from them far too much during the week was tough for me.  I had threatened Brooke that she might just see me hiding behind the pinball machine at Craig's Cruisers...watching them from afar.  Not at all because I didn't trust them, but just because I would miss them.

I'm guessing Brooke took this as some sort of hint, and found a last minute travel deal and forwarded it to Ben.  So...on Friday afternoon, we dropped the kids off in Grand Rapids...on our way to Mackinac Island.  Pretty awesome sister-in-law, huh?

We had an amazing weekend.  I have a serious love for Michigan.  You know, when I was younger I always assumed that I would move away to some other better state in our country.  After years of travel for fun and for work...I really realized...the grass isn't always greener somewhere else.  This state of ours is pretty darn amazing.  I'm in love with it and every time I get the chance to wander through this awesome state, I take it.  This weekend was no different.  Wanna see a few pics?

There is one way to Mackinac Island.  Over the water.  So...you can leave from either Mackinaw City or St. Ignace to reach the Island by ferry.  So...we left from St. Ignace, which is part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  You know why?  You have to go over the Mackinac Bridge to get there!  It may be 15 minutes longer to drive.  Well worth it.

Here is another view of the bridge, from the ferry.

Our Bed and Breakfast for the weekend.  It was beautiful.

Our transportation for the weekend.  No cars on Mackinac.  Bike, walk, or horse-drawn carriage.  Your choice.

We took a bike ride around the Island (about an 8 mile trek).  It was my favorite part of the weekend.  The views were amazing.

My favorite guy.

 

Arch Rock.

We visited The Grand Hotel.

It's like the saying, "When in Rome."  In this case, it's "When in Mackinac...sit on the porch at the Grand Hotel and drink Big Porch Ale and Lemonade."

It's the largest porch in the United States, you know.  If Bell's names a beer after it, it must be famous.

 We even found an executive putt putt course with 18 pins and real greens to conquer.  He beat me.

The whole weekend together was wonderful.  I missed my kids like crazy, but I loved our time together.  That's what it's all about.  Love.

Oh - and back to that amazing sister and brother...yeah.  Well, I was getting wonderful texts with photos like these of my kids having fun.  So cool.  They made memories to last a lifetime too.

Hope your weekend was fab.

The Fourth in Photos

We had an amazing day yesterday...celebrating our great Nation's Independence Day.  It was...simply put...perfect.  We began our day at the Richland Parade.  I've told you before how much I love my town and all it takes is the Fourth of July parade to get me gushing again.  People line the streets of our downtown area in anticipation of the parade.  Friends and family get together to watch.  Last year, Jillian and I were in the parade, but this year...she decided it might be more fun to watch...and catch candy.

So, of course, our very favorite parade entrant included our very favorite guys...

 ...And the whole AAA Gull Road gang.

 After catching more candy than Jillian received on Halloween, and cheering on our friends in so many different floats, it was on to several beach parties for the day.  We had a blast.  I won't mention jumping in the water in a dress to help Jillian when a few too many waves were sweeping her into the dock...

The evening ended in the most perfect way.  On a boat, listening to live music from a party, while we waited to watch the fireworks from the water.  My wonderful mother-in-law brought salted caramels and snacks.  Perfection, I tell you.

The sunset was beautiful.

 Not sure how this could be the best picture of Ben and I...but it was. 

And a few blurry iPhone shots of the fun.

 Hope your Fourth was perfect, too.

Tuesday's Love and I'm Better Off Without Lists...

Love List...

• Extra long weekend coming right up!
• I'm drinking an awesome smoothie as I type...with a bendy straw of course.
• Dinner and chattery with a college BFF.  I love that despite living across the country, we still manage to see each other several times a year.
• Myles at the driving range.  His man voice, ego, and efforts so much bigger than his skinny little body.
• We took the kids putt-put golfing (guess it was a golfing weekend??) and to the attached arcade.  They were so excited and I love seeing the excitement in their eyes. (Not necessarily the germs in those places, but whatever.)  My favorite part?  Every time there was something to hit your ball through, Jillian's would get stuck.
• Sarcasm at work.  It's a survival technique.

Jillian demonstrating Mommy's attitude about golf.

A few putt-putt pics...  Scroll D-O-W-N for the Better Off Without List.  

I'm Better Off Without List...

• This blog becoming a Tuesday-only habit.  Terrible.  I must fix this asap.
• Unflushed kiddie poo in the toilet.  Even worse?  When there is no toilet paper to go with it.  I'm afraid to ask...  Did you not wipe?  Or...did you throw it in the trash can....sick.
• Tonight I left a message on our babysitter's answering machine...at her parents house.  For whatever reason I stumbled through the entire message, started leaving my work phone number, and used the words, "Or whatever..." Train-wreck, I tell you.  Ben said from down the hall, "Wow, that was a well thought out message."

Tuesday's Love and I'm Better Off Without Lists...

So... I've been slacking on writing...but really we've just been busy with tee-ball, trips to the beach, riding on the boat, eating ice cream, going to bed too late, playing outside, and you know...all of the things we are supposed to do.  It's summer after all!  BUT - it's Tuesday - so my list has been on my mind...so here it is!!

Proof of our fun.

Love List...

• Myles and the pure joy he has in swimming out to and jumping on this trampoline in the water.  The first time he swam out there, I was waving at him.  He jumped a few times and climbed down and swam all the way back to shore to make sure we were watching him.  Cutie pie.
• Last night we went to dinner and a movie with the kids.  (Yes, Monster's University.)  Jillian wanted to bring her little puppy on wheels.  She calls him (creatively), Puppy.  I told her she could bring him in, but she might want to ask if he is allowed, because many times dogs are not allowed in restaurants.  She went up to the counter and hoisted him up in view to the girl working and said, "Can he please come in here?  He isn't a real dog, don't worry."  It was adorable and the girl working was awesome.  She checked him out and agreed that he could stay.  Happiest girl.
• This weekend we had time for tons of fun things and somehow we managed to do a bunch of work around the house too.  Fun and productive?  I wasn't sure that was possible!
• This week, Jillian opened a public bathroom door with her elbows.  She is my daughter, that is for sure.
• Myles has a new and intense excitement about golf.  Ben got him a little set of golf clubs and he was hitting around the yard all night tonight.
• I made an amazing Craigslist score.  I've been looking for an antique-ish metal bed frame for Jillian for quite a while, but I wasn't really feeling the $300 odd shaped (not twin or full) frames that I have found at antique stores.  My ultimate score?  A red painted frame for $25.  Sold.  A few cans of "Berry Pink" spray paint and I have a very happy little girl.  I knew I needed something special because she has been so attached to her little toddler bed, which cracks me up, since Myles was in a twin bed at two.  Anyway, her bedroom has been transformed and she is loving it.  I was lucky enough to keep the same number of animals and princesses in her new bed, despite the fact that she has a lot more room.
  
• Ice cream with Nerds on top.  Excellent.  Even better, I scooped a bowl with Nerds tonight to eat while I typed...and then I saw Ben's ice cream...with peanuts, brownie, and chocolate syrup.  He was nice enough to trade me.  Love him.

I'm Better Off Without List...

• It's summer...and I'm working five days a week.  Five.
• Insomnia.  Seriously.  I need to sleep...and more than an hour at a time, please.

Tuesday's Love and I'm Better Off Without Lists...

Love List...

• Today Myles is six and a half.  Seriously, it's crazy.  We celebrated with a boat ride to the ice cream store.  Myles's pick: Moosetracks with Oreos on top.  Jillian's: Moosetracks with...gummy bears.  
• Back a few months ago in this post I told you about Jillian drawing a ghost in a supposed haunted restaurant.  We went back to the restaurant this weekend.  Mind you, we have never once said anything to either of our children about the restaurant being haunted (even after her creepy drawings the last time).  As soon as we walked in the door she said, "Oh, so the ghosts are upstairs this time, Momma?"  Totally freaks me out, but awesome all at the same time.
• Tomorrow is Myles's last day of school!  We are pretty excited for a fun-filled summer.  I am taking the day off on Thursday to enjoy the first wonderful day of break with the kids.
• Last night, Ben went up to our room for a minute and noticed Myles was still awake.  He told him to close his eyes and go to sleep.  In turn, he checked on Jillian as well.  She had a great fake sleep going on.  It was almost perfect...until he asked her if she was sleeping.  She nodded.
• Yesterday, Myles came home with worksheets that his class received to keep up their good work over the summer.  He was barely in the door before he wanted to start working on it.  He did a good chuck already...and school isn't even out yet.
• Today a brown box appeared at my doorstep.  In my excitement, I started racking my brain for what wonderful thing that I had ordered would fit in this box.  I opened it...it's my books for my MSU classes that start July 1st.  Not exactly what I had pictured...
• Grilling season.  Seriously, dinner is a whole lot easier for this Mom.

I'm Better Off Without List...

• Around midnight on Thursday night...an avalanche occurred in my closet.  It was terrible.  A long section of my closet that held all of my dresses, suits, jackets, stacked sweaters, and even a basket of all of my purses...broke.  Clothes and purses came pouring out my closet door.  It was overwhelming and simply...a mess.  My mother-in-law saw it and said it was way worse than I could have ever described...  On the bright side, my closet is clean as a whistle now and I weeded out a lot of clothes to donate to Goodwill...something I've been planning to do, but just had not done.  Guess that was the nudge I needed.

Dancing and Daytripping

I love summer.  I love summer weekends, even more.  Summer weekends in Michigan...the best.  This weekend felt like the kick off to the summer season.  Myles is almost done with school and the end of the year activities are in full force.  The sunshine was out and things could not have been any better.

Jillian's dance recital was on Saturday.  She loved it.  She loves dance and I love seeing her joy in everything dance.  She was even dancing in the aisles at dinner after her recital.  Here are a few photos from the occasion...

Makeup time.  It took forever and it still wasn't perfect.  Putting makeup on someone else isn't all that easy...especially when that someone else is fluttering her eyes and wiggling around.  Seriously though, look at her eyelashes.  I'm jealous of my own daughter.  That was only a couple of quick swipes of mascara.

 My little "Devil in Disguise" ready to shake it on stage.  She loved her costume.

The start of her second dance.  She is the one with the ponytail down to her tutu.  ;)

Pure adorableness.

With 14 wonderful family members there to watch one little girl...she raked in the flowers.  They are now beautifying my house.  Oh - and she even had a little corsage on that wrist.  

 Family photo at dinner afterwards.

 And  she poses...

 What an awesome night.

And Sunday?  A trip to one of my favorite little Lake Michigan towns, Saugatuck.  A day of strolling around downtown, playing at the park in the middle of town, shopping, and walking the boardwalk of boats.  I snapped a few pics with my phone.

Here is Jillian with her new mermaid from the local drugstore.  I have a weakness for that store.  As a kid we would go there and admire the colorful kites, sand toys, and display of rocks with the little velvet bags to fill with your choice of colorful gems for a few dollars (my sister, Sarah was always a sucker for the rocks).  That store brings me back to ten years old every time I walk in.  Oh, and Myles...got the rocks.  I believe he calls them his magical gems.

 Myles in the garden next to my most favorite purple flowers.  I need to grow them myself...

Jillian chose her shoes for the day.  Cowboy boots from Myles's Woody Halloween costume a few years ago.  Why not?  I am thrilled I found a yellow jumper for her again this year.  Bonus - it was only $6 at The Gap in Chicago.  With tax.

 And...my favorite picture of the day that I happened to capture from the bench all the way across the playground.  Daddy and daughter in conversation.  Pure love.

 Hope your weekend was as snazzy as cowboy boots and rompers. 

Can't wait to see what next weekend holds.