Summertime specials...

 Hanging out with Dad!

 Hanging out with Mom!

 Flowers in the flower box.

 Steak with friends...

who bring yummy pies for dessert!  Mmmmm!

Finger licking....or arm licking good!

 Smores Dip...to share!  "No double-dipping!"

Kids' Antics

 Smoke bombs...

 Hey...watch this...a green bomb!

 Just like the minions!

 Ha ha ha...she is "just going to die" that I put this on...a frosty to finish off Sunday dinner before Ash boarded the bus for Band Camp.

 Several young people headed to WI for the Music/Drama/Band Camps this week.

 So thankful for the chance that Ashlynn has to be a part of this growing opportunity.

 So thankful for the updates that come in to "see" what is going on from a distance.

 We are keeping busy on the home front!

 I sat on the beach and listened to the girl try to tell the boys what to do and how to do it.

 Some lessons are learned the hard way...and Mom just sits back and watches.

  They came back and dropped her off for a little while...then they came back to try the bigger boat.

 They needed the pedal power.

 They are pretty nice guys who sometimes need to walk away...or float away...and then come back in kindness...and need.

Swans don't like the geese...they get their feathers all ruffled and begin the chase!

 

Poor picked on geese...they swam for their lives...and didn't squawk back!  Maybe our kiddos should take lessons from the geese on this one.

All good things must come to an end....

 at least till next time!  Such a pretty morning, July 6, as we loaded up to leave.  The sun gave way to clouds and the humidity began to build with the anticipation of rain.  We could not have asked for a more beautiful holiday in the north woods!

It occurred to me while we drove...it is nice to want to be together as a family.  I know there are situations where that is not the case.  I am thankful that we worked hard while our children were young...because that has made all the difference.  We actually enjoy having them go places with us.  Teddy is proving to be quite the comedian.  They enjoy the simple things of life.  The girls don't miss a detail.  They hear from us that we enjoy our time doing things like this.  They need to know we notice and are thankful.  We are by no means perfect.  We have our little spats to deal with...actually had some pre-fireworks on the beach when siblings didn't heed warnings.  It happens...but we deal with it and go on...praying that there won't have to be a next time with the same troubles.  Different troubles are not ok, but accepted...expected...tolerated...disciplined.

We watched for deer and bear...but didn't see any.  We did laugh at some of the posted signs.  "Wow, I thought that was a given!" said our driver.

 Birch trees, pine trees, poplar trees, oak trees, maple trees...rushing by as the traffic filled in behind us!

 A lunch stop and then we joined the rest of lower Michigan as they headed home too!  We saw all sorts of vehicles pulling all kinds of big boy toys...fishing boats, kayaks, canoes, bikes, scooters, dune buggies, speed boats, campers of every shape and size, and a homemade fireworks pontoon.

One of the things we all had in common?  The smell of campfires on us, remains of sand in our shoes, empty coolers, dirty clothes, and a schedule...back to work on Monday!  Thank you, honey, for driving us up north, all over, and back home again!  Love you!

July 5 Some more fun

 We woke up later, packed a picnic lunch, and headed to the beach...after walking through the little craft fair!  Thank you, honey, for indulging us...and you are right...this one was a dud!

Ted and Teddy picked up a football and frisbee at the sport store,while the girls and I picked up a pail w/tools (read spatula and ladle because the Dollar Tree was out of sand toys!  Who have thought?!) and cheap kite.  It was pretty windy...so I didn't have much faith in the kite...but Alisa was bound and determined!

They got it up!  And it is still in one piece to be used again!

 

 The beach filled up with lots of vacationers!  We enjoyed our time!  It was windy, but not so windy that sand blew through the air and into our sandwiches.  Been there and done that!

 After thoroughly toasting ourselves evenly...basted in sunscreen...we headed back to our cabin.  I think every road to every cabin will always make me think of Lake Nebagamon!

 Family devotions at the table by the fire...perfect!

 Just enough breeze to keep the mosquitoes away!  And that fire...perfect!

 The boys teaching the girls how to throw a frisbee and a football...great entertainment.

 Thankful for a restful day together!  Headed home tomorrow...but wouldn't have minded a few more days...it was a really nice place to stay!

Not what I was hoping to accomplish today...

but...it is what it is!  I am the "meanest mom" ever!  They said not a word, but the looks from the females were enough to spell it out in capital letters!  I made our children go outside in the beautiful day and threatened to lock the door.  I haven't done that for a couple years.  It is 76 out with no humidity...I don't feel bad nor do I feel obligated to load up and go somewhere when there is stuff to explore around our park.  Since moving to Michigan, our outside habits have changed dramatically.  Some due to age, but most due to the lack of neighborhood friends.  We miss the S family being two doors down!  We have our outings...our children are not deprived...but there are sometimes...they just need a push to go and do for and by themselves.  I don't remember all the details of every day life in the pre-teen stage...but I do remember getting tired of being inside and wanting fresh air.  Maybe...just maybe...being "mean" will remind them how much they enjoy being in the fresh air on beautiful days without all the bells and whistles of entertainment.

More Fun on July 4th

Happy Fourth of July!  Another crystal clear, cool day to go exploring!

We talked about going north to see Sleeping Bear Dunes.  "What do you do there?"  You drive and then you park and walk and climb to see the dunes.  "Really?  If we go south, we can ride in the dunes...if I can get an appointment at Razor J's!  Plan B would be the Mac Woods, but that is for Grandmas and Grandpas."  Really?!  Do you think we could get in at this late of time on a holiday weekend?  "It's worth a shot, but we will have to get up and get going!"

There were openings!  We got up and got going, but didn't have to be there till 1pm.  At this point, they have no idea what it will be like...and that made me giggle!  The tour in front of us had a break down.  "Check with us at 2:30 and we'll try to get you out at 3pm.

We went for a drive and found a place to tailgate for lunch.  Silver Lake was crazy busy!  The state park and lighthouse park were packed.  We moseyed back to wait.

All buckled in and ready to go!  Teddy rode up front with the guide.

It took over a half hour to get to the park entrance...

checked in...

"Hold on, girls, here we go!  We are entering a man's sandbox!"

There was whooping and hollering and laughing behind us!

And then we stopped...Teddy and the guide were jumping out of their ride.

A hose blew and there were some flames...the hose for the shocks blew...

"Are you having fun?"  Oh yeah!  It is cool!

Ted looked at the problem with our guide and another dune rider..."It's fine.  No one is in danger, but we'll have to come off the dunes.  I'll need an adult to ride with me now as a precaution.  I'm so sorry."

We had a 30 minute ride and saw all the cool things...hundreds of vehicles and their crazy drivers, the Lake, the Dunes, and the dirt bike jumping.

Lots of smiles!

It was fun to share this with the kiddos!

It was a quiet drive back to the cabin to check on Chevy and to have supper...

before heading to the beach for fireworks!

"O Beautiful for spacious skies..."

"The Majesty and Glory..."

 "When did you say the fireworks were to start?"

 After dusk!

"It is 10:15pm!  When is it dusk? How much darker does it have to get?"  Not sure!  Maybe the committee is made up of women who keep saying, "Wait, it needs to be a little darker still!"  I laughed...because...well...it is true!  We are into those little details, you know!?

 10:20pm brought the first blasts into the clear sky...with the moon for a spotlight!

 We had perfect seats!

 The sky was beautiful.  The boat lights bobbing.  The fires down the beach smelled good.  The sparklers and lanterns all around us.

 We were chilly!  But it was worth it!

How blessed we are to live in a land where people still gather to collectively "Ohhh" and "Ahhh"!  Too bad that most of us take that freedom for granted and don't take seriously the people that are put into office!