Never trust a husband who has someone else's phone and wants to take a picture...

because he will get a kick out of it when that person posts it to facebook!  Our parents have so much to be proud of their daughters!

Celebrating 16 years together

 I saw this quote the other day and immediately cried!  Why?  Because I know the cost of that power and the realness of it as I have watched my husband these last sixteen (and eight months of dating) years.  I know the depth of my smile. 

 He did some searching for a special place that we both would enjoy.

 And he found it on Lake St. Clair!  He teased me all day about different places...and when he got on the expressway...I knew something was up.

 "You really didn't think I was going to take you there...did you?   We can do that another time!  Tonight...we are doing something different...although...I'm a little nervous about it."

 It was perfect!  Dinner on the deck in the middle of a marina!  The food was wonderful!
 

 The atmosphere neat!

 So many boats...big and little...fast and slow...expensive and more expensive!  And the law...never far behind...as long as it has a full gas tank!

I am so thankful for the times we have together...sharing things we enjoy!

Ted, I love you more today than the day we said, "I do!"  I had no idea what I was really saying, and I know you didn't either.  We are just beginning to understand what it means to "I do...in all the ups and downs of life...till death we do part."  I'm thankful that you will sit beside me, hold my hand, and make me smile!

"I am grateful...truly...but one or two more days..."

 "...would be just about right!  I could have slept four more hours and we have to get up to leave!  I am just now really starting to unwind!"  We packed up to check out by the appointed time...

 and took our breakfast to the beach.  It was sooo very chilly...we only lasted a short time!

 We headed back to our favorite coffee place...just as the clouds were beginning to roll in!

 The nearly empty shop filled up quickly as the rain started.

 By the time we left, the line was to the door!  "I wish we were going back to the cabin!  Listening to the rain, reading, and sleeping would be fun in our little cabin by the lake!"

 "Yes, it would.  Let's do pedicures before we go home!"

 Massage chair! Foot soak! Pretty toes!  Giggly girls with ticklish feet!

"You know vacation at the beach is over when it rains!"  Thanks, sis, for a fun time together!

Sleeping late, baking, lounging, drinking coffee...

 is how we like to begin our day!  Mari started the coffee and I made the requested Lemon blueberry scones...this time...just plopped in a pan and cut rustic like...

 and they have never tasted so good as they did this morning!  Maybe it was because we ate them on the cute lighthouse plates?!

 We headed out to a store.  I got my hair cut.  We checked about pedicures.  We met our neighbor...well...sort of.

We were reminded to fix our hair on the inside of the cabin.  There are so many things to notice...if you just look around...that can amuse and bewilder us.
We headed to the beach with our lunch and borrowed books.

 We had top pick of the perfect spot....it was a little chilly when the clouds passed over the sun...and not many beach goers.

 It was ok.  We wanted to be alone...and were...for the most part...except for this pesky seagull...and the man that was too close and too old to be interested in watching us...but did anyway.  I think Mari got a picture of him too.

 The waves were moving pretty good by the time we left...churning up the sand.  So beautiful to see, smell, and hear!

 It is mesmerizing to spend time at the beach!  It lulled me to sleep for a little while.

 We tried a local hole in the wall for supper.  Not super impressed upkeep of the place or with the speed...so we decided not to think about it!  It was so delicious...and they were very generous.  They messed up our order for 4 pizza rolls and gave us 8! 

 We were stuffed!  We walked through the Farmer's Market and came back to the cabin to crash.

 "Are you cold?"  "Are you sleeping?"  "Do you want some coffee?"

 Book, bed, coffee, Food Network...

 at 9:30pm...and how about a cupcake at 10:30pm?!  Ick!  They were not good!  What a bummer!  Some places just can't keep a good product going year after year...and I don't know why!?  Birthday cupcakes...fail.  Farmer's Market cookies...score!

Second Annual Sister's Birthday Get Away

 We took off Thursday morning at 10am with our DD coffees in hand and drove to Ludington to our favorite place for lunch.

 Again...Mari's lunch back drop...the wine!  We drank sweet tea and ate yummy sandwiches.

 Cabin Sweet Cabin...so adorable and homey on the outside.  The flowers were beautiful!

 And then to walk into the cabin...we both exclaimed, "Awwww, this is cuter than last year!"

 Mari claimed the little alcove right away!  I got the bigger bed!  Thanks, Mar!

 Everything we could possibly need or want to make our stay so fun.

 We opened the window to hear the birds and feel the breeze and got settled.

 Checking out the stack of books...

 Using the step stool to get up on the bed...

 Charging phones for pictures...

 "I just want to sit and do nothing and soak up this peaceful place!  It smells like the cabin and I get so nostalgic that I could cry!"

"Are you ready to go hit some shops and there is a great coffee place I want to take you to!?"

 "See...that is what everyone wants to do when they come here!  Just sit and relax...inside or outside...I don't care!"

 This is cute!  Oh...I can do that!  I'm not really going to pay $7.95 for this.

 "I think I want something cold!  I got a bad one yesterday and I need to have a good one today!"  Umm...the barista dude got it perfect!

We sat at the table by the bean roaster....ahhh...heavenly smells!

"You are right!  I love this place!  It is eclectic...who puts a vacuum by their sign as you walk in the door...to a coffee shop!?"

 We wandered the shops and bought matching Great Lake sweatshirts.  Then headed back to the chilly cabin and closed it all up...

put our jammies on and watched the Food Network and ate our fun supper of specialty dips with crackers, chips, and Pepsi.  Not super healthy...but what we wanted when, how, where, and with no time constraints!  Oh...it is going to be good sleeping weather!!!