We've had a busy summer. A busy, busy summer. I remember in May on the kids last day of school thinking that this summer is going to be soooooooo long and they will never start school again and how am I going to survive... and now they are starting school next week. We had meet the teacher night tonight; there are a lot of the same kids in their class from last year and when Penny saw her best friend Kendall she literally started jumping up and down. It was totes adorbs. I think I saw the smile on the many, many pictures of Jesus get a little wider.
But anyway, back to vacation, we had our last vacation of the summer two weeks ago to beautiful Holland, Michigan. (As a disclaimer, we are going camping this weekend but that is not ever considered vacationing in my book. It's more like just being away. With nature. And bugs. And sweat. Remind me, why are we going camping this weekend? Oh that's right, the sweet, sweet air-conditioned camper we'll be staying in.)
Our dear friends Courtney, Brian, Mallory and Elliot live in Holland in a regular house and have a lake house in some other town in Michigan (who knew Michigan was so big?) AND they invited us to stay with them in both places. The best friends are the friends who love you so much, they want you to live with them for a while. So we met another group of friends, the fightin' Fitzgeralds, up there too and let the hijinks ensue!
Day 1- Did you know Michigan is Cherokee for 'cold in the summertime'? It is. It really is. But we bucked up and went to the beach!
 |
| Harrison was SO excited to go to the beach! |
 |
| The gal pals. Little did they know they were walking into 35 degree water. |
 |
| And quickly ran away from the ice water. |
 |
| Such a cutie! I could just eat her up! |
 |
| Harry fails at the 'kick your sister' contest. |
 |
| Ugh. Seagulls. I mean, why aren't they called lakegulls, amiright? |
 |
| Beautiful beach! |
 |
| Sand angels |
Day 2- Blueberry picking and more beach!
 |
| Red hat and orange shorts? It's like he's color blind or something. But he's ready for blueberry picking! |
 |
| Hmmm...this one will do! |
 |
| True story: The whole reason we went to Michigan in the month of August is to fulfill Jamie's dream of blueberry picking. He talked about blueberry picking more than any man ever should. Doesn't he look like he's having a blast? |
 |
| Commence operation never put another blueberry in the bucket and eat every blueberry that I pick. |
 |
| In her defense, these blueberries were the shiz-nit. The sweetest, not tartiest berries I've ever had. If I lived in Michigan I'd eat a pound a day. Because they're a nickel a pound! Or something like that. Real cheap! |
 |
| Vivian was taking her time. |
 |
| In case you were wondering, this is what a blueberry bush looks like. |
 |
| Penny has no time for hugs. She's got blueberries to eat. |
 |
| Harry was over it, so we decided to ride some rides. Or sit on some rides. |
 |
| Mal-pal! |
 |
| Four hours later. Jamie was still picking. |
 |
| And Penny... |
 |
| was still eating. |
 |
| All our friends on the blueberry truck! |
 |
| And the VanDernoot's turn on the blueberry truck! |
 |
| See ya! We're off to... |
 |
| the beach! A MUCH bigger beach! But still freezing. |
 |
| Penny dug this hole. Like dug it like she liked it. There is no way in hell she could actually physically dig it. |
 |
| Working on filling it back up. |
 |
| Penny really wants to stomp on those sand castles. |
 |
| Vivi approves of my pedicure. |
 |
| The Little Mermaid! |
 |
| Buried alive! |
 |
| These jabronies. I only wish I had some bread to throw in their direction for the seagulls. |
 |
| It was a little cold. |
|
Day 3- We moved locations (I never try to sleep more than three nights in the same location; don't ask) to Courtney's family lake house and cabin in Marcellus, Michigan. We even went to dinner with everyone in a public restaurant and didn't get kicked out! And we did some night swimming. And by we I mean the kids.
 |
| The water was significantly warmer in Hemlock Lake. Probably because it is .000000001 the size of Lake Michigan. |
|
 |
| The adults stayed up late and drank around the fire (for warmth) and when we came to bed, this is how the kids were sleeping. Don't ask me how. |
Day 4- Water vehicle day! We rode a paddle boat, pontoon boat, wave runner and a submarine! I didn't get any pictures of the submarine. =(
 |
| Paddle boat fun! At least until you realize that you are in the middle of the lake and still have to paddle back. =( |
 |
| Penny is the dash of blonde in the sea of brunettes. |
 |
| Headed to the party cove! |
 |
| Um.... |
 |
| I think we have a problem here... |
 |
| a little help? |
 |
| Eh, screw it. |
 |
| A frog! And is that Cindy or a wildlife photographer for National Geographic? |
 |
| Brave Mallory! |
 |
| That Vivian. What a camera hog. But so cute! |
 |
| Ready to dive in! |
 |
| Harrison LOVED the wave runner! |
 |
| Penny was nervous about the wave runner. |
 |
| But grew to love it. I remained nervous about the wave runner and grew to hate it after I tried to drive it and nearly drowned Penny and myself in my head. |
 |
| Driving the boat! |
 |
| I've gotta grow my hair out and dye it brown for next summer. And lose fifty pounds. One of those is achievable. | |
 |
| Simply beautiful day on the lake! It was a Pure Michigan type of day for sure. |
 |
| The farthest Penny got into the lake. But at least she tried! |
 |
| Jamie abandoned his wife and children to enjoy more time on the wave runner. This did not go over well. It kind of reminded me of the scene from Lost when Walt is being taken by the Others. |
 |
| Lake fun! The lake was eighty feet deep and we gave an offering of not one, but TWO pairs of sunglasses that day. So it let us live. |
 |
| This only made me grow four grey hairs. Okay, maybe forty. I wonder where Penny gets all her anxiety from? |
Day 5- Last day in Michigan. Sad, sad, sad. We had a great time with great friends and we can't wait to do it again next year!
 |
| Goodbye lake houses! |
 |
| Goodbye little lake! |
 |
| Goodbye...family? Getting one last paddle boat ride in. |
 |
| The whole crew, what a gorgeous group! |
