Young Love

Camping in Muskegon

Last weekend we spent a nice, sort of relaxing weekend on the west side of the state with our neighbors. We had our annual camping weekend with the Abbotts, Schmidts, and this year the Navettas. So there were 8 adults and 7 kids in total. We had a really good time, despite a few obstacles including: a miscommunication with Steve-o, the KOA manager; a thunderstorm Friday night with continued showers Saturday morning; an hour detour due to a malfunctioning GPS; and a too windy day on Sunday to enjoy the sand dunes. Besides those few minor things, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and had a great time with friends.

First thing accomplished...dinner from Subway and McDonalds

Tents are up and time to relax

Family Pic

Maddy and Momma

Saturday morning, we went to breakfast in town to pass time while the rain subsided. After that we packed up and headed down to Pere Marquette Park down on Lake Michigan to enjoy the sun, sand, and waves. It was a bit chilly at first but it warmed up in no time once the clouds dissipated. It was a great afternoon at the beach.

The kids loved playing in the water

The boys making a sand castle

Nice work guys

Daddy and Maddy

Mike and Hayden in the castle

The Abbotts joining us after Ben's nap in the van

Ben took no time getting dirty in the sand

Maddy playing in the sand too

Cute picture of Kendal

After naps, we spent the rest of the day fishing, swimming in the lake at the campground, eating brats, corn on the cob, pizza puggy pies and smores over the fire, and finally ending the night by playing at the playground.

The kids enjoying the view

Someone push the fish back in the water

Olivia and Brendon roasting marshmallows

Olivia going down the slide

Kendal's turn

Brendon on top of the play structure

Sunday morning, while we packed up the tents the kids watched movies in the cars. It kept them pretty occupied for a few hours so we were able to eat a big breakfast, pack everything up, and still make check out by 11. We decided to enjoy the day together before heading home. We wanted to go to the Muskegon State Park to enjoy the sand dunes, but it was way too windy. We ended up going to Duck Lake State Park instead. It was still a bit chilly with the wind but it was nice enough to have lunch and hang out at the beach for a few hours. Maddy and Ben were inseparable most of the day. It was pretty cute. They would walk around holding hands, sit together, and give each other big kisses. We got some cute pictures of the two of them together. I'm still waiting on one more picture from the Abbotts that I'll add to the list when it comes.

The five older kids at Duck Lake

Maddy, Kendal, and Ben trying to make a sand castle

Ben and Maddy sharing a chair at the campsite

Maddy and Ben holding hands before we left the campsite

Fourth of July Vacation

Fourth of July Parade...what a crew
(Papa, Jack, Addisyn, John V, Maddy, Izzy, Jaelyn, and Lexi...
the only two missing were Jordyn and Brooke, who were both in the parade)

Why didn't we think of this before? This year we had a wedding to attend up north the weekend before the 4th so we decided to take the whole week off and spend it up north with my family. What a concept, hey? It was so wonderful being up north enjoying the outdoors and each other's company for an entire week. My sister and her family were up there for the week too so it was nice because everyone was there. My brothers still had to work some although they took a few half days to enjoy the weather with us out at the river. Maddy loved playing with her cousins. In fact, when we got home she was calling her friends, her cousins. She really got along well with everyone. There weren't too many fights to break up. Her and Lexi got into it a few different times but that was because Lexi (aka "Rooster") loved her Auntie Jaclynn a lot this week and Maddy would get a bit jealous of her mom giving someone else so much attention. It was really neat because even Jordyn (the oldest of the cousins at 8 years old) and Maddy interacted a lot and really seemed to genuinely enjoy each other. When we left it was heart breaking because the cousins would all hug and kiss each other so sweetly that you just wish they could be together more.

We did all sorts of stuff when we were home. Like I said we had a wedding the first weekend. Jason and I stayed at the resort with some friends, which was so much fun. At the wedding I got to see a ton of people that I went to high school with. It was so much fun reminiscing and catching up on each other's families. I finally got to meet my friend Tricia's daughter Aydanne too. I'm missing my 10 year reunion this summer so this sort of was a surrogate. Sunday after the wedding it was raining all day, which was nice because I didn't feel guilty sleeping all afternoon. The only other day it was cool we went up to Marquette to visit Brooke, Brad, and Rylee, our god-daughter. We had a great afternoon with them eating pasties, taking the kids to the park by the water, driving around Presque Isle, and visiting with Brooke's sister Vanessa and her new son Quincy. The rest of the days we spent playing outside at grandma and papa's house, feeding the birdies, waterskiing at the river, going to watch Jordyn play soccer, eating chocolate Whopper malts every night, wathing a few Ski-ter shows, going to the 4th of July parade, and constantly smiling and laughing with each other. It was awesome. Jason and I got to go out for our anniversary this year too. Our anniversary is the 3rd of July so it was nice to have grandma and grandpa there to babysit so we could go out for dinner. What a great week! I think it is going to be an annual occurrence.

Meeting Aydanne

Maddy meeting Aydanne for the first time

Aydanne McRae Dewar

Activities on a rainy day

Dinner and Playing at Hardee's
(Maddy, Lexi, Izzy, and John V)

"Rooster"
(Whenever I called her this I would get a smile just like that)

John V sliding head first

Water-skiing Pictures

Jaelyn First

Then Izzy

Brooke's a Pro

Jordyn right before learning to drop a ski

Jack thinks he is next

Helping Daddy drive is a better idea, Jack

Jason mastering the slalom

Ski-ter Show Pictures

Daddy/Daughter Star Strap Doubles
(Uncle Joe and Cousin Jordyn paying off)

Cousin Brooke and her partner Chad paying off

Jordyn the robot

Brooke the robot

Uncle Joe is the Comedy Act

Maddy sleeping during the show

Maddy in her 4th of July attire after the show

Cousin Jordyn's Soccer Game

Taking a Break after a tough first quarter as a forward

Playing Defense

Fourth of July evening festivities

Cousins playing with the beach ball sprinkler

Filling the pool back up after a complete evacuation because Maddy got sick in the water

Papa teaching Jack to play baseball

Trip to Marquette

Maddy and Rylee on the slide at the park on Lake Superior

Maddy holding Quincy

How cute am I?
(Rylee, our goddaughter)

Maddy getting ready to leave for home

We left Saturday evening after a full day of water skiing to beat the weekend traffic. It worked out perfect because Maddy slept all the way to the bridge and then the last few hours of the trip too. The traffic was great and we even got to see some fireworks. Sunday then we spent the day with all the neighbors. It was really hot out so the kids mostly played in the pools. Mark and Shelly had a bunch of left over food for an anniversary party so we had that for dinner and wow was it yummy. So it was a great way to end our vacation.