Pentwater - Part II

Our second part of the trip is a few days just the boys and me.   Luke had to go back to work - despite my trying to convince him this would be a great week to take vacation....he didn't fold. 

Yesterday rained all morning.  So the boys and I ran some errands in Pentwater, then went up to Ludington to run a few errands and we also saw Monsters University which was fun.

This morning we went over to the beach and it was such a still, calm morning on the water.  We got there about 11 and the beach was deserted.  It was a really cool morning to be there - the boys had a great time.  By the time we left a little after 1 it was wavy, sunny and much more busy.  It's always so cool to see how the lake can change, literally by the hour. 

We always love to feed and watch the deer - they come so close.  We had 2 baby deer sightings but hadn't again in the past few days.  Tonight the baby was back - and we snuck out to see it (they're much more skittish with babies, so they're more difficult to see) and quickly saw there were two!  Here are the two babies with the mama I'm guessing.  So cute!  

Well THEN they ran up onto the ridge, and we saw that there are actually THREE babies!!  I tried my hardest to get a good pic of all three together but the two stayed pretty close together (twins I'm guessing) and the other one was a bit off.  But I did get a pic of all 3.  The two are pretty obvious in this picture below and the 3rd one you can just see passing behind the 2nd tree from the left, the one farthest back. 

 

We took a hike with George and Cyndy and ended up on top of the 3rd hill of the Three Sisters!  Here is Will on the very top.

 

 

We went to the beach and Will and Dane wanted to use their goggles (while they were boogey boarding, of course) and Will would not let me adjust his.  I couldn't stop laughing!!

I promised the boys that one night I would let them have ice cream for dinner.  So tonight was the night!  I took them up to Ludington for the real deal, House of Flavors.  It was so yummy!  Then we went over to the park right there and the boys got to run off some of the mass sugar they had just consumed.   

 

 

 

.....On the way home we found this treasure.

Pentwater Trip July 2013 - Part I

We are fortunate again this year to make a big summer trip up to Michigan.  I absolutely love it here - my soul gets its juice here.  Part I of the trip was all of us with the Dunscombes, our dear friends.  This is their 3rd annual trip up with us on the 4th and we love our new tradition!

When I was packing up our car (Luke met us in MI, going there straight from Columbus) I told the boys to get their backpacks of toys and blankets etc.  I found them all packed with their must-haves ready to go and they were patiently waiting on the stairs! :) They were a little bit excited.

 

 

 
 We did our trip up the dune and to the outlet of course.  Dane hiked up the whole thing (I helped him of course) but it was his first year not on daddy's back.  Daddy was happy happy happy! :)


Getting ready to go up!    

And then down he goes!  (Actually this was our second trip down it.  The first time he went down he was with Daddy.  But we didn't get a picture :(  

 And then to the outlet.  It had changed so much since last summer.  Daddy helped the boys find some good skipping rocks. 

We ran across a pretty cool mermaid that someone had made.

Of course the Cosmic Candy Company - an old school candy store - was a must. 

 

 

We went up to Ludington for the first time this year to watch the fireworks.  We've watched them from the beach before but that's pretty far away.  So we headed up to Ludington, not sure where we were they let off from - somewhere on the beach.  The place was filled - we had to go back blocks just to get a parking spot.  We happened upon this little place and decided we would try it and it ended up being a fantastic place!  We will definitely be going back there to watch them again. 

 

The kids waiting patiently for them to start.  

 I got in a little reading time on the back deck - but the reason I'm posting this picture is because of my precious baby boy on my lap :)  Kramer got in a good snooze session while enjoying a rare trip out in the open.  (he's been banned from even thinking about stepping his little paw outside since he decided to take off for 2  1/2 days a couple of years ago!)

 Good buds.  Dane, Fisher, Nellie and Will. 

My Angels!  So so proud of my boys.

A Dane First

A little drive in the Dunscombes jeep with the top off into Pentwater called for Danes first trip in a booster seat. He's still a bit too young for that, but Pamala drove very carefully and we weren't on any major roads. :)

My 6 Year Old!

I can barely believe it's been SIX years since my baby boy was born.  The day I became a mother.  I just cannot believe it.  I won't say it has been the easiest road.  In fact, it's been the most difficult thing I've ever done.   But by far...by a landslide, the most rewarding.  I feel so fortunate to be a mother.  To have two healthy children.  Two relatively uncomplicated births.  I'm just so grateful.  My boys have made me a different person. All of them :)

I had a hard time adjusting to being a mother at the beginning.  The insane sleep deprivation (and boy did Will do a number on me!  Think: Zombie) and I guess I just had no clue what I was getting in to.  I feel like with Will I was a blind person feeling my way around, fumbling through, doing the best a zombie could do.  Then with Dane he just slid into our lives without missing a beat.  But adjusting to everything at the beginning - it was tough.  But we've made it through together.  He is my first son.  A bond that is unbreakable.  I love him with my whole being.  I am amazed by him all the time.  His brain, I swear, moves faster than mine sometimes.  I'm frequently nervous about what his is doing.  Ha!  He has kept me on my toes Since. Day. One.  He is constantly questioning me, challengine me, walking that line to figure out just what he can do.  How far he can go.  While everyone else is exhausted, he's still at it.  It makes my day to day parenting....exhausting!... but I also acknowledge that he is so smart- And I love that.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  I can not wait to see what that child does with  his life.  Whatever he does, it's going to be big.  And all I can do in the meantime is be the best parent I can be.  Encourage his strengths and try to tether down his wild inhibitions.  Teach him manners and how to respect other and be happy and true to himself.

He had an awesome birthday.  His actualy birthday fell on a Thursday, so Daddy couldn't be home with him. :(  But we had a good day.

Woke up and had some relaxation time:  Hung out with Dane on the back porch for a bit.

Then we had lunch and played at Burkhart Creek Park with the Dunscombes.  We splashed around in the creek and played.  When we got back home they happened to be baling the hay in our back yard!  What are the chances for a birthday boy!  So of course Casey asked if Will wanted to ride in the tractor and help do the baling.  Uh, yeah!  

Then we went to Nana and Grandpas for dinner.  Will got to go swimming and on a boat ride.  We had pizza for dinner complete with cupcakes! 

His party was on Saturday.  We rented out the public pool.  That afternoon it stormed.  And stormed.  And stormed.   Will was so upset.  He said in the most pathetic way possible "Well, I guess I don't get to have my birthday party."  Think Eyore.  The pool even called me and asked if we were going to cancel.  I said NO WAY.  So we drove over to the pool - it was still raining.  Set up, and it slowed down.  Finally, it stopped raining.  Everyone came and it was so great!  I was ecstatic that he was able to have his party.

ps:  I haven't posted this yet bc I'm waiting to pic out pics from his party.  So I'll just post those later.