We went to Michigan for Thanksgiving with my mom and Chuck. We had a good time - not too many pictures since we just relaxed most of the time. Here are Dane and Grandpa Chut helping prepare the feast - breaking up the bread for the stuffing.

Will loves to play hide and seek. He used to say he wanted to play, go and hide and then when you got close to him he would start laughing and hop out. We tried to explain the basics to him and he's gotten much better! He wanted to play while we were up there and he went to hide. This is what we found.... he had attached this sheet to the top bunk and hid in this cocoon-like thing!

A+++ for creativity!!


One of Dane's favorite pastimes when we're around my mom and Chuck is to drink their tea. "Tea, tea, tea!" They had gone on a walk and Dane helped himself to my mom's tea and sat down in her chair and decided to watch a little TV.

Michigan!

Some pics from our trip! We had an unbelievably calm water day (the day these were taken). The water temp got better as the week went along. We did all the wonderful things we normally do - beach every day (we REALLY lucked out with the weather). We went shopping in Pentwater, got popcorn, went into Ludington, ate Bortel's, walked along the beach. It was, as usual, absolutely wonderful.

My big boy!The water had formed this "cliff" that the boys had so much fun playing on.

Will was driving Dane around the house in his "trailer."


Not a bad place for a nap!

Labor Day Weekend in Michigan!

We had a great trip up to Michigan this weekend! The Thompsons bailed on us so it was just us and my mom and Chuck. The weather was pleasantly fall-like in the 60s and 70s. We had eucher tournaments each night which was really fun. Chuck and I against my mom and Luke. Chuck had never played before so he was learning the game the first couple of nights. By the last night the true winners dominated (Chuck and I of course). Sunday was the nicest day weather-wise. We decided to take a hike up The Dune. The Dune is a huge sand dune that you can get to walking behind my mom's cottage. It's about 3 properties over and you hike up the back of it in the woods, get to the top to enjoy the view of the lake and then run down the front of it. It's a ton of fun and we decided that we were all going to go - Dane in the Baby Bjorn with Daddy and Will with help from us.

Dane and Daddy ready to go!On the way up to The Dune you pass "Blueberry Hill." This is after you've already gone up quite a bit, but before you hit the REAL hill. Will and Momma taking a rest on Blueberry Hill.
Here is Will crawling up the back of the dune with my mom and Chuck. You literally have to crawl up it to get to the top. You crawl/scamper from one tree to the next and look for any roots or branches to help pull yourself up. This is when I was at the top and it was beginning to level off. The real climb is even steeper than this. Will did a great job! Here are Daddy and Dane and Will, my mom and Chuck approaching the top. The Paytons at the top. Here is Will climbing a wall of sand at the top before we ran down. Running down - it doesn't look NEAR as steep as it actually is. You literally have to run down - you take a step and slide at least 3 feet then take another step and slide 3 feet, etc. It's a lot of fun. Will took a couple of spills and a face full of sand but was having so much fun he would pop right up and keep on going. Getting to the bottom...So much fun!!

As soon as we got to the bottom Will was already asking to climb it again and run back down. When we got to the bottom and had all emptied out our shoes full of sand, we walked down to the beach for a while. Chuck spotted a bald eagle. We watched him take off and soar - without flapping his wings one time - for at least a mile. Until he was out of sight - and he never flapped his wings once. It was beautiful.

We had dinner with BG & GG on Saturday night which was fun. When they were ready to head home my mom and Will walked them across the street since it was dark. When they were on their way back they decided to run home. While they were running back apparently my mom passed gas. Will replied: "It's ok, Nana! I'm tootin' too!!"

Luke and Chuck Arrive!

The Michigan trip ended well. Luke and Chuck arrived on Friday night. We had a great - and busy - day on Saturday. Luke and Chuck took down a hemlock that had died, Luke helped Gerry with some projects, we hit the beach, took naps, had Gerry's signature sidecars and ended the day with Bortels. mmmhmmm!

Dane hanging out.
Dane with his toes in the sand for the first time!

hmmmm, poor unsuspecting Will.

I can't BELIEVE Will went for this!

Poor Will... (disclaimer: it was on like a hat but it fell just as I was taking the picture:)

Will took this picture!!

Will feeding his baby brother - sweet boys!
Dane napping in the wind/sun tent - life is rough.

Michigan Fun!

Dane's first bath in the sink in Michigan.
Deer watching...

Deer watching without clothes...

Peeing off the back deck makes potty training more fun!

Dane relaxing on the beach

Nana and Dane.

Momma and her boys
Dane's first dip in the lake! He loved it!
Blurry, but you get the point.

Ahhhhh!!

I am so excited and happy to finally be back up in Michigan! I haven't been up here since last Thanksgiving - a record I believe. A record that I'm not looking to beat again any time soon. The boys were so good on the trip up. Will did great with the potty training and told us when he needed to go and we would pull over. I am so proud of him. We got up here yesterday around 1:30 and only made 9 stops in 7 hours... I'm not kidding. And really not that bad for a trip that takes two adults with normal bladders 6 hours. Once we finally arrived my mom and I were in all our glory as we puttered around getting unpacked, opening up the cottage and getting everything settled. We were all tired last night and anxious to get some sleep. Everyone did well - Dane didn't like his bed so he ended up sleeping with me from about 2 on. I think he misses his memory foam bed at home (I know, I know) so I will make his bed a little bit softer today in hopes that he'll do better tonight. (why people think a baby is going to enjoy sleeping on a hard surface is still beyond me) Yesterday the water was so warm - in fact the neighbor Kris said that in her 20 years of coming up here she has never felt it as warm as it was yesterday. It was so warm you could walk in without even adjusting. Dane even got in! I sat with him in the surf and we enjoyed the water and waves. He loved it! Will of course loved it too and was swimming around like a little fish.
The wind blowing through the trees up here is one of my all time favorite sounds and last night did not disappoint. My heart is so happy up here. I only wish it wasn't so far away.

If you are wondering why Kramer might choose to relax in the sink??

Poor kitty isn't safe anywhere!

When my mom was getting ready to leave Michigan she had her cat carrier out and almost left with a surprise!

Will climbed in his "trailer" and asked Momma to take him for a ride. (**Disclaimer: I had not showered yet this day AND I am 19 weeks pregnant!)

Here is Will lounging on the steps. Either that or practicing for his modeling career.

Michigan Pics

Here are Will and Momma on the dock by Pentwater Lake.

Will was looking at a book "Animals of North America" while talking on the phone to Daddy. "It's all in a day's work!"

Michigan

On Saturday we left home and drove to Peru, IN for our Cousin's/Great Uncle's annual "Froast" (fish fry/corn roast). It was fun to see our extended family and we all ate way too much food. Just to fully convey the magnitude of the wonderfulness (correction: terribleness) of the food, my plate consisted of fried fish, fried pickles, a fried biscuit, nacho dip & chips, a hush puppy, and the cheesiest and most wonderful macaroni and cheese you've ever encountered. This is one of the few times I allow myself to eat whatever I want, however much I want, and I don't feel one ounce of guilt over it. It's wonderful! And of course there was what else, homemade ice cream for dessert.

Then we continued up to Michigan and arrived late Saturday night. On Sunday the Ohio Gribbles were here so we got to visit with them. Jennifer is getting ready to start her senior year in HS and Jeff will be a Junior at OU. It was fun to catch up with them all. We've done a good amount of relaxing, shopping, swimming, reading and playing on the beach. (disclaimer: I have also already gotten all my work done for the week with the help of my mom watching Will!) Will has had fun feeding the deer. We've seen three consistently including one baby still with its spots. Will is also still on his kick of always wanting to have "Nana Do It!" One big change this time is that he has been LOVING the water. He still likes to play on the beach of course but his favorite is to grab his inner tube and head out for the waves. He doesn't want anyone touching him, he likes to do it himself. He will just kick and kick, riding the waves up and down, until we have to drag him out of the water. It's fun to see him so independent. Here is a picture of the beach. It's so beautiful and I never get over how much I love it! Also a picture of Will's face after a day on the beach. Sun block doesn't seem to help the stickiness factor.














Will decided to help Nana sweep the porches - but refused any clothes.

Some random updates: Mr. I Won't Try Anything New has found a new love. Turkey Bacon! He ate three pieces this morning. He is also talking so much now that I am amazed every day. He repeats just about anything (constant reminder to watch what comes out of my mouth!) and is understanding so much it's incredible. He has a new attention-getting tactic. Occasionally he will call me "Sarah" or his daddy "Luke" and even BG "Barbara". He gets this little grin on his face like he's so proud of himself. It's hilarious. This week he also said "Nana, like my jeans" (not sure if it was a question or a statement) and "Daddy deer find mama and baby deer." And finally, he said "I Love You" extremely clearly to Luke on the phone today. Normally he just replies "okay." We can get him to say it if we ask him to say each word separately, but today he said it all together. So sweet..

More Pictures from Michigan

Playing on the beach together...
Kayaking with Nana...
Pulling in the Kayak...

Taking a walk with my little man...