Our Trip to Michigan!

Well it's about time that I recap our trip. We've been home almost two weeks now. I look forward to this trip every year and usually start the count down once June hits and it gets super hot here in NC. I'm sure you're wondering how on earth we decided on a trip to Michigan when we live in North Carolina.

(This post is heavy on the photos)

When I was 2 years old my dad got a job in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We moved from Texas all the way up to Michigan. We lived in Grand Rapids from the ages of 2 until 12. During that time my parents bought a house on Torch Lake. It's about 45 minutes north of Traverse City and seriously the absolute most beautiful lake ever. Think caribbean crystal clear waters. You can be on the boat in the middle of the lake and see straight down. It makes swimming fun because you aren't worried about whats swimming beneath you. {is that just me who freaks about that?}

Well, when we moved to Charlotte when I was 12 my parents decided to keep the lake house. They have spent every summer there since. While I was in high school we would come and go but as I went to college and started working in the summers at a camp they began to spend more and more time there. Once I graduated and was on my own they ended up going up in June and staying until October. My sisters and I have always planned our trip up there around each other. It's always been our favorite time of year and such a fun vacation. Things have changed from late night dinners with lots of wine, music and dancing to life with 5 kids but it's always remained fun!

This summer we all overlapped for several days.  We were the last ones to get up there. When we booked our flights I thought that it would be a good idea for us to leave at 6 am...yes you read that right! We also live an hour away from the airport! That means that we all were up and out the door by 3 am! It was not nearly as bad as I had envisioned and both boys were super good travelers. This was Graham's first flight and while I had hoped he would nap the entire time he decided it was more fun to stay awake. Jack on the other hand fell asleep as soon as we took off and didn't wake up until we landed, both flights!

We arrived at 9:30 am and had the whole day ahead of us! I definitely wouldn't mind taking this flight again next summer.

just chatting with papa before bedtime

I am not going to do a play by play of each day because this is exactly how our days went.

Everyone wakes up, breakfast for all the kids. Play time/nap time for Graham. Usually followed up with a boat ride, lunch, naps for my boys, another boat ride, dinner, more playing and finally bedtime.

We really didn't leave the house much! We did take the kids for ice cream one day and also out to lunch at this great restaurant that's right on the water and you can drive the boat to. For the past few summers we have had a local gal babysit for us. This summer she came every day and really helped me with Graham. She was able to stay inside and play with him while we were down on the dock or out on the boat. It took a load off my shoulder and actually allowed Patrick and I to have somewhat of a "vacation" {more on that later}.

 Mimi and Papa with their grands..minus Graham who was at home

 Jack adored playing with his cousin Andrew, who is about 15 months older than he is and discovered he will have a best friend for life in him. My nieces had the best time. They call themselves "sister cousins" and are the very best of friends.

 If we ever couldn't find the boys they were more than likely playing in the dog beds 

 Sweet Graham turned 9 months old!

I had a friend make matching outfits for all the kids so that we could get a picture. Trying to get 5 kids to look at the camera and smile at the same time takes an act of congress!

One afternoon we took the kids to this great farm stand that has the best doughnuts and also has the cutest play place!

Another evening we took the kids to some friends who have all kinds of farm animals. They had the best time!

We celebrated my nieces 8th birthday!

Patrick and I snuck away for a quick 9 holes of golf.

Saying good bye is never easy! I hope that we won't have to wait until next summer to see my sister and her family again. Jack has been talking about Andrew ever since we got home.

They boys were really good on the plane ride back. Jack again slept the whole way and Graham did not but he was good. Except for a minor incident where he some how gave me a major bloody nose, and the screaming that took place for the last 20 minutes of the ride he was a really good traveler!

Over all it was a fantastic trip! But, lets be honest. When you travel with kids its definitely not really a vacation. Neither one of our boys slept through the night once and between making sure no one was drowning or throwing a tantrum we rarely had much down time. Thank goodness they still took their good afternoon naps!

I am already looking forward to our trip next summer!