Our trip started very early Tuesday morning. We had a 6 am flight which means we had to leave our house at 3 am to drive the hour to the airport, check in and make it to our gate. Which we barely did, who knew that the airport was hopping at 5 am! The boys did pretty well with the flight, I was shocked neither one slept at all considering they were up at 3 am. We had about 30 min of sitting on the runway before we took off which was annoying. We had a layover in Detroit and originally we were only supposed to have an hour layover, which would have given us enough time to get to our gate and change diaper/potty before boarding our next flight. Well, we had an hour delay and all the boys wanted to do was run around, which was great for them. Not so great for Patrick and me who just wanted to chill..jokes on us!
We arrived in Traverse City about 10 and were at the house by 11:15!
The Next 10 days were spent playing on the water, chasing Grahammy around (thankfully we had an awesome local sitter who came every day) and eating some wonderful meals!
The Next 10 days were spent playing on the water, chasing Grahammy around (thankfully we had an awesome local sitter who came every day) and eating some wonderful meals!
The sunsets in northern Michigan are like nothing you've ever seen! We saw some spectacular ones but this was by far the best!
We took family photos one morning, everyone did awesome and there wasn't one major meltdown from anyone. Can't wait to see them!
Our babysitter lives on an Elk farm and has tons of animals so we took a field trip one even over there!
My mom and I took the boys to one of the many orchards up there. They have a fun play place and we got the best donuts!
My dad's garden is amazing, he has over 100 hydrangea plants and they are all gorgeous!
My dad cooked Shrimp and Grits one night, so yummy!
These two boys loved playing with each other. They explored and had so much fun chasing after one another!
Our lake is a mile over from Lake Michigan, so one morning we took the big kids over there to hunt for rocks.
After my sisters husbands left the 3 of us and Patrick went to dinner one evening while my parents went to a neighbors party.
This was the only time we took Graham on the boat..he did love it!
We celebrated my nieces birthday with cupcakes!
Then it was time to go home! I will spare you details of our flight, lets just say it involved a lot of screaming and crying and by the time we landed in Raleigh I was almost in tears myself.
He didn't fall asleep until we were 5 minutes off the plane...
It was such a wonderful trip and one that I look forward to every single year! When thinking about my dream vacation there are a ton of places that I'd love to go..but if I had to choose one real place that I know I could go, it would be here!
What an amazing trip (minus the flight debacles), and Torch Lake is now on my list of must-see places. Those sunsets looked absolutely gorgeous, as did your Dad's hydrangeas and that yummy shrimp & grits meal! I'm so glad you got in some much-needed family time. ❤️
ReplyDeleteWe just got back from a week long vaca in Traverse City!! Torch Lake has always been on our list because we hear it's amazing! We stayed on Long Lake and it was so beautiful too. I didn't know water could be that crystal clear right there! Looks like you guys had an awesome time! We joke that we need a sitter on our next trip (there are 8 little kids!) but really, I think that would be so nice!
ReplyDeleteWow!! What a beautiful place!! Looks like telling boys had such a fun time!!
ReplyDeleteWow you all fit a ton in! Smart on having a local babysitter there -- I bet that helped a ton! Lovely place and I know you loved being with your family!
ReplyDeleteOh my, 3 a.m. is an early start! Looks like a great trip though! There's nothing like family time at the lake!
ReplyDeleteYour trip sounds like so much fun. 10 days seems like a great amount of time, too!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! Can I go with you next time? What a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteLooks like and sounds like an amazing trip. So sorry for Graham's flight issues on the way home, but thankfully it's over. I know how you feel about looking forward to a trip each year.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun trip! Flying with kids is always a wildcard because you never know how they will act but it sounds like they did great on the plane. Beautifully Candid
ReplyDeleteTraverse City is one of my all time favorite places. I love all your awesome family pictures!
ReplyDeleteThat's so great that the boys did so well on the plane. I'm so scared to take our kids flying! I'm glad that you guys had a great, time, though. You have been so much lately, you deserve it.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. So much fun on your trip until the flight home. I am so sorry about that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun trip! I love the hydrangeas and am so jealous of your orchard trip! That makes me wish for fall so bad haha!
ReplyDeleteSarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts
What a perfect trip with lots of family and outside time! That sunset is GORGEOUS!!! We are flying with Vivi over labor day and I'm already have anxiety about it UGH!
ReplyDeleteOh how fun! I've been to Torch Lake once! I live in the tip of the thumb in Michigan. Sunsets anywhere on the water in Michigan are my favorite!!! Sunrises are beautiful too but waking up early is no longer my preference ;)
ReplyDeleteOMGoodness your little ones are too cute! Gorgeous children. The lake looks like a ton of fun and especially to share it with family. Those memories will last a lifetime.
ReplyDelete