Journey to Torch Lake

We boated for 7 hours yesterday!  It was a gorgeous day.  We ventured down torch river, played at the sand bar, ate at dockside and drove around torch lake.  We even exhausted Blake!

A Little Bit of Paradise

We are spending a week up north!!!  It is a beautiful place:). We all kayaked and paddle boated last night.  The kids also caught 2 fish ---  glorious!!!

Hopefully Fortunate!

I recently had a great night out with two wonderful ladies.  We started talking about our busy summer.  I had to stop and think---  Are my kids spoiled????  I sure hope that I am giving them some wonderful memories that will last their lifetime.  I also hope that they are FORTUNATE and not too spoiled and always expecting everything that is given to them.  It has been on my mind lately...  last night while tucking them in, all three said separately how much fun they had today at the beach and thanked me for taking them---  I take that as a "they feel fortunate and not spoiled"!  I want to give the world to these three kids, but also want them to appreciate and be caring people who will give back.  Raising "great" kids is so much work and stressful...

I really can't believe how much my kids LOVE any zoo...  I sure hope at least one of them end up having a career with animals.  Caitlin recently told me that she was going to be an artist!!!!  Totally not a talent from her mom or dad, but awesome for her.

We took Charlene and Eyvind to the John Ball Zoo in GR.  It is such a great little zoo.  Also the best zip line and ropes course.  Caitlin was super bummed that you had to be 65 pounds to ride the zip line.  She was able to do the ropes course thankfully.

sting ray fans

Thankfully moved on from face paint...  but are tattoos any better???

zip line

Way to go Blake

Ropes Course...  Cait's first time---  excited and nervous

They did amazing.  Loved how they looked out for each other!

Flying Madison

More Adventures with My Big Sister!

I know that I keep saying how wonderful Lake Michigan is...  But I don't ever want to take it for granted how lucky we are to live so close to this amazing LAKE.  I am all packed up and heading out to the beach today with friends.  Thankfully my kids love the beach as much as I do.  It seems like one of the most relaxing places to me.  I am hoping to buy a Lake Michigan t-shirt while up north...

Charlene loves to visit Lake Michigan every summer with us.  We decided to take her to Warren Dunes this year.

We spent a whole day there climbing dunes, playing in the water, hiking the river, collecting clay, and getting a coffee to help us on our drive home!

The boys brought their water guns...

The kids played at the top of the dune for at least an hour.  

Bikinis RIGHT????  We have never let our girls wear them.  I can't get them out of them.    Trying not to be too OVER protective now...  Hoping that pays off in a few years.

They love to run down

Off to the CLAY...

Caitlin clung to Auntie..  She saw a snapping turtle last time and now is FREAKED to walk in there...

ADORABLE... My girls love a fast ride!