July 31, 2013

 OOBLEK!
 After we went with our grandma to the library we went home to make 5 buckets of ooblek. as you can see there is a huge mess! We made a lot of ooblek. We got our hands so dirty that we had to wash our  hands more than once! There was ooblek all over the table and bowls! I pretended that I was an alien and got my hand covered in ooblek and let it stretch along my fingers and make my ooblek hang from my fingers and look very long!  Then I pulled the ooblek off. We had so much fun. I can not wait to do it again!By Sophie  ;

July 30, 2013

We had a wonderful day soaking in summer beauty.  We enjoyed a hike at the Nature Center with our cousins.  We enjoyed the last few hours of cousin/sister time before Martha and kiddos headed back to LA.  We are treasuring all of the wonderful memories we made together in the past month. 

July 29, 2013

Savoring every moment.  Laura and her family left yesterday.  Martha and the kids head back to LA tomorrow.  August is approaching at a rapid pace.  Before I start to panic about how much I already miss Laura and how much I will miss Martha, before I start to feel the "summer is almost over" feeling I will take time to savor the moments.  Today we enjoyed time at Timbertown, frozen yogurt AND cups of whip cream at Bigby.  We wrapped up a wonderful (and chilly) day at the beach.  The kids ran and played and floated feathers in the wind.  We walked to the channel and watched a freighter come in.  We held hands and gave hugs and savored the moments. 

July 28, 2013

We love our camper.  This camper is the one I camped in throughout most of my older childhood.  The summer before we began using it a mouse got in and did a little damage to the canvas.  Other than that it is in wonderful, well loved shape.  I slept many a night on the bed Noah sleeps on now.  I treasure many memories in this camper.  At one point this past weekend my mom climbed in, just to smell it's familiar scent.  Even in the midst of  a very wet and chilly camping adventure, I loved waking up this morning with my kids all snuggled in their beds.  Smelling the familiar (and somewhat soggy) scent.  Loving the way the light shines through the canvas.  I love the creak of the door.  I treasure the new memories that my family now adds to this old and special camper.  We loved being back in Pentwater with both of my sisters and all of our kids.

July 27, 2013

 

One of the jokes of our camping weekend in Pentwater was the weather forecast.  Saturday morning as we drove north to Ludington for a picnic and a hike we watched the rain fall steadily.  We checked the hourly forecast and saw there was a 0% chance of rain at that hour.  Hmmm.  For the rest of the weekend as the rain continued to fall, we joked about the 0% chance of rain.  Happily the rain did stop in time for us to have a picnic on the shore of Hamlin Lake and a fabulous hike.  We hiked along the beautiful path, 7 adults and 8 children under the age of 9 1/2.  The kids laughed, looked, wandered off the path and filled Noah's clothes with sand.  The adults took pictures, chatted, and wrangled kiddos.  We saw Kingfishers, baby Swans, and wildflowers.  I wish I would have taken a picture of all the cousins together, but I'm sure someone else did.  We were thrilled to be free of the rain most of the rest of the day and were able to shop downtown, and have our annual family potluck at the campground.  The kids love this night best because they stay up way too late making s'mores and laughing with glow sticks.  I think it was nearly 11 before the kids were all in bed and the adults around the fire were thrilled for a brief glimpse of stars shining overhead (before the clouds and rain came again). 

July 26, 2013

One of the things you can count on when we camp each summer...is that it will rain.  Friday morning rain was looming...but we still managed to squeeze in a few outside activities first.  We visited the State Park in Pentwater where one of the girls' good friends was camping.  We climbed Old Baldy and played on the playground.  We savored the beautiful views.  Back at the campground we shared lunch and headed to the pool.  Air temps were in the mid 60's but the kids swam on (with blue lips!).  Just as the last kiddo climbed out of the pool, the rain began.  We spent the rest of the day hunkered down in various campers making the most of our time.  In lieu of cookouts we ate dinner downtown and made time for the traditional ice cream.  It was soggy, but still a wonderful day.  We made memories!

July 25, 2013

One of my childhood traditions was family trips to Pentwater.  My grandparents had a cottage there and we would visit each summer, savoring the beauty and fun of the city.  We loved visiting the city center, especially on Thursday nights for the weekly band concerts.  Once there my sisters and I would roll down the hill, laughing all the way.  This past Thursday night we were in Pentwater again.  My parents, my two sisters, and all of our kids.  We gathered downtown for the band concert and watched with joy as our kids rolled down the hill, laughing all the way.