This Weekend.

For quite a while, Ben's wonderful sister and brother-in law, have been talking about having our kids up to stay with them in Grand Rapids for the weekend.  A couple months ago, they set the date for this past weekend.  I'll be honest...I wasn't necessarily counting the time down.  I love my kids and I feel like I already don't see them enough, so the idea of spending a weekend away from them when I am already away from them far too much during the week was tough for me.  I had threatened Brooke that she might just see me hiding behind the pinball machine at Craig's Cruisers...watching them from afar.  Not at all because I didn't trust them, but just because I would miss them.

I'm guessing Brooke took this as some sort of hint, and found a last minute travel deal and forwarded it to Ben.  So...on Friday afternoon, we dropped the kids off in Grand Rapids...on our way to Mackinac Island.  Pretty awesome sister-in-law, huh?

We had an amazing weekend.  I have a serious love for Michigan.  You know, when I was younger I always assumed that I would move away to some other better state in our country.  After years of travel for fun and for work...I really realized...the grass isn't always greener somewhere else.  This state of ours is pretty darn amazing.  I'm in love with it and every time I get the chance to wander through this awesome state, I take it.  This weekend was no different.  Wanna see a few pics?

There is one way to Mackinac Island.  Over the water.  So...you can leave from either Mackinaw City or St. Ignace to reach the Island by ferry.  So...we left from St. Ignace, which is part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  You know why?  You have to go over the Mackinac Bridge to get there!  It may be 15 minutes longer to drive.  Well worth it.

Here is another view of the bridge, from the ferry.

Our Bed and Breakfast for the weekend.  It was beautiful.

Our transportation for the weekend.  No cars on Mackinac.  Bike, walk, or horse-drawn carriage.  Your choice.

We took a bike ride around the Island (about an 8 mile trek).  It was my favorite part of the weekend.  The views were amazing.

My favorite guy.

 

Arch Rock.

We visited The Grand Hotel.

It's like the saying, "When in Rome."  In this case, it's "When in Mackinac...sit on the porch at the Grand Hotel and drink Big Porch Ale and Lemonade."

It's the largest porch in the United States, you know.  If Bell's names a beer after it, it must be famous.

 We even found an executive putt putt course with 18 pins and real greens to conquer.  He beat me.

The whole weekend together was wonderful.  I missed my kids like crazy, but I loved our time together.  That's what it's all about.  Love.

Oh - and back to that amazing sister and brother...yeah.  Well, I was getting wonderful texts with photos like these of my kids having fun.  So cool.  They made memories to last a lifetime too.

Hope your weekend was fab.

The Fourth in Photos

We had an amazing day yesterday...celebrating our great Nation's Independence Day.  It was...simply put...perfect.  We began our day at the Richland Parade.  I've told you before how much I love my town and all it takes is the Fourth of July parade to get me gushing again.  People line the streets of our downtown area in anticipation of the parade.  Friends and family get together to watch.  Last year, Jillian and I were in the parade, but this year...she decided it might be more fun to watch...and catch candy.

So, of course, our very favorite parade entrant included our very favorite guys...

 ...And the whole AAA Gull Road gang.

 After catching more candy than Jillian received on Halloween, and cheering on our friends in so many different floats, it was on to several beach parties for the day.  We had a blast.  I won't mention jumping in the water in a dress to help Jillian when a few too many waves were sweeping her into the dock...

The evening ended in the most perfect way.  On a boat, listening to live music from a party, while we waited to watch the fireworks from the water.  My wonderful mother-in-law brought salted caramels and snacks.  Perfection, I tell you.

The sunset was beautiful.

 Not sure how this could be the best picture of Ben and I...but it was. 

And a few blurry iPhone shots of the fun.

 Hope your Fourth was perfect, too.

Tuesday's Love and I'm Better Off Without Lists...

Love List...

• Extra long weekend coming right up!
• I'm drinking an awesome smoothie as I type...with a bendy straw of course.
• Dinner and chattery with a college BFF.  I love that despite living across the country, we still manage to see each other several times a year.
• Myles at the driving range.  His man voice, ego, and efforts so much bigger than his skinny little body.
• We took the kids putt-put golfing (guess it was a golfing weekend??) and to the attached arcade.  They were so excited and I love seeing the excitement in their eyes. (Not necessarily the germs in those places, but whatever.)  My favorite part?  Every time there was something to hit your ball through, Jillian's would get stuck.
• Sarcasm at work.  It's a survival technique.

Jillian demonstrating Mommy's attitude about golf.

A few putt-putt pics...  Scroll D-O-W-N for the Better Off Without List.  

I'm Better Off Without List...

• This blog becoming a Tuesday-only habit.  Terrible.  I must fix this asap.
• Unflushed kiddie poo in the toilet.  Even worse?  When there is no toilet paper to go with it.  I'm afraid to ask...  Did you not wipe?  Or...did you throw it in the trash can....sick.
• Tonight I left a message on our babysitter's answering machine...at her parents house.  For whatever reason I stumbled through the entire message, started leaving my work phone number, and used the words, "Or whatever..." Train-wreck, I tell you.  Ben said from down the hall, "Wow, that was a well thought out message."