Michigan Fun

We had a terrific time in Michigan with Verne & Linda Kenney and Julia & Scott Peterson.  We did a variety of activities, but most of all we enjoyed being with family.

We LOVED the cooler temperature and took advantage of being able to be outside to enjoy as much of it as we could.  We shared as many meals outside as we could get in during our week's stay.  It was a pleasant surprise to enjoy morning coffee and doughnuts on our first morning in Grand Rapids outside on the deck while over looking the river outback of Verne & Linda's home.  Linda and the kids got up and brought Starbucks drinks and Krispy Kreme doughnuts to the house that morning while letting Wes & I sleep.  A perfect way to start our week of vacation!

Later that same day Verne arrived home and he took us for ride in his boat on the river.  The kids absolutely loved riding in the boat.  Later in the day they rode in the boat with Uncle Scott driving, and the kids decided Uncle Scott was more fun (even though Scott had his shirt off & Sebastian thought that was weird).  The highlight of the day for Katherine came that evening around dinner when Aunt Julia arrived.  It had been at least two years since we'd seen Julia, and Katherine couldn't wait to see her Aunt Julia!  The rest of us were happy to see her too, but no one was happier than Katherine.

On Saturday Wes and his dad, Verne, played a round of golf together.  They were able to do this several times during our stay, and I was very excited for them to have such an opportunity to be together.

Before we traveled north to the condo in Ludington, we visited the Grand Rapids Children's Museum where we had a blast playing (yes, the adults too).  After leaving the museum we said our goodbyes to Uncle Scott & Aunt Julia, as they were not coming to the condo with us and headed north to Ludington.  We spent several days in Ludington and enjoyed watching the Badger come in and out of port every day.  The kids would race to the balcony when they heard the S.S. Badger's horn blow.  We played at the city park right outside the condo at least once everyday , and enjoyed our lunch & dinners out on the balcony.  We walked around town and had ice cream at the House of Flavors.  We spent an afternoon at the beach and swam in Lake Michigan.  Wes and I were even able to have a couple hours alone together one day and enjoy some time shopping in Pentwater, Michigan, while we were staying in Ludington.  On the last day in Ludington Wes and the kids visited the the Sandcastle Children's Museum and had a great time while I cleaned the condo.

We headed back to Grand Rapids on Wednesday where we celebrated Katherine's 8th birthday, and to our surprise Aunt Julia was able to get off work and be there with us.  It was a wonderful celebration with Papa Verne, Grandma, Aunt Julia, & Uncle Scott.

On Thursday we spent the afternoon at the Grand Rapids County Club swimming pool visiting with great grandparents, John & Donna Klein, and two of their other grandkids, Bella & Sophia.  Later that evening Grandma watched the kids so Wes & I were able to go out on a dinner date on our last night in Grand Rapids.  It was sweet!

We started our last day on vacation much like our first day of vacation with Krispy Kreme doughnuts before heading back to the house to get our things packed for our flight home that evening.

We said our goodbyes to Uncle Scott & Grandma and drove off to the airport. Wes dropped the kids and I off at the terminal while he went to return the rental car and it was at that point I noticed that my phone was still at his parents house! (I thought it was time for our trip to have a little drama!)  As soon as Wes met up with us (and I could use his phone) I called Linda and she was able to bring us my phone!  Whew!  We made it on the plane and all was good.  We arrived at DFW at 11pm, and we were all so tired we thought it best to spend the night in a hotel instead of making the three hour drive home.  All was good until breakfast the next morning when Katherine decided to add her show of coming home excitement by getting sick.  Well, we were officially NOT on vacation anymore, but that was okay.

Our trip was awesome and we had a blast being together as a family.  Thank you Verne, Linda, Scott, Julia, John, Donna, Bella, and Sophia for making our vacation so incredible!  We love all of you and are looking forward to time with you on our next visit!

Here are some of our highlights....Enjoy!