Michigan Vacation

We headed out for a five-day vacation in the Sleeping Bear Dunes region of Michigan. It was so beautiful. The lake was so clear. You could walk out for about a half mile and still only be up to your chest. I like the fact that you could see your feet (not a huge swimmer in mucky water). We canoed, which will go down as the "Claire-hates-canoeing trip". She was bit grumpy about following directions (hmmm - where does she get that from?). We hiked the Sleeping Bear Dunes. See this picture -- that is just the first crest of the dunes. It goes on and on, up and up after that. Who knew walking uphill in sand for over an could be so exhausting? We all slept like babies that night.

A quick stop at South Haven on the way home to see the lighthouse. The kids thought it would be bigger. This isn't Maine, ya' know?

AND, back to reality. How do six people make so much stinky laundry? Poor me.

Roadkill Rescue

Before: Brant and I found these lockers on the way home from one of many softball games this summer. They were just sitting on the road waiting for the trash man. I could not allow this travesty. After shaming my husband into pulling over and helping me smuggle these big boys into the back of our mini, these then sat in the garage for about a month. Well . . .

AFTER: A thorough scrubbing and about $12 dollars in spray paint brought forth these awesome babies. They work great in Brant's Bear Cave and also work great for hiding a lot of our junk.

Half Way

Summer is zipping by here. We are officially half way through and none of us is ready for it to be near over. We still have so many things to check off our summer to-do list, I don't know it we will possibly get it all done. It will be fun to try through.

We visited family over the Fourth, and we are now blessed with an Aunt and Uncle with a pool! Every time we step on our back deck now, my children reminecse about "how great that pool was. Gee, it sure would be nice to have one of our own." : ) With the 97 degree spike like today, I too, think a pool sound better and better.