Memory for August 7th

August 7^th

I had to write this blog twice because I lost the first entry.  The first version was better.  My memory for today is watching the girls give each other rides on the four wheeler. Julia gave Ariana a ride then they switched roles and Ariana gave Julia a ride. As the afternoon went on sky started to have puffy clouds so I stuck out my thumb and hitched a ride with Ariana on the four wheeler. She drove me down the road and I started taking pictures. It was a picture perfect day.

Later that night we had a bonfire and the girls sang songs. Ariana's favorite was the Baby Bummble Bee song. They also sang the Baby Shark song and Form the Banana song. They were so funny.

Memory for August 6th

August 6^th, 2010

My memory for today is having a bonfire with my girls. My brother Steve got the fire going and then we sat around it and made smores. Mmmmmmm. That was the first time Ariana had smores. She liked them so much she had three or four. They also wanted to watch things burn so they threw a pop can in the fire. They liked watching it melt. Then Steve wrapped a plastic bag around a stick and put it in the fire. When the bag caught fire it would drip so it looked like the fire was dripping. The girls thought it looked cool.

When we were sitting around we were also looking at the stars. I wanted to try taking a star trail picture so we went down to the woods and set up the camera. Unfortunately, my first try at star trails did not work. So I'll try again and maybe next time will be better.   

Memory for August 5th

August 5^th, 2010

Ok the Soo does not like me.  LOL  It always rains and turns cold when I am up here.  Brrrrr.  The girls rode the four wheelers between the rain showers and then we went into to town to see the Soo Locks.  It was disheartening to see more rain clouds.  I really wanted to go to Cedarville and go swimming.  We  have not swam there in four years because is it always rainy and cold when we are up here. 

Since the beach was out of the equation we headed down to Mackinaw City.  We went in some shops and bought some fudge. 

Then back to the Soo we went.  The girls are watching more episodes of the Dukes of Hazard on dvds.  My brother only gets three television stations up here and has a limited amount of dvds.  By the time this trip is done I think I will have seen every episode about Hazard county.  

Memory for August 4th

August 4^th, 2010

Today was wine tasting day.  Who knew Michigan has so many delicious wineries?  We went up Old Mission Peninsula and visited the wineries.  The peninsula was breath taking.  The vineyards were such a sight to see.  Rolling hills with rows of vines with a crisp blue bay in the background and the hazy summer sky overhead.  Absolutely gorgeous is what it was.  For lunch we stopped at Bad Dogs for pizza but someone forgot to take out the pizza dough.  So we had to settle for sandwiches.  Glad we did though.  That was the best sandwich I have ever ate.  Yum-o!  Buffalo chicken sandwich with blue cheese on a sun dried tomato wrap.  Delish!

After the wine tasting and the fabulous lunch, we were off to Sault Ste. Marie to visit my brother.  We took the scenic route through Charleviox and Petoskey up the north western side of the state.   Charleviox was a hopping town.  It was very busy there and it was a Wednesday afternoon.  I'm sure the weekends are crazy. 

When we got to Petoskey, we stopped at the city and walked around.  They are a very scenic park on the bay and small playground.  I took some pictures of the kids and they ran around for a little while.  Then back in the car and on the road again.

After we crossed the Mackinac Bridge we started to see some storms rolling in.  It was sad to see the rain coming but the clouds were very impressive and a photogenic.  We got to my brother's house a little while later.  It was strange getting there and knowing grandma wasn't there.   This is only the second time we've been up here since her funeral.  It just feels really strange without her here, like something is missing.

Memory for August 3rd, 2010

Our day started out rainy, whiny, and with a temper tantrum.  But then the sun came out, an attitude changed, and things got better.  FYI, the temper tantrum had nothing to do with the weather and neither did the changing attitude.

Once the weather got better we headed over to Empire, MI to find a beach so we could go swimming.  The beach was beautiful.  It was not as big as Grand Haven or Ludington but the view was spectaular.  We could see the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes down both sides of the beach.  The water was a beautiful aquamarine and quite warm for Lake Michigan.  The intense heat this summer had really warmed up the Grerat Lakes.

When we were at the beach I was watching Julia make sand castles and a thought crossed my mind.  I remembered reading a book to Julia when she was younger about all the lasts.  The last time someone crawls.  The last time someone is small enough to carry.  The last time someone takes a nap.  Then I thought, this might be the last summer Julia likes to play in the sand and make sand castles.  She is getting too old too quickly.  This summer she is eleven going in twelve and still likes to play at the park and make sand castles.  Next summer she might think all that is babyish.  I hope she stays young for a little while longer.  I'm not read for a teenager yet.

Memory for August 2, 2010

Woke up today and it was raining.  AGH!  It can't rain on our trip when the weather was suppose to be sunny and hot.  We decide to be optimistic and got our picnic lunch together and headed out.  We went driving around and did some wine tasting.  Well at least Trevor and I did.  The girls just tagged along for that part.  

We also stopped and got some cherries and blueberries from a roadside stand.  Mmmmmm... they were tart cherries and Ariana and I looooooved them.  Julia thought they were too sour so she eat most of the blueberries.  The sun did finally come out so we had a picnic lunch in Traverse then headed out to the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.  While we were there, surprise... we climbed the dunes.  When we were running down one Ariana face planted into the sand.  She thought it was funny.

After that we drove around and ended up in Leland.  The fireman there had their trucks out and were letting kids spray the hoses into the river.  Both Julia and Ariana got to spray the hoses.  That was a nice surprise for the trip. 

I guess for a day that started out rainy, it turned out nice in the end.  Did I mention lately that I LOVE summer? :) 

Memory for August 1, 2010

Ahhhhh... summer. :)  I love summer.  The sun, the heat, the water, the smell of sunscreen, I love it all.  We were on our way to Lake Michigan again today and stopped at a park the girls saw yesterday.  They were so happy when we took them to this park.  It's funny how sometimes the simplest things can make them so happy. 


Today when we were at the beach there weren't any waves.  Ariana was bummed out but still enjoyed her time.  She loves swimming in the water.  She is our little fish.  The farther out she can go the happier she is.  And boy does she push the limit.  She always wants to swim where the water is over her head.  I have to keep my eye on that little one.   


The water was very calm today so there were a lot of boats anchored by the swimming area.  Trevor told me that when he was out in the water with the girls, Julia told him that if we ever made enough money to by a big boat she didn't want us to buy one with a second floor.  It scared her she said.  Trevor reassured her that if we ever made enough money to buy a boat we would be sure not to get one with a second floor.  LOL. Ariana of course, decided she wanted the boat to have a second floor.  Always the thrill seeker.