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.

July 31th, 2010

Today we started our journey up north to visit my brother.  We are taking our time getting up there and went to Grand Haven first.  My memory from today is swimming in Lake Michigan with my girls.  This is pure happiness enjoying this time with them.  They were on their boogie boards playing in the waves, smiling, laughing, and having a great time.


The funny part of the day was right after we got there.  We got all our sunscreen on and were looking at the clouds hoping it wouldn't rain.  Sure enough, right after the girls and Trevor were in the lake it started to rain.  I was up on shore and decided to take our clothes and towels into the beach house/changing area so that they didn't get all wet.  At the same time Julia came up onto the shore and saw me.  So she went back into the water and told Trevor I said we were leaving and we needed to go change.


Here I am up at the beach house or bathroom area, whatever it is called, and I see Trevor getting the rest of our stuff and running with the cooler.  You could see the blue sky right behind the rain cloud so the rain was going to blow over.  When he got to me, I asked him what he was doing and why didn't he just keep swimming.  That is when we discovered what Julia told him.  Crazy girl.  So back into the water they went.  I waited for the rain to stop so our towels and clothes stayed dry.  Then back to the beach I went.  I even took a little nap.  It was an awesome day.  The rain couldn't even dampen our beach day.

Memory for July 30, 2010

I am going to be moving my notes over to a new blog that I created. Thank you Laura and Stacey! I will let you know when that happens. As for now here it is:

My memory for today was when Ariana said she wanted to help me get ready for for our trip. She helped me make the yummy greek pasta salad. This salad is her and Julia's favorite. We even sampled a little bit before I packed it up. She wanted to help so I asked her if she would make the pb&j sandwiches. She said sure. She was so cute making those sandwiches and all serious too. The first one she made didn't have enough peanut butter or jelly on it so I showed her how to do it. She said, "Oh . . . I thought that would be too much and that you would get mad." I told no way the more the better.

It took her a very long time to make these sandwiches. And I am sure they will be the most delicious that I have ever eaten.

Memory for July 29, 2010

Today my memory is going on a bike ride with Ariana. I was cleaning all day and she was watching tv all day. By eight o'clock I had had enough. I told her to turn off the tv and do something. Of course she complained and said there was nothing to told. So I told her to go for a bike ride. She asked if I would go with her. My first thought was no. But then I thought about all the cleaning I had been doing and how my baby was growing up before my eyes. And that soon she would not ask me to ride bikes with her so I said yes. 

It was nice a beautiful evening. We rode all over the neighborhood. I remember doing this in the spring. We would stop and smell the lilacs and think of grandma up north. She had those in her yard when I was growing up. 

I love riding bikes with Ariana, watching her smile, her hair blowing in the wind, and listening to her laugh. This is one of the things I love about summer.