The first night is the easiest - let the kids run down at the beach & play in the sand and water...clothes & all. It got rather amusing since my youngest still had a pull up on from the trip. Let's just just say they did their job & absorbed liquids well...they were halfway down his rear in no time! So cute :)
I was concerned about my shops since the Christmas in July sale was going on. There was wi-fi up there & I planned on using my son's iTouch. Luckily, my bro-in-law had a laptop that I could use to check on the shops once or twice a day. See...my sis-in-law snapped a shot of me working.
My youngest really wanted to see a lighthouse - and while there was one right out the front of the resort at the end of a pier...he wanted a big one he could go in. So we went to Point Betsie...which was closed. At least I got some cool pics. The Mackinaw - Chicago race was also going by in the distance - very cool. (Too far out for good pics though). But they had a great time skipping rocks. Young and old alike...
Wyatt and Daddy
Wyatt and big broFrom there we went on in to Traverse City. I could spend all day there! But, since I was the only one, we just did a quick browse through. I did find some great buttons & ribbon (pics to come later). We got some cool hats (I was wearing mine in the computer pic above). Wyatt's was adorable, but he took it off & ran laughing everytime I tried to snap a pic...correction - I just noticed that he was wearing it in the picnic pic.
Tuesday was set aside for the Dune Climb and canoeing. I think we may be bit off our rockers to do both on the same day. If you have never done a dune climb - I highly recommend it....but start early in the day when the sand isn't too hot. And bring lots of water. We climbed for 1 1/2 hours...much easier going down. The MIL and FIL opted out of the canoeing (they hung back & relaxed during the climb too), but we all enjoyed a scenic picnic between the two.
The evenings were spent playing games...Phase 10, Uno, Garbage & Sequence. This is my oldest & my SIL's oldest playing Garbage...reminds me of the 3 Bears - one chair too big, table too small...
The last full day there was the individual Family Day. Before we all went our own ways, my SIL & MIL went with me to a craft show nearby. It was rather large & if I had more cash - I would easily have spent it all. Got some good craft show prop ideas too.My son had his eye on an antique bugle back in Traverse City and since I never got to do my day of shopping...we went back into town. I just love those places. Yes, lots of tourist shops, but even more small boutiques...and a fabulous yarn shop. I need to learn to knit.
We took the scenic route down through the forest on the way home Thursday. I spent Friday shopping for craft show props & getting all my stuff together.
Saturday & Sunday were the big days - my first 2 day craft show. You can read more about it here.
The big day of my MIA'ness was those spent in the hospital. Yes, I said hospital. Without going into too much detail - my body betrayed me for a bit but all the big bads came back negative...no heart attack, no stroke, no brain hemorrhage, no sign of MS...I feel much better now, but still not myself. So I may still be sparse with my online time. I'll keep you updated.
