Pure Michigan 2016 | Part 2

So the fishing and the fire, you get the point. Now, let's get down into what we really came for: the picking!

Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples. You name it we picked it. Not much narration needed here. Enjoy.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series of posts which includes the best part of the trip this year...

Pure Michigan 2016 | Part 1

So we trekked out and down and around Lake Michigan and then back up again along the coast for our annual trip to the place where Tim Allen makes it sounds like Heaven, and he's actually not that far off.

This marked the ninth year in a row we've done this, and it just keeps getting better. Mom, Dad, me, Mae, Pax, Colin, Steph, Ana and Sid. Got a little log cabin on Lake Goshorn again; last year we had the private dock and this year we had the pool (more on that a little later, or maybe even in Part 2 of this extravaganza.

So where to start... let's say the fishing pier. It wasn't private this year but it felt like it anyway, and we spent an evening there fishing and playing.

And while Colin was giving fishing pointers to Pax

Mae and I were reeling them in!

And then this happened. And we only had to practice it a couple times until this Olympic-like level of protection was reached by Ana and me.

The cabin was a huge success, as usual. We built a fire every night and had Smores (and got eaten alive by mosquitos) and we also had the tattoo shop open all weekend so everyone was inked up for three days straight.

And don't forget Oval Beach. Not a lot of pictures here because we were all busy having fun, but it was a picturesque day at Oval Beach and we made the most of it... outside of spending much time in the water, which was - no joke - probably around 45-55 degrees. Dad and Colin rocked it out in there though... old bones must not feel the chill as much.

That last photo right there reminded me of this photo from Spring Break in Denver.

Well, that about does it for Part 1. In Part 2 we'll hit the pool and orchards and leave you feeling like a slice of blackberry pie... stay tuned.

Hot for Teacher

Well, it was back to school a couple weeks ago. But before we did that, we kind of rocked out the St. Helen Carnival. And by rocked out, I mean Dad got up on stage with his friends - The Chris's - and brought all my friends and me on stage, and we sang Twenty One Pilots "House of Gold."

And then people started getting crazy and coloring their hair.

And this is Pax and his best friend Vivvy. They have been friends for a couple years now, and now they are in the same preschool class. They play together every day, pretty exclusively, and had an amazing time at the carnival riding all the rides together for hours on end.

Then it was time for the first day of school.school. The day started with Hutch waking me.

It was old hat for me. Mae finally went into school without crying, after 2.5 years of going to St. Helen. And Pax was the big story as he entered his first day of school ever.

Zero hesitation. Off he went...

Into class. No issues. Just a big "goodbye mom and dad" and a kiss and he was off to spend his day with Miss Eva.  Even gets a nice big fat nap in every day.

But here was the big money shot for the first day. School Selfie!

The Emerald Isle and Hilton's Head

Who, me? Where have I been? It's been a month since my last check-in? Well, let me tell you, we've been around the way and back.

While mom and dad were off in Ireland at their friends' wedding, doing a little bit of this.. (drinking coffee in Dublin and having an actual uninterrupted conversation)

and this... (gettin' all snazzied up and going dancing... does anyone even say that anymore... "going dancing?")

and this... (really, Dad? Archery?)

Let's just pause for one second and take a look at Mom... she literally looks like a professional archerist... archerer... whatever. Maybe it's the pants or the perfect form, not sure.

Anyway, whilst they were doing a little bit of that, we were busy doing a whole lot of this...  (partying hard, whip cream style)

Mae, Pax and I hit the road with Nana, Papa and all our cousins and aunts and uncles and headed to Hilton Head. Then, after three days on the road and 8 days in Hilton Head, Mom and Dad showed up to join us. These pics don't need much narration - except for 1-2 important spots - so let's just get down to it.

Pax channeling his inner Hutch.

Yes, I know, I'm barely in any of those pics. That's because I'm getting all old and stuff and just run around with my cousins or out in the ocean doing my thang. In fact, moms and pops barely saw me when they were there. Face it, I'm all growed up.

Anyway, back to the trip. One day, we all decided to go miniature golfing because after 12 days of beach and pool we were looking for a little change. So off we went.

It was on the fourth hole that Eli hit his ball up a hill, around a curve, back down a hill and... RIGHT IN THE CUP! Hole in one, so naturally, a photo opp.

And then things got really cooky. We were all playing a hole and Pax was messing around right next to us on the hole prior. We looked over to call him and let him know we were going to the next hole when he gave his ball a whack. It went up a hill, into this tunnel thing, rattled around, fell out of the hole on the other side and went... RIGHT IN THE CUP! Hole in one. It was magical, we were hootin' and hollerin' and he just picked up his ball and was like, "yah, I know."

He also loved the water hole where he could work the ball retriever and get everyone's ball out of the water. The last three through the group - Eli, Mom and Dad - purposely hit it in the water just to watch how excited he got with that thing. For a second we thought he might stay there all day and just retrieve balls for $3.50/hour.

And so it was, a magical (but tiring) 18 days on the road for Mabel and me. Pax, Mom and Dad hit the skies a couple days earlier than we got home, flying out of the beautifully quaint Charleston, South Carolina. Pax enjoyed his air adventure...

But not so much waiting at Midway for 75 minutes for our bags.

Either/or, a fantastic few weeks had by one and all.