I'm seeing a trend here for the summer- a lot going on, and not enough time to blog about it. There have been so many things to post, and I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed trying to stay on top of them and post them!
Over the 4th, the kids and I left for up north to visit my mom and her hubby who is staying at her cabin for the summer. We go every year over the 4th and few other times over the summer. We left on Monday, and it was COLD and rainy the whole week. We left David at home, because he has to fund my vacations. I kept myself occupied with the Legos the first day. Here's my masterpiece.
On Tuesday, we decided to go into Gaylord to see the movie Up. I was excited to see it, and I thought the kids would enjoy going to the theater because we don't go often. Apparently everyone else had the same idea, and the first show was sold out. We hung out in town for another 2 hours for the next show. Jake was freaked out the whole movie. I don't know what it is, but the kid is afraid of movies, even Toy Story freaks him out. Tyler hung in there, but really wanted to play the arcade games in the lobby. So I finally gave in when Jake was in tears and left. I missed the last 20 minutes of the show, which is the best part. We waited in the lobby for my mom and Bob to finish the show- someone had to tell me how it ended!
Wednesday my sister and her husband and kids came up, and we went to Boyne City to meet family we hardly get to see. We had a nice dinner at a restaurant outside, all 18 of us. Jake was excited to have his cousins to play with now. David called Wednesday night to let me know my Fuzzy had been hit by a car (we think) and had passed away. I absolutely adored that cat. He was had the sweetest personality.
Thursday was fishing day, and the kids spent all day fishing in the cold. They had to wear jeans and sweatshirts. I packed about 6 pairs of shorts each for the boys, and they wore shorts one day the whole time we were there. They had a great time though, and Jake caught some huge fish on his tiny Lightening McQueen fishing pole.
I don't have the fish pictures, my mom has them on her camera.
David and my brother came late on Thursday night and they brought a surprise with them- my brother bought a fishing boat and hauled it up north. 
The guys were anxious to launch the boat on Friday, so they left for Otsego lake. The lake that my mom's cabin is on doesn't permit speed boats or jet skis. We were going to meet them with the kids, but they came back and said it was to cold. My mom, sister and I headed to town for shopping instead. We managed to go for a ride later in the day, but only for short runs because of the cold. My sister has those pictures on her camera. I was wrapped up in a blanket.
Finally on Saturday (the 4th) we had nice weather. We all went to Harbor Springs for the day. We watched the parade, well the kids and I did- there was not a single parking spot to be found so David dropped us off and went to Petosky for lunch at McDonalds. I was starting to get sick, so I didn't feel so great, now that we had a nice weather.
This cracks me up. I tell my mom she has this to look forward to. The "bikinis" are t-shirts, it's a group of old ladies wearing them in the parade.
Later on, we all had dinner with my grandpa. We have been coming to Harbor Springs for the 4th ever since I can remember and we are thankful that my grandpa was apart of it this year since he had a stroke last year and was in a nursing home at the time.
We stayed for the fireworks which the boys loved. They laid on a grassy hill, side by side. During moments like that, I'm glad I have two boys who will grow up together being "boys" -getting into trouble together!
Everyone left on Sunday, except me, mom and Bob. I meant with a lady who owns one of my favorite stores, and let me be her "intern" for a few hours. She gave me some information on painting furniture and owning a store. That was a lot of fun for me.
I stayed for a few more days hoping for some good weather, which didn't happen until the day we left. My mom and I took the boys for walks, kayak rides, out for ice cream and elk viewing. I got my recipes organized, and hung out with my friend Sus, who's parents also have a cabin a few down from ours. We've been friends forever, and I spent a lot of summers with her at the cabin. I hadn't seen her since my wedding, so we got caught up.
On our last day, the boys got to swim. Usually, during our cabin vacations, I plop in a chair by the water and spend the day watching the boys frolic in the water and read magazines. I didn't do that at all this time. It felt like fall time. We played a lot of games especially Scattergories and Sequence, which was fun. It just wasn't our typical vacation up there-maybe it was the crappy weather, me getting sick, and my cat dying that changed it.
Anyway, it will be a vaction to remember. We are going back up soon, so maybe that time will be a little better.
It's me and Ned Flanders, I mean David. (1999)
And our wedding, July 16, 2005.