A Week of Fun with Grandma!

Grandma came Friday July 24th, and went home Sunday August 2nd. We had so much fun hanging out together; it is always sad to see her leave. The past few years we have been going camping with Grandma and Nanna & Poppa, but this year, due in part to Mulligan's illness (we cannot kennel him) and also due to my parents helping out Great Grandpa Kenny now that his wife broke her hip, our normal plans were changed. We looked at renting a house on a lake somewhere, but it got costly and we dragged our rears making any decision. So in the end we decided to toole around Michigan.

Here are some highlights of the week:

Sat. July 25th

Grandma arrived Friday night, and we went out to dinner, and came home late, then had the required doling out of gifts and snuggling late in bed. So Saturday we all woke up late, so we just hung out most of Saturday day. The girls played games with Grandma for awhile.

We all had fun playing with clay with Grandma. Here are some of the creatures that Bill, Lauren, and Annika made. They all have blue backpacks on, so they can go hiking.

This is Annika's mouse she made. I am always impressed at her ability to create in 3-D, something I am not good at. Then we went to my parents for a yummy steak & sweet corn dinner, and to drop Mulligan off at Camp Simmi (my parent's place) while we went to West Michigan with Grandma.

Sunday July 26th
Sunday we left bright and early and drove to Grand Haven. I LOVE Lake MI, and was so excited to go to Grand Haven and toole around the city, play in the sand and swim in the lake. Yea, it was way too cold and windy on Sunday. So we drove up to Muskegon and checked into our hotel; they had an indoor swimming pool and that was almost as good for the girls.

Monday July 27th

We spent all day Monday at Michigan Adventure, and had a blast!! Annika was tall enough to ride the Mad Mouse this year, so she was happy. And we spent quite a bit of time at the water park area, conquering tall slides and wave pools. I left my purse and camera in the car, so I would not have to worry about loosing anything valuable, so there are no pictures of this day. But suffice it to say we had a blast!!

Tuesday, July 28th: Holland, MI
We played tacky tourist and stopped at Dutch Village. I thought it would be very touristy, and it was, but it was also pretty educational and fun for the girls. I enjoyed the village. Here the girls are playing some Dutch games - wooden clogs (which HURT my high arch/instep!) are nailed to a board and you have to walk together across the yard.

Burlap Sack races. This was fun!

Lauren learning how to Dutch Dance.

Annika sitting in the stork's basket. Ummmm, nope. No more for this lady!

The girls helping to make Gouda cheese.

We were going to stay one more night and then go back Wednesday morning, but it was too windy and cool to go to the lake, and we figured we'd be home in time to unpack and go to bed, so we headed home Tuesday. Without ever setting foot in the lake. sniff sniff.


Wednesday, July 29th

Wednesday we went canoeing and had a blast. Bill and Grandma took the girls out on the canoe (there really is not enough room for a 5th person) and they paddled around for quite awhile. Enough for me to finish the book I have been reading since Marchish. Anyway, here are some shots from the lake, and fairy-house building, and even Bill teaching Annika to skip stones.

The girls built sand castles/fairy houses on the beach. This is Annika's house. I love the way they get creative building these houses. It is rarely ever how I picture a typical sand castle.