We had such a great time in Michigan!
We headed up on Friday, July 22nd after work. We wanted to at least get to Cincinnati before getting a hotel. We normally would stay at Aunt Jean’s house, but because she broke her pelvis and shoulder (both in two separate places) recently, we didn’t want to let her know we were driving through… Once we hit Cincinnati, we weren’t too tired, so we drove the remaining miles and got into Michigan around 3:30 p.m. The kids did so well!
The kids thought it was party time once we got to Grandma Pam’s house, even though it was the middle of the night. After a few smiles and playing with Grandma Pam, I laid down with them. I fell asleep before they did. That Saturday, the Lawson clan was going to come over to Mom’s for dinner. There was a surprise awaiting them… they didn’t know that I was finally able to copy / put together a copy of Grandfather’s book for each of the family members. (See the post titled “Grandfather’s Book” for further specifics.) Unfortunately we didn’t get any still pictures of this exchange, but we did get it on video. Sherry received her book while she was visiting earlier in June. Unfortunately she couldn’t be there with us (neither could Jamin), but they both received their books. Grandmother shed a few tears and gave me a big “thank you” hug. I hope everyone enjoys their book. I told Doug that completing this book is one thing I will be proud of at the end of my life. I pray that, through family members having this book to look through, Grandfather’s example and legacy will live on even more through this reminder.
So on our trip up, our van was seriously loaded down. With: seven copies of Grandfather’s book (plus the original), a serious pantry-full of jams and jellies, tree stumps / pieces of wood Doug wanted to give to my Dad and his Dad, a matte-board cutter and our luggage. Yep, not easy on the gas mileage!
We went to church on Sunday morning and headed to Dad and Dolly’s after church. It’s always good to see familiar faces at Rochester C of C. And of COURSE to see Dad and Dolly’s familiar faces! J We had lunch with them, watched some movies, the kids had popcorn. It was good just to hang-out and have fun with them. I gave Dolly some jellies for her birthday. I’d say my relatives are seriously STOCKED on jellies and jams for some time… J It was crazy hot that Sunday. I had dressed Liam in his baseball outfit to show fellow baseball fan Grandpa Dean, but somehow we misplaced Liam’s Braves baseball hat. Oh well… they got the effect with the baseball pants and jersey. We had some pizza from the Alibi for dinner, which is always yummy! They also had an Elmo birthday cake for Liam, to celebrate his belated birthday. The kids are always game for cake!
On Monday, we woke up and headed over to the Careys’ house. Joe and Kristy were flying in from Arizona in the early afternoon. We hung out with Joe, Kristy, the girls, Grandma and Grandpa on the back deck. The kids got along famously and hit it off instantly. We headed to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner that night, where Ava was fascinated with the “i.d.” maker machine. She now has 8 plastic id’s with her picture on it. LOL.
Tuesday we were packed up and ready to drive to Traverse City! I was so excited that we were actually going on a vacation while in MI…This NEVER happens. I can’t believe I’ve never been there, considering that I grew up in MI. Mary joked that I was the only Michigan native AND the only one who hadn’t been. On the drive up to Traverse City, I realized that I had actually been skiing very close to Traverse City , just not to the actual city itself.
We arrived at Great Wolf Lodge. I was immediately impressed by their kid-friendly environment. They even have coloring easels in the lobby to pacify the kids. We opted to upgrade to the “Wolf Den” room with the kids, thinking they would enjoy something so special. It really was cute. And how often do we actually go on vacation when in MI?
There is a water park within the hotel. And it’s not rinky-dink. It’s huge! Ava and Liam actually went down the huge water slides on the inner-tubes with us.
The Careys offered to babysit for us and Joe and Kristy, while we parents headed out on the town. We walked around downtown Traverse City, where the Traverse City Film Festival was happening. There was a screen on the green, where Star Wars was playing. I think Doug and Joe were in heaven! J Fortunately for Kristy and me, we all went to dinner at the Mackinac Brewing Company. We had the most amazing fried cheese sticks. They were made with Havarti cheese and dill, then dipped in the restaurant’s house ale batter. Yum. I had some fresh Walleye for dinner, along with some French Onion soup. Heaven.
The next day, we went to breakfast at the Flap Jack Shack. The kids had funfetti pancakes! I had a ligonberry crepe of some sort. The food was great, the service, not so much. Poor Maddie had to wait forever for her pancakes! We then headed over to the Sleeping Bear Dunes and climbed them. It was gorgeous! After climbing the dunes, we took a little trip to the peninsula, where we visited the Glen Haven Cannery as well as the beach (Lake Michigan). The kids actually swam in the lake, but it was CRAZY COLD! There were really pretty rocks along the seashore, which is quite a bit different from the shores we’re familiar with on the Gulf. Once back at the hotel, we went to the indoor water park.
The next morning, we went on a schooner named the Tall Ship Manitou. Doug even helped hoist the sails! The kids all helped steer the boat, once we were far enough off shore to shut off the motor and the sails were up. Liam fell asleep on the boat. I can’t blame him. J
We had more fun in the indoor water park that night. The next day, we did some sight-seeing in downtown Traverse City and collected some tourist memorabilia, along with many things “cherry” at Cherry Republic. We then drove up the Old Mission Peninsula to see the lighthouse. The drive there was absolutely gorgeous. It was beautiful to see the cherry trees, orchards and wineries along the way. We visited the beach near the Old Mission lighthouse. While there, I asked the clerk where she would suggest going for lunch. She mentioned a place called the Jolly Pumpkin, advising that it was kid-friendly. Yeah for that! So we all headed to the Jolly Pumpkin and had an amazing late lunch before driving the remaining miles back to Rochester.
Saturday, after breakfast at my Mom’s in Rochester, we headed over to my Dad and Dolly’s for lunch. We picked up Daymian and Jordan on the way. We had some fun with trains before we had to head over to Tracy and Tim’s for a barbecue in the afternoon. At the barbecue, we had some fun with sparklers! Tim was gracious enough to grill for us, while Tracy made some dishes using vegetables and herbs from their garden.
We packed up early on Sunday morning and headed back to Atlanta.
We are so thankful for our good-natured little travelers… we put some serious miles on the mini-van this time! I think we drove approximately 2,000 miles from Atlanta to Michigan to Traverse City and back again. This was one of my favorite trips, getting a chance to sight-see in Michigan.
Peace, love and a cherry disposition,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam
On the way up to Michigan, watching a movie.
Now that she knows pictures are being taken... :)
Hanging out with Vampire Maddie at Chuck E. Cheese
Grandma Pam rocking her (not so little) grandson at bedtime.
He's trying not to crack a smile...
Giving into the smile...
At Grandpa Dean and Grandma Dolly's.
I'd say they're a little attached to their Grandpa Dean, wouldn't you?
When did this guy grow up? :)
My other sweet nephew, Jordan.
Still hanging on to Grandpa...
Peek-a-boo!
The manly men...
Wrestling...
Grandma Dolly loves her grandson.
A candid shot of Dad.
What is he up to now?
Daymian hanging out...
"That guy knows how to put trains together!"
Ava busy helping with the trains.
Silly girl!
Watching a movie with popcorn in hand at Grandpa Dean and Grandma Dolly's.
While we stayed at Great Wolf Lodge, there was also a Fire Marshall's (?) conference.
This was a beam that was part of one of the towers at the World Trade Center.
I couldn't help but touch it. Powerful.
The Great Wolf Lodge. This is the area where they tell stories at bedtime each night around 8:00.
"I use antlers in all of my decorating!"
(name that movie?)
Very lodgy decorating!
Grandpa and Ava at storytime.
Bedtime stories.
A captive Carey audience.
Ava and Liam coloring on the easels in the lobby.
Thumbs up?
A knight in shining armor?
Joe kept talking about the buffalo that were near the hotel.
We didn't believe him until we saw them the last day.
A meeting of the Carey men before the huge "bucket" dumped water on everyone.
Wait for it...wait for it...
Splash!!!
The Luke Winslow King Trio at the opening night of the Traverse City Film Festival.
Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Carey, for babysitting for us! Doug, myself, Joe and Kristy went out for a night on the town. We ate at Mackinac Brewing Company. We had some amazing havarti cheese and dill cheesesticks that were dipped in the house ale batter. So good!
Joe and Kristy
At Mackinac Brewing Company
Downtown Traverse City
Joe's reaction, upon finding out Star Wars was playing on an outdoor screen in Traverse City.
Someone dressed up as a Star Wars figure. Oh, just walking around town?
A blues band was playing. In the band, this man was playing what looked like a shell.
Was it an ocarina, possibly?
Eating breakfast at the Flap Jack Shack.
At the Flap Jack Shack.
A family shot at the Flap Jack Shack.
Grandpa and Liam both wearing their Mustang shirts.
Liam in the Bear Chair at the Great Wolf Lodge.
Ava in the Bear Chair at the Great Wolf Lodge.
Climbing the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.
Sweet Ava.
Joe making his way to the top.
Ava was ready to get to the top!
It was an overcast day and PERFECT for the climb!
My sweet man.
One smiley guy.
Ava and Maddie making their way to the top.
The best Daddy in the world. :)
We made it to the top!
Gorgeous view from the top of the dunes.
Ava looking over the dunes toward Lake Michigan.
Liam looking over the dunes toward Lake Michigan.
The kids both looking toward Lake Michigan.
Cousins, after climbing the dunes.
Ava hanging out at the beach near Glen Haven.
Glen Haven Canning Company.
A very cool old boathouse converted into a cannery, now used as a museum.
Windmills.
Cherry orchards were everywhere! Beautiful to see.
Liam and I were heading toward the Old Ship Manitou, to sail around the bay.
Doug is in the blue shirt, helping hoist the sails.
I thought this was such a great picture of Jim!
Doug after helping hoist the sail. He said it wasn't easy!
They were nice enough to let the kids "drive" the boat.
Ava and Maddie below deck.
Liam. :-)
Ava looking below deck.
A great picture of Jim and Mary.
Liam was seriously ready for a nap. Cuddle time.
There were probably 50 people on the boat with us.
And...scene.
A great picture of the cousins in the shuttle van, post-sail.
Liam in the shuttle van, on the way back from our sail.
The lighthouse on Old Mission Peninsula.
Ava, Liam and Maddie at the top of the lighthouse.
Gorgeous.
A fellow tourist took this picture. I wish it was lighter, but at least it is proof we were there?
The Jolly Pumpkin - a VERY cool restaurant on the Old Mission Peninsula.
Jolly Careys at The Jolly Pumpkin.
Back in the metro-D, the Logans had everyone over for a barbecue on Saturday afternoon.
Tim and Braden.
Tim and Braden.
Braden is the sweetest little one! He's grown so much since we saw him in April.
Sparkler time!
Blurry, but I loved the exposure on this one...
Tracy with some serious sparkler skills!
A very cool picture of Tim!
Carey kids (minus Kathy) and their siblings.
Jim and Mary Carey. Two of the sweetest people ever.
I guess I'm a lucky girl to call them my "chosen parents"! :)
The original Carey Clan (minus Kathy)
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