MI Trip

Eric, Mom and I left EARLY Friday morning....4 AM early.  We were smack dab in the middle of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore by afternoon.  We set up camp in the Platte River Campground (#139)....

.....and then found a trail to hike...it was 1.2 miles from the campground to Lake Michigan.  Part way, we found a dune, made our way to the top and followed the sand to the water (it was like walking in the desert). 

Resting in the shade.

The water was cold as ice, but I swam nonetheless.

We departed Saturday morning for a full day of adventure.  I wore my safari outfit:

Drove North and secured a spot in the D.H. Day Campground for Saturday night (#80).  We then found more sand....a 284 rise in elevation Dune Climb.  Marched (sort of) to the top of that.

After that, we went to the old Historic Village of Glen Haven.  Being the first and only customer, the Blacksmith made me a coat hook to take home.  Mom asked that I hang my coat up on it; instead of on the floor next to the coat hooks we have now.

Eric found a "one horse open sleigh".

Drove up to the Homestead Resort next to catch a glimpse of clay tennis courts cut into Lake Michigan that Eric had played a tournament on years earlier (I was bored).  Stopped in Glen Arbor after that; hit the grocery store and got ice cream.  Mom made us go to a winery next - Bel Lago (Eric and I were bored).  FINALLY, we got to swim again....at the North Bar Lake.  I caught tadpoles for two hours, but had to release them when we left.  Drove back to Glen Arbor for a soda pop before heading back to camp for dinner.

The plan was to spend another day in Sleeping Bear Dunes before going home on Monday, but weather changed that.  Eric and Mom decided to drive home through the Upper Peninsula.  Upon leaving the campground, I was sworn in as a Junior Ranger.  To earn this, along with exploring the area, I completed several activities in the Junior Ranger book, attended a Ranger lead discussion on the stars Saturday night, disposed of our recyclables properly and reported all to the Park Ranger:

For Matt (he's #1)....we detoured to the East side of Torch Lake and made a necessary stop:

Continued North, and crossed the Mackinac Bridge.  Lake Michigan on the Left; Lake Huron on the Right.

Prettiest part of the drive, as Grandpa would say, was driving West along the North side of Lake Michigan in the U.P.

Landed ourselves a pretty cool Cedar River Pathway campsite (#14) - just North of Wells State Park - that was ON Lake Michigan.  Spent 2-3 hours in the water, on the sand, collecting firewood, etc.  Mom & Eric enjoyed the beer that had been purchased at Short's earlier in the day.

 

Monday Sunrise

 Up early and headed for home.

Wildflower Cafe in Menominee.  Great bagels!

As promised by Eric, we found ice cream daily.  My favorite was the Chocolate and Mint Chocolate Chip en route on Friday.  With much time in the car, we are half way through the first Harry Potter book also.  

In other news, Matt & Diana had a baby boy on Wednesday, June 25th - Connor Matthew.

Jenna & Derek got engaged also!  Derek surprised her with a trip to France - where they had their first date 6 1/2 years ago.

We welcome Connor and Derek to the family!

Weekend with Dad

Spent last weekend (6/19-6/22) with Dad at Grannie's house.

Had fun celebrating Aubrey's birthday on Saturday.  There was a bouncy house for all the kids:

We made chocolate covered strawberries too!

On Sunday, we all trekked to Medieval Times.  I was designated Queen of the Tournament, and left with the coolest sword ever (Thanks Grannie)!

5 Busy Days

A full 5 days of activity since I last posted.  My camera seems to reset every 12 or 24 hours; deleting the pictures on it.  Too bad since I had fun pictures from Uncle Dan's 37th Birthday BBQ this past Saturday.  We played kickball in his backyard!

Sunday:  We celebrated Father's Day, Grandpa's Birthday and Uncle Dan's Birthday by going out to eat at a Japanese Grill - Kyodai.  Grandpa caught the broccoli!  While driving near our house:

Monday:  Rachel babysat me in the morning.  We built a train through 5 rooms in the house with EVERY (literally) container, box, stuffed animal, doll, and little plastic guy in the house.  I also started Adventure Camp and Swim Lessons!

Note from Mom:  Approximately 2 months ago, I asked Emmie what she wanted to be when she grew up.....if she could have any job in the World.  After much deliberation, discussion about following a passion, making a living, etc, Emmie informed me that she wanted to be a Safari Adventurer.  This came as a surprise to me as she hadn't spoke of doing that before, nor had I ever planted the idea.  I didn't know she knew what a Safari was.  :)

Tuesday:  I spent the morning with Ame and Shishir, and the afternoon with Coe Tennis Camp.  While swimming with camp, I dropped my goggles in the water and called Malcolm (8 years old) over to help me retrieve them.  As he dove underwater, I turned to my Mom with a sheepish grin and big eyes, "I dropped them on purpose because I wanted to be with him."  

(Mom was caught off guard, chuckled and realized it was going to be a LONG 12+ years ahead)

Jeremiah returned to the house with us to sleepover.  He and I left camp happy, and hungry:

My Halloween costume arrived from Amazon; a safari vest and straw hat.  I spent the rest of the day dressed as a Safari Adventurer - vest (binoculars, compass and flashlight attached), hat, hiking shoes, zip-off hiking pants/shorts and a t-shirt from TX that Eric gave me.  Picture of my outfit coming soon.  Jeremiah and I had to spend hours cleaning up the train built earlier in the week.  Later that night, we watched The Mighty Ducks.  I liked Goldberg, and Charlie (OUR Charlie, AND the one in the movie).

Wednesday:  Another swim lesson!  And a drive to Chicago to spend the rest of the week/weekend with Grannie Jannie, Grandpa Bob and Daddy!

Ankeny & AJ

I had turkey bacon and a monster Minnie Mouse pancake for breakfast.  We then left to take Anya to Ankeny for a tennis tournament.  When we returned, I captured this great photo of Natasha.  Look at that smile!

Guthridge Park was the next stop for AJ's 7th Birthday Party!  

 

My Mom got some good pictures while I played.  

Chilly Thursday

66 degrees, with a bit of wind, for our dog walk.

A flip-flop tan in early June.  :)

After Wrigley marked a tree:

Emmie:  That's called marking their symmetry.

Mom:  Do you mean territory?

Emmie:  Yeah, that.

Rainbow

I took this picture many months ago when I was with Grandma and Grandpa.  Now that I have a blog (with Rainbow in the Title), they thought I should share it.

Adventureland

On Tuesday, we went to Adventureland.  Grandma, Jeremiah, Anya, me and my Mommy.  I went on all 3 roller coasters.  My favorite roller coaster was the Dragon.  I did not like the brown, sheriff, wooden one (the Outlaw) because it was so creepy, and the worst.  I ate pizza, nachos, some funnel cake and Dippin Dots.  We went to the waterpark too, and I went down all the slides that I was tall enough to ride on.

The headless Fearsome Foursome.

Monday, Monday

I spent Monday afternoon at Coe because Mommy had to work.  My favorite picture is the squirrel; I named him Tim.

Shishir took this picture.