Summer in Michigan...

In the past few weeks, the kids and I have made 2 trips to Michigan. They were much, much needed trips. First, we took a long weekend and went to see Goopa at Gun Lake. Great Grandma Brady got to see Molli again, and Great Grandpa and Grandma Branch got to meet her for the first time. Declan was able to see his cousin Conner again, and we met baby Erin as well. The kids all had a good time together. We spent Friday at Grandma Branch's where we went to see the airplanes at the airport, and went shopping at Mom's favorite craft store :-). I think Declan's highlight of the trip was spending a lot of time in Mo'Skeeter, Goopa's little speed boat! He kept telling us all to go faster! It was a really nice trip.

Molli and I at the airport

Content with Goopa

Fishing. For some reason Declan thought it was more effective to have the fishing pole in the water!

Riding in Skeeter

Declan practicing his modeling skills.

Conner and Declan watching Super Friends

The babes playing in water

Erin and Molli

Grandma Branch and Declan at the airport

All of the great-grandkids

On our second trip, we spent the week with Uncle Jakey and Grandma Branch at Jake's house in the UP. Let me tell you, that was a theraputic trip. I miss that place like you can't even imagine, and it felt so good to be able to get back there. I have to say, it feels more like home than anywhere else. Someday we'll get back up there, but for now, we'll just have to enjoy the time we get to spend up there. We spent a lot of time in Marquette at Lower Harbor and Presque Isle Park. Declan had a chance to swim in Lake Superiorm which was the PERFECT temperature for swimming. Plus, it was HOT, so the lake was that much more enjoyable. He also met a little girl visiting from Florida who was the same age, so they had a great time on the playground together. Molli did really well, and seemed to enjoy being there. She handled the car ride there and back well, and never really complained about being cooped up in her carseat. I was able to have her out for a few minutes at a time out at the lake, but she's so pale I have to be very careful that she doesn't get burned. I got fried, but it was so worth it!! We had a nice time, and I can't wait to get back there.

Grandma Branch and Molli

Declan playing on the bouncy thing that they had at Lower Harbor for the Fireman's competition.

Lakenenland is a sculpture park that this guy developed. He started working with scrapmetal, and the things he creates with it is amazing!

Moooollliiii

Declan with our former neighbor kids, Attison and McKayla

in the swing

enjoying himself at the park.