Michigan Vacation

We just got back from a delightful time with my family in Michigan.  The weather was fantastic, company most wonderful, and beach just beautiful.  The place we stayed was a bit (or more) of a dive, but the space it offered was awesome.

Day 1: Travel.  We all left on our own, not planning to travel together, but ended up within about 15 miles of each other along the interstate.  We were even able to stop and eat lunch all together, swap some kids around in vehicles, and go the rest of the way.  All of them did absolutely wonderful traveling.

When we got there, we checked out the extremely primitive, not so private, place (grrr), then packed up and headed into Silver Beach.  The kids got right into the water, explored how far they could dig, and enjoyed sand in their toes.  We were there until the sun went down.  It was gorgeous.

We went back to the barn, cleaned up, enjoyed a late night bowl of cereal, and to bed, to bed, sleepyhead...

Day 2: Everyone went into St. Joseph.  We ate lunch at a most excellent pizza joint right down by the beach, played on the playground in the fine sand, played at the beach, rinsed off at the splash pad, then back to the barn for the usual evenings of supper, play, and bed.  Such a fun day!

It was chilly!

For those of you who know my redneck husband, you will be not be surprised that he figured out a way to "hunt seagulls."  He set out some bait, and I'll let you figure out the rest...

Layla Grace

Charlton William

Maleah Faith

Ruby Joy

Our "camp."

Daddy was such a trooper getting into the frigid water!

Look at all those cutie patooties!

Play, play, play.

Check out that awesome fort!

Day 3: That morning we took family photos, then the ladies took off for their day together while the guys took the kids to the county beach.  It is so great to be with my mom and sisters with no little ones interrupting our conversation.  They are, hands down, my very best friends.  I am so incredibly grateful for our relationship.  We ended the night with just my sisters and I, along with Mom and Dad, bringing the bigger kids to the carousel, playground while the sun went down, then a showing of Mary Poppins, while munching on popcorn, out on a big lawn.  Sweet, sweet memories!

Ice cream all to myself, on the bluff, overlooking the lake.  Glorious!

Just hanging out on a park bench.  Lovely.

My absolute favorite ladies.

Cuteness.

Day 4: The guys go golfing while the mommies have the kids.  We started the morning with going berry picking.  The kids loved it, we all learned something (who knew black berries are actually red before they turn black?!), and the berries were delicious!  We got back to the barn, ate lunch, then over to the beach we went for the afternoon.  After supper that night, we celebrated all the summer birthday kids, and had a fierce competition of minute it to win it.  The night was topped off with s'more overlooking the lake.  Perfect day for all!

The wonderful Nana watching the babies so we could pick with the kids.

Good lookin' bunch of pickers!

We found a wonderful county beach.  There were very few people there, so we were able to relax and play with no bothers!  The lake was exceptionally beautiful this day, even looking like an ocean blue.

Quite the crew.

The baby sleeping section.  :)

Playing behind the log in "the kitchen."

Noah and Lydia made quite the "house."  It was so neat to see them put a towel for the doormat and sticks to separate rooms.  It was so precious to see their big imaginations working.

Minute it to win it games!

Birthday kids!!

Decorating their own birthday cupcakes.

Fire and s'mores on the bluff.

Noah said, "that looks like heaven over there."  I totally agree, little boy.  I was just marveled by God's creation.  If it's this beautiful here, what does heaven really look like?  Marvelous.

As the sun went further down, the sunbeams were more pronounced.  Absolute beauty.

Day 5: Home.

This was Ruby as I was packing up.  She was so good the entire time.  You hardly knew she was there.  She loved all the attention and being held, of course.  Such a sweet, pretty little girl!

All the kids hanging out while we pack up.  They look tired, don't they?  That's because it was nonstop FUN, and a great time had by all!!

So there it is, Michigan vacation 2013 with the Hayes clan.  I was really sad to leave for some reason.  I wish I lived closer to my sisters, but love the times we have together.  It is no secret that I am a people person, so being together with my favorite people for five days was good for my soul.  While it's so nice to get home to your own bed, shower in your own bathroom, and get back into the swing of things, I wasn't ready to part ways. I am, though, so thankful for the great time we had together.  I know it is rare to have everyone get along so well.  And for that, I am grateful!

It was a wonderful five days.  A lot of memories were made, and it was refreshing to bask in God's beauty; both His creation and His people.