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some randomness….

August 3, 2011 Filed in random,travels

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even our breakfasts were grand in michigan.
the daddies made pancakes….jenny made french toast….craig made bubble loaf (monkey bread)….
i made…..
coffee.
my brain does not function well in the morning.
breakfast and me don't usually mix.

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we allowed tv time until 10 AM and electronic time a little after that.
 
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there was lots of art time with these girls.

and friendship bracelets were made.
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there was a night of Dollar bowling!
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oh yeah….

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there was a field trip through town….the flowers were GORGEOUS!
truly beautiful.

and ice cream.
you wouldn't even believe at how expensive it was….i dare you….guess how much a single dip cone was.
it was reedonkulous!
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their town had animals on display made by artists.
i was in love with this mosaic cow.
like….i would put in this in my yard….it was my FAVE.
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LOTS of games were played.
apples to apples…farkle….uno….blokus….sequence.
 
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apologies were made.

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the Loma theater makes me happy.
$5 tickets.
.50 pop
.50 popcorn 

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dancing in the kitchen.
to florence and the machine.  
annie was SO HAPPY that someone would dance with her. 
and she replayed the song.

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scott found The Hunger Games at the house….and read it!
he plays so much basketball he hardly ever reads.  
he is dying for the second book now.
lauren read almost the entire time.
i read magazines and pottery barn and Boden.  :)

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hot dogs for the kids and STEAK for the grown ups.

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and lots of goofy times around every corner.

can i go back?
can i
just live on vacation?
can we be a family that "summers" in michigan?

it would be dreamy.

 

 

add a comment

Holly - Oh, and you can bid on that cow if you want! They’re all up for auction on September 10. You could do a write-in bid 🙂
http://www.stjosephpublicart.com/barnyard-at-the-beach-auction.html

Holly - St. Joseph Michigan! I live here. Couldn’t believe that through random clicking and reading I came across your blog with a post about my town and a picture of one of the animals that are on display! I actually did 3 of the chickens! In my opinion, Kilwin’s is WAY OVERPRICED and the scoops are of average size! It’s not even fancy ice cream. I suppose it’s the name of the store that allows them to charge a crazy penny. I can give you some hints to some local ice cream next time! Did you go to the carousel or the fountain? Ride the horse trolley? What a fun town I grew up in and returned to!

Pam - I am typing this from my camper at a KOA in Petosky MI. We started in Ludington and are working our way all the way around the state. Tomorrow is Mackinac Island, I love giving my kids these memories!

Jane - I am from Michigan, but live in the west…I love, love love Michigan!

Kristin Hayne - OK…. I give… how much was that yummy looking ice cream?

Sara - Looks like an amazing vacation!!

Kat - It all looks so wonderful! I am envious.
I keep thinking “hm, now which family could we add with our family of six and go away with and get along so well?” Hm…
Love Florence and the machine. Annie has great music taste!

BriBedell - You can never go wrong with St. Jo!!! We are actually going to be moving there soon!!! I love love love that town!!!!

Sara - Where in Michigan are you? I grew up there & my parents retired to Mackinaw City (not Island). Your photos remind me of how much I miss home, plus it is like a million degrees down here in Atlanta, GA.

Jenna - I have to say I am partial to MI too 🙂 Us Michiganders are proud of our state!
Also, Hunger Games…like crack! And Boden is too!
Jenna
momofmanyhats.blogspot.com

Doris - so many great pictures!
I’m happy you had lovely time.

Tiffany - Meg, I want to live on vacation too. One day Sweets, One fine day.

alicia @ la famille - great vaca! i read an article about macinac (sp?) island a while back and saved it…it looked so fun and beautiful.
oh, and tell ms. annie, that one of your readers LOVES florence and dances daily in her kitchen to her latest disc…the dog days are over, ya know? 🙂

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Loving the pictures! Lots of yummy food : )
Gemma x

flyer printing - You guys are not wasting time! I really enjoyed looking at your pics. I heart you and your family. So impressed how you manage your kids.

Katie Sellers - Love Hunger Games–you should read it too!!

Jinee - Love, love, love St. Joe Michigan! We were just there two weeks before you and did most of the same things. We loved the bowling, and the kitty cats at the U-pick farm. I want to go back again and relax on our “secret” beach as mu 7 year old called it.

Penny - I am also from Michigan. It is really nice to hear the good things about our state. we do get a bad rap sometimes. We have so many beautiful things to see and do here. I love all four seasons! And yes, there are nights we pull out the sweatshirts. Not lately though! It has been really hot! So happy you enjoyed your visit. Your photos reflect the love and fun! Thank you for sharing.

Julie - Five generations of my family have “summered” in Michigan – I usually manage to make it about two weeks out of the summer. I never get tired of it. All of these photos are the reasons why!!!

Gina - We were just in Michigan last weekend (from Chicago) and I was secretly hoping you were there again this summer and I would run into you somewhere so I could tell you how much I love your blog. And you were! Crazy! But we were up in Holland…so clearly, our paths did not cross. Looks like you had a fun time. We wish we were the kind of people that “summered” somewhere too. Michigan would be great. =) Oh well…back to reality I guess…

Trindin - I also live in MI and would love to know where you rent from? I am looking in the Area I think you are vacationing in and need a big house for lots of peeps!
Thanks
Trindin

amy jupin - i see your photography changing…and it’s even more amazing than it was before.
this group of pics is fabulous.
there is such a relaxed and happy feel to them.
it’s a contagious feeling–i found myself smiling through the entire post.
p.s. i love that little measuring tape bag from paper source too. 🙂

Nicole - It’s strange to think that I read your blog religiously and you were only a little over an hour away for a few days! 😛
In all seriousness, though, Michigan is pretty wonderful. I hope I never have to leave.

Kimberly - Looks like you have a MI following! I grew up on Lake MI & it is wonderful Love the atmosphere of lake towns 🙂

karen - My cousins live in Birmingham MI and their neighbourhood is so charming! Where do you guys vacation?

Kelly - $6 per scoop? At least $5 I’m guessing. but 50 cent pop and popcorn, wow! Kelly

Chas - I live in Michigan and it is great to see families who love to vacation in our great state. It is truly beautiful here!

Caitlyn - do you have a tutorial of how to make those friendship bracelets? i’ve been looking everywhere and can’t find how to make those!

Meg - Love the Loma!!

elma - OH I just love the all the pictures!! WHAT a fun tim:) So tell me where do you go in MI ? I would love to know.

Maria - Sigh, I long for the days when my boys will take hot dogs over steak…
We made the oh-so-delicious-mistake of grilling a skirt steak earlier this summer…it was to.die.for. And while half the boys already were steak lovers, this convinced the other half forever…
And now…I want steak.
love the vacation pics…looks like everyone had a blast!

Ali - Ooooh, what fun! Looks like an incredible vacation! Now I wish to go to beautiful Michigan for some family fun! 🙂
~ Ali

Janet C - I also live in Michigan, and it’s so nice to see our state reflected in a positive way. I love our 4 seasons, and you’re never more than a few hours away from water. Although I’m not sure where the previous commenter is talking about when she said she wore a sweatshirt in the summer. Maybe up north? It’s been in the high 90’s here for over a week. You MUST go to Mackinac some time. It’s about 4 hours drive from the Detroit area.

Emily - It’s so nice to hear that you loved your visit to Michigan. Michigan is a wonderful place to live and I’m glad you can truly enjoy the beauty and everything that we have to offer. Love reading your blog!

tiffany m gardner - Just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for being my go to blog girl! Daily you make me laugh. Daily you remind me to depend on God. Daily seeing your family reminds me of mine and makes me grateful. A few days ago you sounded a bit discouraged about all the work of your job…jobs. All the pressure. Today…I just wanted you to know that it matters. I always use a bit of my 6 month old sons naps to enjoy this blog! Sometimes I have to return several times in the day just to read one post. Like now…I have to go to pick up my big kids from school. Anyway…today..just wanted to say thanks.

happygirl - What a wonderful vacay. I’m glad you take pics. FUN

Katie - Looks so amazing! What is free smells?!

elisa - Where did you stay? St Joe, Holland, Sagatuk? I can’t remember if you said….

Kimberly Dial - What a great family vacation! I could ‘feel’ the love & laughter … it would be awesome if vacations lasted forever but alas, I fear we would soon become bored of all the fun & no longer appreciate those precious moments with family & friends. Thank you so much for sharing you vacay with us!

Kimberly Dial - What a great family vacation! I could ‘feel’ the love & laughter … it would be awesome if vacations lasted forever but alas, I fear we would soon become bored of all the fun & no longer appreciate those precious moments with family & friends. Thank you so much for sharing you vacay with us!

Terrie - $4.50…but .50 for pop & popcorn?!! Awesome!!
Loved the cow! I’d put in the backyard with my bird feeder pole. Let’s make one for craft week?!
If you go to live on vacation…can I go with you?

Jen - I live in Michigan and can’t imagine living anywhere else. We love it. Thanks for sharing your vacation photos and your thoughts. It’s so fun to hear about the place you call home through someone else’s eyes.

merlin - I need to know the cost of the ice-cream. I complain terribly about the nearly 3$ a scoop in my area, try to make it a single summer treat event and use the money I “save” by avoiding the ice-cream store toward quarts and gallons of ice-cream from the grocery store. Not the same, but it is ridiculous that taking the family for a simple ice-cream cone is not affordable, takes more than a 20$ bill…not doing it, no! Please, share the cost so I can readujust my attitude, up or down depending on your news.

Toni :O) - LOVE the west side of our state! My hubby and I want to retire year round on Lake Michigan…if it weren’t for lake effect snow though…sigh!! We say redonkulous all the time too! Go to Mackinac City/Island….it’s a little bit of heaven. Oh, and check out the Cherry Festival sometime in Traverse City, major fun times!

Sarah - Was that Kilwin’s Ice Cream?!! It looks like their shops…. I grew up real close to where you guys vaca and I miss it so much! These posts are making me so homesick. 🙂

heather - i love that you say redonkulous.
we say that a lot around here.
🙂

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Looks like a wonderful vacation! Can I come next year?:)

seriouslysassymama - Looks like a great place to vacation. Friends and I would play endless games of farkle when we were in college.

holly - i know this is a random comment, but the mention of hot dogs for the kids and steak for the grown-ups made me smile… When we were little, my parents would do the same thing, except dad would say we were also getting steak… Tube Steak he called it, and they thought it was hilarious. We did not. 🙂

Deanna - I live in Michigan and summers rock here! So many beaches to go and visit! And as someone mentioned above– Mackinaw Island is a must..we vacationed there every summer for 18 years… when I was a kid! Lots of memories! Now I am married and we are headed up north friday! Can’t wait!

mel @ the larson lingo - Your vacation looks like a blast! So fun. I am guessing the ice cream was $4 a scoop. But, at least the cheap movie snacks and $1 bowling made up for it, right? Glad you guys had such a great time in Michigan!

Danielle H. - I saw that sign for Mackinac Island Fudge and started salivating! DEE-licious! My dad lives in Michigan and it is just so beautiful there in the summer. In the winter and spring, not so much. I just can’t do the snow and cold! I am also so surprised to have to put on a sweatshirt at night when I visit there in the summer. I live in Texas – the thought of a sweatshirt in the summer makes me die of heat! Have you been to Mackinac Island? It is a great day trip. That’s also what I love about Michigan – you can go across the whole state in about 3 hours! Your pics are awesome as usual! How you all can stand being in that FREEZING cold water is beyond me too!!!

Alice H - I read all 3 Hunger Game books in 6 days. LOVED THEM!!

april - that vacation looks like so much fun!!! and i want that cow for my house…i love it! hahaha
xoxo

Kerry - aaah looks like an awesome holiday Meg! I lurve Florence and the Machine, that pic is so cooooool xx

deborah@applesinwonderland - we summer in michigan and it is the BEST!!!!! though, we also autumn, winter and spring in michigan too:) free smells…..you get what you pay for;) annie is a hoot.

Holly - That cow is pretty awesome! We are putting some “cow art” in our house soon. I am excited about it. Michigan looks great! Oh and isnt blokus a fun game?

danielle burkleo - LOVE boden.and LOVE that cow. it would love perfect in your front yard!

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a kitten and peaches and an {e}book

August 2, 2011 Filed in awesome bloggers,family fun,traditions,travels

what a weird title.  

we almost always go peach picking when we are in michigan.
it's something to do that is good for all ages.
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as soon as the kids got out of the car they saw this kitten.
and they all mobbed it.
it never touched the ground until we left.

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we went out in the HOT sun and picked a basket of peaches.
with the kitten.
and a dog followed us too.

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they weren't quiiiiiite ripe yet.
but we found a few in there that were ready.

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it was really hot.
too hot to be there i think.
so annie was out of sorts…..and wanted more turns with that silly kitten.

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gosh darn it i like that guy a whole bunch!

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dave filled a basket of the peaches already on the ground (ruined ones) and made our michigan sign.
🙂
he is pretty creative.
 
and then everyone got to throw them back into the orchard.
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we took home all the peaches we picked….with grand intentions as always.
but nothing was baked with the peaches.
they just weren't ripe enough.

i don't even like peaches.
i don't hate them but i am not going to just bite into one!
i wish there were strawberry patches.
or it was pumpkin picking weather.
those are two things i like to pick.  :)

and after this jenny and i got to go out for lunch just the mommies!!!
it was wonderful.
(possibly the highlight of the trip for me…..i love lunching with my friends….and getting a crisp cold salad and eating outside by a beach….and getting amazingly yummy brushetta as an appetizer….without our conversation interrupted once with the words "hey MOM?!!" )

 
………………………………………… 

COOL STORY here:
yesterday….i was blow drying my hair and my blog friend Jeannett popped into my mind.
i shot her a quick email saying hello and that i was thinking of her.
she told me that she wrote an {e}book.
and i thought "oh that's nice" and "too bad i don't read books"   (ha….seriously)

then later that evening after a day of throwing around a lot of frustration and thoughts i have been having
about the businesses that i have….balancing this home life with all these kids…..taking care of this house…..
wanting 20 more hours in a day…..missing my sewing machine…..looming work deadlines……

i checked her blog to support her in the {e}book.
i was shocked.
can you guess what it was about????

here is what i found as soon as i opened the page:

Are you a blogger or have a web based business and are running yourself ragged?

Do you love the community created through Social Media,
but you don't know how much longer you can keep up?

Or are you handling it all pretty well, but there are just a few things that you really cannot stand to do? 

check.
check.
check.

i bought it immediately.
why had i never thought to ask jeannett about this stuff?
she is experienced.  she knows!  
maybe you are having the same questions/frustrations…..maybe you are curious…maybe you want to be hired?
Click here to visit Hire Blog Help.

i love that she did it.
that she put herself out there and used her experience to help other people freaking out like me.

i told her that God knew i was struggling….i was telling him constantly…so He told me "say hi to jeannett today"
while i blow dried my hair.
and i did.
and she was there for me….thanks jeannett……thanks God!!!
you are awesome.

add a comment

Renae - I just bought the e-book because I have mad organizational skills and want to help bloggers be all that they can be!! Hint, hint! 🙂 Thanks Meg…have been away in Minnesota for a week so missed your posts. Love that you’re back to making me giggle.

michelle - I agree with you on peaches…they aren’t that great on their own. Try them sprinkled with sugar (ok maybe I put a lot of sugar) and some cream….Yummy!

Tracy Fisher - here’s an idea for you… just experimented the other day with my kids. put peaches in buttered baking dish. we added blackberries too. sprinkle with a little flour and brown sugar (if they need sweetening). take a roll of pillsbury sugar cookie dough and crumble it over the top. bake in 350 oven for 30-40 minutes or until brown. serve with vanilla ice cream.
yum! tracy fisher

deborah@applesinwonderland - it is blueberry season late july–next year do that. easy picking but not so much bending over–like strawberry picking. we’re eating blueberries with everything, it’s ridonkulous. 🙂

Laura Phelps - I need a book about the frustrations of so many ideas with NO business…at all..to speak of, and life is slipping away, and you are not using your God given talents, but you have no idea where to even begin, and why does everything seem so HARD…and well…
do you know anybody with THAT book?
maybe I should go blow dry my hair….
xo

alicia @ la famille - so cool how God works 🙂 will have to check that book out!

Astrid - Where in michigan were you? I would love to go pick peaches but most of the orchards do not have u-pick peaches. Awesome photos as usual! We are hoping to go blueberry picking in MI this weekend. 🙂

amanda - I love how God meets us right where we are (yay God!) I’m leaving your site to go check out the ebook. I have such a love/hate relationship w/ all things social media. sigh. I don’t want my kids to remember me pecking on a silly computer all the time, but it can also be used as an encouragement and ministry tool. Just have to keep it all balanced … (btw great pictures!)

Jill - I now know that I’m obsessed with your blog. I was at the Bob Dylan concert at the Ryman last night and 2 of the guys from Kings of Leon sat in front of us and my first thought was, “Meg loves KOL!!!” I live in Nashville so obviously I don’t hang out with you, but… I did think about you at Bob Dylan last night! Isn’t that funny?!
Jill J.

Amy Slavik@ Little For A Little While - Love all your peach pictures. Wish we could do that around here somewhere…i’ll have to look into that! But we do have strawberries and raspberries 🙂 Hope you have a happy week!

Sharon Kindall - God is awsome and the way he gets our attention is so subtle sometimes, but when we pay attention it is so amazing! I’m glad you e-mailed Jeanette!

Jill @ Cora Anne Designs - Definitely try blueberries, raspberries or cherries next time you’re in Michigan – they’re all perfect right now! (strawberries are in June!)

Heather - Pumpkin patch weather…a little nip of cool in the air mixed with warm sun and plenty of blue skies. And that wonderful shade of sunlight that only comes in the late afternoon of a midwest autumn day. Sigh! It’s 110 degrees in Olathe, KS today and summer has worn out its welcome.

Kelly - God is amazing! I love the way He does stuff. Wow.
I love the pic of you and Craig!
The Michigan 2011 shot is super fun.
Wish those peaches had been ripe. I do love a good, soft, juicy, ripe peach!
Pumpkin picking weather! That makes me so excited just thinking about it. Kelly

Janet - Meg,
I noticed a picture of Talby about a year ago, how ‘naturally’ beautiful she is. The one in this post of her holding the kitten, well all I can say is she is gorgeous. She has such natural beauty. From what I’ve read on your blog, it’s inside and out.
Janet

Kimberly Dial - I love it when God does that! Awesomeness, pure & simple! YAY God! YAY you (for obeying His voice 🙂 BTW,what did you do with all the peaches … jam, jelly ….?

Kimberly Dial - I love it when God does that! Awesomeness, pure & simple! YAY God! YAY you (for obeying His voice 🙂 BTW,what did you do with all the peaches … jam, jelly ….?

Jessica Johnson - love jeannett. one of my fave blogs. love peaches. one of my fave fruits. LOVE the michigan 2011 picture. so creative. “let’s jam” sourface? KILLING me! so funny.

Heather aka moreygirl - Hey Meg, I bought that ebook too! But i don’t know Jeannett. When I was reading it though, I thought of you and wondered if you had a va:) Hope it works for you!
Heather

Susan - It looks like you guys had a great time. On a related note – is it possible that I saw Chicago Jenny’s son at the Kohl’s Children’s Museum today? If so, small world! If not – he has a doppelganger in the area! 🙂

Toni :O) - Hiya Meg…did you hear that Kings of Leon are not getting along and may possibly be breaking up? It was on our radio up here and I immediately thought of you! Hate to be the bearer of bad news but didn’t know if you’ve heard. Funny how YOU popped into my head after hearing that as I was driving to work this morning but I know how much you love them. Here’s a link about their latest concert fiasco: http://news.yahoo.com/kings-leon-apologize-concert-fiasco-180448684.html.
Hope you have a blessed day and I heart your blog…SO much!

Stephanie - Great Michigan vacation picks! WE in MI do have strawberry patches!!! Lots of them!!! You must not have come UP far enough!!! 🙂 I picked 3 (not 1, not 2) but 3 flats of strawberries!!! My 2 year old calls them staw*bee*rees! They are so yummy!!!

Jodi - Your blog is so stinking fun! I love it!! 🙂
Curious if you could share what lens you use for your camera just for general purpose? I am looking at getting a new one, and love your pics! I use a 50mm and love it!

Amanda - i’m learning to recognize those whispers. when we live in a relationship with Him it’s so much easier to know. what a blessing! i wish Jeanette the best with her ebook. so great she is sharing her knowledge with others.
my hubby has been unemployed for 6 months. our third lay off since 2008 🙁 i sew and blog. hoping this isn’t too forward of me to ask…if i can help you with your businesses in any way, i’d love to!!

Jennifer - Love the kitty cat…your family seriously must be a magnet for sweet, precious kitty-cats! 🙂
What a tender mercy from the Lord you had about your friend, Jeannette, and being inspired to reach out to her. And even better, how wonderful that you acted on that prompting. Sometimes I am guilty of not acting on those promptings. I love when little blessings come to us from above when we stop, listen and heed the inspiration God is sending to our hearts and minds. Such a neat story–thanks for sharing, Meg.

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - A great post Megan,
I call those God nudging moments, the little miracles he provides on us a daily basis. Some we are aware of, some not as much. I used to keep a small miracles book beside my bed. This post is making me think I should start it up again.
Thanks,
Dana

Michele - I read daily, I comment, um, never. sorry. But today I cried when I read the story about God telling you to say hi to Jeanett today. I love that. Mostly I love how you KNEW God was talking to you. You know what? Most of the time I don’t think I’m listening. Thanks for reminding me to listen!

nicki - You were definitely too early for Michigan peaches (I’m guessing you were here recently?), and yes, you missed the strawberries (June), but it’s been prime BLUEBERRY season! Raspberries too…cherries if you head north to Traverse City 🙂 God is good in many ways, as seen by both subjects in your post!

Jen Brandt - LOVE the picture of you and Craig.

Maggie Nunez - hi Meg, i enjoy reading your posts. i think you are amazing…that fact that you can do so much and still focus on your family is admirable. the love you have of family is very evident in your blogging…i look forward to reading your posts and looking at your pictures…thanks for being real.

Susan Ponder - I call them “God winks!”

Judy @Considering the Options - I love those God moments! When I’ve been telling God what I’m struggling with, but not really expecting a solution right then. And a name comes to me, or an opportunity, or the right thing happens. You just know, God was guiding you.
It probably happens 20 times more than I realize, I’m just grateful I actually notice it now and then! God is Good! All the Time!

Terrie - I love peaches! Loved your Michigan 2011…we always find a way to do that on vacations.
Don’t you just love how God gets our attention…and some of the crazy times He does it? If only I would listen to those nudges more often..or maybe if I should say, if only I would act on them more often.
HaPpy TuEsDaY!!
PS…any cooler in your area yet? Not here! 🙁

Kirsten P - Meg, you do know about ripening peaches in paper bags, correct? I put 3 or 4 in a lunch size paper bag for a few days. They do ripen and smell wonderful!

Holly - looks like a fun trip for you all! I will definately check out her book although my blog isnt too high maintenece yet with all 2 of my readers! ha!

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i’ve been at the beach.

August 1, 2011 Filed in family fun,traditions,travels

with some of my favorite people….
my family
chicago jenny and dave and their kids
and even more old friends came for the first day with their kids!

i love lake michigan.
a lot.

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the beach was full of smooth rocks at the shore line this year.
so beautiful.

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we dug and built castles….
and buried each other…
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Erica is a photographer too!  it was fun to watch her shoot….
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this was her shot…..
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🙂
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i love this picture.
it just screams simple summer fun.

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very fun to have more girls to play with….
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there was lots of football and tackling….
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and screaming….

and hugging.
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so jen and i thought we'd like a picture of us IN the water.
we got out there not too far and turned our back on the water.
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we were POUNDED by a wave that we never saw coming.
it took us both out.
we were laughing so hard and the waves just kept coming.
i don't even like to get in the water…..let alone go under completely….i was soaked from head to toe.
it was hysterical.
kind of.
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and then we were redeemed!
a lovely photo taken by erica of me and my jenny….who i am already missing like CAAAA-RAZY.
boo hoo.
 
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10 kids and 6 adults for dinner….very fun and silly…that's the good stuff.

there was a wiffle ball game with the dads and kids while the moms cleaned up dinner and chatted.

then a camp fire with s'mores in the yard.
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campfire songs in 2011….on the iPad.

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the yard backs up to a bluff (which is a nice word for cliff) 
and down 223 steps is the beach. (ouch my calves still ache)
it's a pretty amazing place….the house itself is nothing special but the LOCATION is fabulous!

the moms….also known as the S'more Makers.
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i hope you can handle lots of posts with LOTS of pictures.
cause i took like….a thousand pictures.
and this was only day one.  

we are home now.
we survived the 13.5 car ride back….barely.
at the end i thought about making a run for it at one of the gas station stops.
but then i remembered how slow i run.
ha.
NO ONE likes to be in the car for 13.5 hours….especially tired cranky kids…..and their mom who took dramamine so she floated in and out of consciousness all day long.

how was your week?
what have you been up to?
can you believe it's august??????

it's nuts.

happy monday people! 

add a comment

Darius Cartmell - I bet you spelled summer as F-U-N that time! All of you had smiles on your faces. You took great photos as well. But I especially like the photos of smooth stones. It’s great that you had good photographers with you that time to preserve every happy moment. How are you all doing now? I hope you’ll have more exciting summers to share. Take care!

Donna Parsley - 13.5 hours? Ha ha, well, that’s not too fun! But that trip to the beach seems worth the time spent on driving! There’s nothing like a beach trip with family and friends. It can be pretty hectic, but the time spent having fun is so fantastic!

Lisa Currie-Gurney - I SO LOVE YOUR BLOG MEG… AND ESPECIALLY THIS POST. HEY YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T EVEN HAVE YOUR RUNNING SHOES ON ANYWHO. 😉
HUGS FROM MY HEART
http://sophiemyfriend.blogspot.com/

Kasey - Geez, now that looks like some ultimate fun. Totally jealous right now 🙂

Brittany - So fun to see the fun you all had! We too just returned from a Michigan vacation and did many of the same things: beach, family, & s’mores! I found your blog this summer and have loved getting to know you and your family. Thanks for sharing!

kauai kasey - Love me some lake michigan….but i don’t miss that heat and humidity right about now;-)
Hope all is well with you…..i have been mia via blog reading as well…but i always check in with yours.
xo

Molly - oh meg it looks like an amazing trip! we want to go to michigan next summer….where were you? it looked wonderful!!!

michelle - LOVE your beach pics. so fun!!! you really captured all the elements. oh, and there is a slight chance i might actually get to meet you in person at Blog Sugar!!! 🙂 i’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that life isn’t too hectic around that time.

Staci - What fun!!!!!! Bring on those 1,000 pics!!! And yes, can’t believe it’s already August…kids go back to school in17 days..but who’s counting???? 🙂

JJ - Looks like the perfect summer day! Love that straw hat on you!

Kimberly Dial - I love posts with lots of pics. The hubs & I have been in Norfolk, VA at the Naval base visiting with our sailor son … didn’t spend much time on the beach but I did make it a point to put my feet in the Atlantic before heading back home. Looks like you & the fam had lots of fun … summer fun, isn’t it the best? YES! Thanks for sharing!

Kimberly Dial - I love posts with lots of pics. The hubs & I have been in Norfolk, VA at the Naval base visiting with our sailor son … didn’t spend much time on the beach but I did make it a point to put my feet in the Atlantic before heading back home. Looks like you & the fam had lots of fun … summer fun, isn’t it the best? YES! Thanks for sharing!

Kristy - looks like loads of fun! great pictures and what an amazing location. can’t believe it’s august, crazy! school starts for us the end of the month, so i am going to suck every minute of summer left.

Kat - Love it all!
Ah you make me wistful for summer, as we are still in winter here in Australia. (always cooler here in Tasmania too.)
I LOVE the pics of you and Jen. Beautiful, the one in the water and the glamour shot, lol.
I think we need to get together with other family friends and make summer memories,although we have a tradition of going camping/shack with family and all the cousins (9 of them) have a ball for a couple of weeks by the beach.
Ah you are making beautiful memories for your kids and capturing them so well with your pics.

Sharla - Looks like so much fun. Love the “simple summer” pic and the “redeemed” one of you and Jenny. Can’t wait to see more!

Tiffany - Great picture of you and your Jenny. Bring on the pics Momma!!!

Amy Slavik@ Little For A Little While - Looks like so much fun! What a great time of year to enjoy it too! Your hat is adorable and that pic of you and Jen is fabulous! We have a beach getaway planned for October on North Captiva Island, FL…we can’t wait! Happy August!

beth - Great pic of you and your friend Jen. Oh, and the one of all the kids sitting down and eating while surrounded by 5 standing adults cracked me up. Isn’t that the way it is? Glad you’re home, looks like it was a blast. Makes me want to plan a beach vacation too. 🙂
beth

nicki - So glad you had fun up here in the Mitten! I think I love that big lake more each year 🙂

ann - Great pictures! Love your hat. Sure looks like you have a great time! I’m back from 2 weeks in Lake Geneva, WI. It’s fun to be away but it’s nice to come home again!

julia - Fab pic of you and your bestie.

Nicole Q. - It all looks dreamy! The pic of you and your friend Jenny is perfect!! Glad you had a good time. See ya next weekend.

tara - love all of your pictures…so much fun!!!
Happy Monday~
We’re busy packing boxes cause we’re MOVING!
back to Georgia…near family.
yay for moving!

Julie - Oh my gosh…love the campfire songs on the iPad! That’s hilarious!! So very 2011! Great pictures, sounds like a great vacation minus the car ride. Love the picture of you with your sunhat on with Jenny.
Love your blog!

happygirl - Looks like a lot of fun. Warren Dune, MI was where I spent a lot of Saturdays. North Avenue beach was my FAVORITE beach when I ditched school or work. 🙂

Mindy Harris - chicago jen’s little guy is so buff! adorable. looks like a blast. glad you got to go!

Tracy - I’m jealous – please adopt me! LOL Great pictures and I can’t wait to see more! 🙂

Michele - Our family just got back from our annual trip to Lake Michigan and it was a blast. The area we stay in is near Montague, MI and it’s right on the water — not several flights of stairs away from the beach — just 8 steps down which we all really appreciate. Great friends and family, great weather, great memories of fun in the sun and sand.

Seriouslysassymama - I am so jealous. The weather looks great. It is 108 here in Texas. The lakes are even hot!

tiffany m gardner - I’m so happy your back to your blog! Today my kids started school. Okc school district passed year round school…so today they went. It is always bittersweet for me. I still have my 6 month old at home but I still miss my 7 and 5 year old.

sarahkc - so i am not trying to stalk (really, i’m not) but you showed the picture of your daughter the other day and i thought to myself, hmmm those stairs look a little familiar behind her. didn’t think much of it since michigan has so many “bluffs”. then you showed these pictures and the picture of you all eating and i thought that place looks really familiar… then you said 223 stairs and i knew it was the same place my family and friend stayed over memorial day this year! what a small world considering we are from arizona! just thought that was a random coincidence! love the blog and love all the photo tips too!

Doris - lovely post, great people!
wish I was there for at least 10 minutes 🙂

Barbara - love your pics!! we are headed up to Harbor Country in a couple weeks for our anniversary (Lakeside, Michigan)…. and we can’t WAIT!! my daughter has been talking about “baycation” all week 🙂
though… we only have 1hr 45min drive from Chicago…. 13.5 hours is nuts!! Good for you!!
can’t wait to see more pix 🙂

Cindy - Love the pics…especially the “redeemed” one of you and Jenny! Beautiful! I have a Jenni in Oklahoma whom I miss like CAAAA-RAZY too!!

the domestic fringe - I adore your pictures!
Glad you’re having a fabulous time.
-FringeGirl

Kim - So fun! Great pics – would love to know what area of Lake Michigan that is…looks gorgeous.

Tanya H - Looks so perfectly fun and summery!
I’ve been doing that all summer- taking more than 100 pics every day! 🙂 I started coming to your blog for your pictures so bring ’em on! 🙂

Valerie @ Chateau A la mode - Oh my those are the best vacations EvER!!! Looks like fun. Happy August to you too.

Margaret - How fun! I’m really itching for a family beach vacation!

Ruth H. - I can really relate on the time spent in the car. We drive 25+ hours EACH WAY to visit our families each summer. My husband and I can only take so much time in the car, so we break that up over 2-3 days. Still, that’s 6 vacation days just spent in the car!!! I’m cracking up about the dramamine. My husband and I both have to take the stuff to survive amusement parks. We couldn’t figure out why we were always so mad at each other on the drive home from fun-filled days at amusement parks…..until we learned that a common side effect of dramamine is actually extreme grouchiness. Seriously!

Erica Hang - It was REALLY fun!! Thanks for letting us spend the day with you guys!

Trish - looks like fun… you should have called me and i would have stopped out and said hi 🙂 oh well, i know how vacation goes… lots of relaxing i hope. we are on vacation now… we are in north carolina, so i totally understand the 13 hour car ride 🙁 no fun!

alicia @ la famille - what a fun vacation!! we’ve never done one with other families like that, but such a good idea! oh what fun…bring on the photos 🙂

Jenn Thomas - I am glad you had so much fun! Though of you often this week what you were up to in Michigan. Hmmm always love going to the beach.
Guess what I’ve been doing – taking care of that sweet precious baby of mine. Talk with you later about the trip and when we can do pictures of Kennedy.

Katie - Looks like so much fun! What I wouldn’t give to be at the beach today!!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Looks like such a great time! I know what you mean about all the pics. I think I overposted them in my posts about our trip to New England a few weeks back. We saw 5 states in one week, did and saw alot but somehow it was still relaxing.
We’ve spent the last two weekends at local state parks & gorges, hiking them. My calves ache too. But I told hubby if he keeps this up(taking us every weekend) I’ll eventually get my hiney in shape:)

Leadia Jarvis - Where did you go? I live in IL and want to take the kids to a Lake Michigan beach before summer ends….but I don’t want to do it in Chicago. Ick.

Laura Phelps - LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT….
Nick and I have been planning NEXT summer already…how we need to go back to the beach with a GROUP…because lots of kids, and beach, and camp fires with friends is just so fabulous.
This is the good stuff.
This is the part of “the journey” that reminds me to be still and relish the moment…that the destination is NOTHING compared to these glorious hours we spend among family and friends in the warm sunshine.
And Erica has awesome legs.

nancy - What a blast! I have been pounded so many times by waves. You would think I have learned my lesson by now. But, no! Inspired me to take the kiddos to the beach this week. You know you are too busy when you live 10 minutes away and have only been 3 times this summer. What a crime!

Shann - I live in Michigan Meg. I am about 30 minutes from the Lake. Isn’t it an enchanting place? I just love it. The picture of you and Chicago Jen is darling! I moved here a couple years ago and I cherish my time with dear friends from back home. There is never enough time with them, is there? Thanks for sharing your pictures. They are all fantastic! 🙂 Have a good day!!

Terrie G - Love your beach pics!! I’m working on some myself! LovE the beach!!!
Also loved your wave hit & run story….takes me back to living in Cali as a teen & doing the same thing with my brother. Can still taste the salty water! 😉
Bring on the Pics!!
ps…snapshop begins today! Thanks again!

Toni :O) - I live in Michigan and my most favorite lake in the whole world is Lake Michigan. It’s an absolute TREASURE in this state and I feel blessed to live here and enjoy it whenever we can! Glad you had a fun vacation and thanks for your tourist dollars…hah, we need it! Beach vacations are the BEST!!! Woot Woot! :O)

Jen Brandt - How fun! You got some wonderful pictures – as usual. Love the hat pic with you and Chicago Jen. Here? Busy, busy, busy week last week = SO appreciated a weekend with NOTHING planned. I actually washed windows and reorganized and de-cluttered the playroom. Woo hoo!

amanda - great memories, great photos of those memories. where did you buy your sun hat?

Holly - Meg it looks like yall had a blast! I cant believe it is august! My kids are starting school today! Today! They are getting ready right this minute! Its crazy!

Misty - Wow you’re looking mighty fine Meg especially with that tan!

Southern Gal - Looks like so much fun. We celebrated birthdays last week. My hubby turned 50 and I turned…2 years younger than him! We’re ready for our beach vacation. You’ve got me itching to get there NOW!

Bethany @ 3SonsPlus1...and... - Oh, and the wave…hysterical! 🙂

Bethany @ 3SonsPlus1...and... - I just got the best, campfire-high feeling while looking at all your pics! So much fun! The photo of you and your Jenny is beautiful! =)

Sima J - I LOVE posts with lots of pictures. I heart the first one! 🙂

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - So much fun! Looking forward to seeing more pics!
Gemma x

Ali - That looks like a lot of fun (well, not the 13.5 hours in the car bit, maybe).

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craft thursday #5…in michigan

August 4, 2010 Filed in crafts & art,travels

while on vacation jenny said "well….it's thursday! what craft do you have planned for us?!"
ha.

our internet was out like it was 85% of the time.
so we had to go with a picture of a craft i wanted to do but couldn't look up the details.

THIS ONE right here at deep space sparkle (again).

drawing fish with sharpie markers.
painting the picture with watercolor paints.

i actually ran back in the house as we pulled out the driveway leaving for vacation to get my paints.
craig looked at me like i was crazy.
i said "you'll thank me if it rains!!!"
i brought my big sketchpad paper too.

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it was cloudy outside.
perfect time to take a break from the beach.
 
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fish drawn with a crayola marker and not a sharpie.
 
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no one was listening to me about using a sharpie marker.
when you don't….and then you paint….the marker bleeds.
 
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dangurs fish.
i LOVE that.
jake used a sharpie.  good boy.
  
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sean rarely  follows my instructions.
mrs. burns…..i feel for you.
he used oill pastels for the whole thing.   no marker or paint.

 
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no marker.
paint only.
 
i had one out of five following instructions.
i am not a good teacher.
oh well…the point of craft thursday is to CRAFT.
not to follow my instructions.
  
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this was mine.
annie asked "mom….are the other animals laughing at the squid cause his eyes are so wrong?"
(cheryl just pointed out that my picture is also not done in sharpie!  ha ha ha 
i forgot.
i was using oil pastel because that works also with water color paint.
so sharpie or oil pastel or crayon works if you want to paint over it without it bleeding all over.
thanks cheryl.  :)
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there was actually LOTS of art at this table over the week.
chicago jen's kids are very artistic.
dave made his own sign that hung in the kitchen all week.    
         
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since i am thinking about michigan again….
let's see the last pictures from our trip.  (i promise)

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lego letters made by DAVE.
 
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peach raspberry tart made by JEN.
 
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lego space shuttle made by SEAN in two days….for ages 16+ on the box.
 
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goofing around at an awesome toy store in st. joseph.
 
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makes me want a tire swing in our yard right. this. minute.
 
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sean's birthday cake.
chili's molten lava….mmmmmm.
 
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the grill masters.
(not to be confused with the thigh masters….)
 
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fireworks on our last night….just for fun!
 
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photographer dave.
he is really good…even if he did buy a nikon.
 
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last shot before we headed for home.

sad.

as i have said many times….it was a great trip.
so good.
loved it all.
too short for me and jen.
i am ready for a trip with just the grown ups….where to jen?

michigan rocks.
dave and jen you are the best.
you are definitely….with out a doubt….our best first hand mates!   

add a comment

Melanie - Great photos!

Jenica Cory - Was this a house rental? We vacation near St. Joe and are looking for a house for next summer. If it’s a rental could you pass along the info, please! It looks amazing!

amy jupin - this whole series of posts have made me miss my best friend like crazy. and i loved the pics (of course). your photography is really shining meg. really so good.

Nicole Q. - I want that tire swing in my yard too!! I also want the adults only trip too!!

Mindy Harris - awesome post, as usual. love the sunset pictures. the last picture is just darling but your shirt is blue rather than purple. ha.
k-state is my alma mater…so my allegiance will forever lie there.
hugs from our family!

Jodi - What a fun trip! Your pictures just convey the energy and how fun everyone is! I read everyday! What an inspiration you are!

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - Bowlarama .. hilarious! I also love the slip and slide shot. what fun!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

Stephanie - totally LOVE your blog!!! I look forward to every post. It is just such a happy place, even when you are having a bad day. I like that it is just REAL! Anyway, I have a big question that is going to rock your world….what kind of water colors do you use? I’ve been wondering this forever. They are so vibrant. Mine always look so pastel. I hate that. I need bright, happy colors. Actually, a post on your favorite art supplies would be great. Thanks a bunch. I hope you are having a wonderfully colorful day!

Jess Mead - Love the fish pictures!!!! Thanks for the Sharpie tip!!!

mkpoggie - I nknow how you feel! Our best friends live in Minnesota (we’re in AZ) and when the four of us are together we forget to relish the time because being together just seems so natural…Then, when vacation is over, we go, “Oh, no! Where are my friends?!?! That was too short! I didn’t stare into your faces enough! Panic! Panic! Panic!”

tammy kay - the painting looks like so much fun!
I don’t think I’ve ever commented before. “HI”
Love your blog and all the color that it brings each day.
Glad you had such a wonderful time with your friends!

Tara - Great pics…fun crafts…we’ve done several of the sharpie/watercolor crafts from Deep Space Sparkle this summer…ALL THANKS TO YOU! 🙂

tara pollard pakosta - You are so blessed to have friends that you can travel with!!! I can’t think really of any couples that we could travel with and have such a great time!
from the legos, puzzles, painting, reading to all the fun at the beach = an amazing triP! cant’ wait to see if you scrapbook these?!
tara

Beth - P.S. Oil pastels and then watercolor are one of my favorites!!! I taught a “water media” class last week and we learned about an artist who did that (Paul Cezanne). Very cool!

Beth - Your trip truly looks idyllic. So nice to have family times like that! Great memories. And I laughed out loud at your comment about following instructions. Creating is the most important though, I so agree with that and strive for it, although in a room full of 25 kids . . . sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of that!!! And the bleeding marker — natural consequence. Sometimes we learn better when things go just like that, hmmmm maybe mom (dad, Mrs. Burns) did know what they were talking about when they said to use sharpie or crayon or oil pastel 🙂 I still remember and love Sean’s comment during printmaking last year “this is actually fun” (like he was surprised by it!).

nichole shinners - I love all the pictures from Michigan. I am originally from there and ( now in cali) I try to sneak back as often as my husband lets me! There is nothing out here like the lakes, the wide open farms and fields, the sun setting over the corn fields, and chasing the fire flys. I try to get my girls back there as often as I can, so that they have those same memories stamped on their hearts. Pure summer Magic!

Andrea - You have inspired me! I want to plan a vaca to Michigan right now! Where was this?

Julie - The tire swing picture is my favorite; had one growing up and every child should have one! Sean’s lego space shuttle ~ WOW!!!!

Heather R. - Sean did great with his Lego set! Annie presenting a sunset…sweet. I want a tire swing, too, now.
Great pics, as always.
~Heather R.

Sharla - Love them all – especially the tire swing photo, Annie pointing at the sunset and the lego letters. I love the Lauren’s shirt too! 🙂

Jennifer - Looks like a blast! Did anybody run into your face while you taking the slip n’ slide shots? Anything for a great pic!

Leslie - An entire family that you can vacation with and everyone has fun. The hubbies like each other, the kids like each other. Priceless!! We are blessed to have three of them and often go on huge family vacations together. We are off to the lake for a long weekend before school starts. So fun!!
PS Lauren’s shirt rocks!

donna - hi meg. as always ~ great pics. i live in michigan and we always seem to get such a bad rap here – i am glad that you are showing the blog world that michigan really isn’t so bad. however, everything you do always looks so fantastic – even if it’s your piles of laundry – love it!

Marina - Where did Lauren got that Where the Wild Things Are shirt??
It’s awesome!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - So fun. I feel like I was there with you. Great craft project too. I looked up that site and did one with our girls a week or two ago. We did the hot air balloons. I didn’t make one though. Now I want to go back and do it again. Oh and you NEED a tire swing. That would be a perfect addition for your family.

deb meyers - so fun! I love that you share your vacation : )
I think Lego puts “16 and up” on its boxes so sons who too soon pass the Lego stage feel that it is still okay to spend some time fooling with them (as my 16yo has done this summer, and as Chicago Dave proves), and the younger guys can feel cool and ahead of the curve. STILL … impressive Sean!

Staci - Pure awesomeness!!! Wanna go there!! And way to go Sean!! IMPRESSIVE!!!!!!

Laura Phelps - I am surprised that Sean didnt go for the sharpies….
I love you Meg
that is all
really
I miss you
and I want to craft with you
and vacation with you
and have our kids run around til mid night together

Cheryl @ a pretty cool life. - Um…did you forget to use Sharpie on your drawing too?? LOL Great pics. Looks like fun!

Kim - I live in Michigan. Not far from where you were on vacation – had I known…… Think of yourself as a celebrity and some random stranger comes up to you and says, “Are you Meg from Whatever?” That would have been fun! Come back any time to Michigan!!

Julie - I just came home from my second Michigan trip this summer and now I am ready to go back again!
These are beautiful pictures and memories.

tara - i don’t know why but this made me cry.
just so fun and happy.
great memories.
gorgeous families.

Holly - very cool photos Meg! Thanks for sharing!

Gemma - You guys are so lucky to have a great relationship with another couple/family! I hope I have the same someday : )
Gemma x

Sarah - Thank you for your lovely blog… it cheers me up when little else can.

Dana@Bungalow'56 - What is truly amazing is that you all get along together as couples and as families. This is definitely something special.
Dana

Kat - Awww, I so want to go on a holiday with my bestie, who lives too far away.
It looked like a truly awesome trip.
Happiness everywhere in those pics and that tart looks goooood! 🙂

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Oh, you guys look so happy! makes me miss my best friend Chicago Jen (who has just relocated to DC). I need to go write her a letter. And go on vacation. And eat a raspberry tart thingy. And hang a tire swing!
I loved your vacation pics! Thank you for sharing them with us!

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i miss the beach.

July 29, 2010 Filed in travels

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i miss the sounds.
i miss the sand.
i miss my friends.
i miss smell…the wind…the colors….the sunsets.
 
i miss my beach.
    

add a comment

Mrs. - I am DYING to know where you went in MI…I SUMMER in MI (yes, summer is a verb in my family). We have absolutely the tiniest cottage in Bay View, MI. You would love it. Whole summer of education, religion, recreation, and arts. You should come next year. Honestly, eight weeks to revive you for the rest of the crazy year.

Lisa B - Love your blog….love your pictures!! Where is that sweet yellow frilly bathing suit from…must have one for my daughter!!

Chicago Jen - I remember how Dave was always making the fires and Craig was always posing for the pictures. ha ha!

amy d - i hear ya!!
love the rainbow umbrella and annie’s yellow suit!

jen - Craig in a swimsuit=NICE.

purejoy - love this post. i’d miss it too. looks like you had a blast. my favorite picture was craig the crane. ha!
lovely colors. i could hear the waves and the laughter and the wood crackling. thanks for bringing me along. and yes… WHAT BEACH??

Traci - oh, i hear ya girl. i miss it too. i keep trying to figure out a way to go back – soon. everything about the beach speaks to me. i need to live there. someday.

Laura Phelps - I miss it too
and I want Annie’s yellow ruffle suit
sweet…..

Stefanie - I love the fire pit! Looks like you guys had an awesome time. We finally live near beaches, now that we’re only 25 minutes from Seattle, WA and its been one FUN summer!

Debbie S. - Florida always seems like “the place to go for a beach vacation” but your pictures and stories prove that Michigan is equally as wonderful….less crowded..just as beautiful..what could be better? I envy your long trip…this year our vacation consisted of 8 different weekend trips for baseball/soccer tournaments. Yuck, but I’m getting good at navigating our way through KC and Memphis 🙂

Catherine - Love this – miss these midwest beaches, too. And hoping/assuming that y’all will see Troy and Tara this weekend, and imagining what a lovely post – convergence of blog-worlds – that will be.

Lisa - oh, it’s no wonder, such great pictures! And, I hear ya, just got back from Lake Tahoe, CA, and so enjoyed the lake beach!

Casey - Totally agree! We just returned from 2 weeks in La Jolla and I still credit you with our tide pool discoveries. It was lovely!

Mindy Harris - i loved your photo sequence/video of you going down the plastic tarp. you’re too cute.
i have odd, sometimes funny post-pregnancy dreams, and last night you were in one..i can’t remember what we were doing, but we were best friends and you asked lots of good questions.
whatever that means? ha.

Lynn - Love the karate kid pose – classic. 🙂

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=561477258 - I love that umbrella! The beach is my favorite place ever. The sounds are my favorite part about it.

Jess Mead - Oh your pictures make me want to pack up and go this weekend! It looks soo relaxing!!

Annie - Michigan beaches are beautiful! As a Michigander I’m glad you got the opportunity to visit!

Genn - Well shoot, you just made me miss your beach!
Great pictures! I love that one of your daughter in her polka dot swimsuit as the sun is setting! So beautiful. And I just bought my oldest that same swimsuit. Man do I love Target.
And the yellow ruffly suit… so so so cute.
Happy Thursday:)

lindalou - headed for the beach next week at this time going to california to housesit): i know its a sad job but since amy and craig can’t jim and i can(: great pictures of the beach and your family. blessings. lindalou

Kelly - where in michigan was this?? We are looking to rent a house next summer and wonder if you could recommend where you stayed??

beth - I love all your pictures! Love the fact you built a fire on the beach…how neat…I have seen it in the movies but just never done this but I am going to get hubby to make me one cause we leave for a smll weekend at the beach next week.

Jessie - I forgot to mention that there is a chalkboard globe…
http://cactuscreekdaily.com/love-it/jimt-idea-globes
hope you love it!

Jessie - LOVE your Happy Things…you have to check out the globes I found here… http://cactuscreekdaily.com/love-it/jimt-idea-globes Love this blog too! Must be a globey kinda day!

Trish - You can come stay with us 🙂 We don’t live right on Lake Michigan, but we have biked or roller bladed there before 🙂
Where did you get Annie’s swimsuit? the yellow one… adorable!

Aimee - Omg I LOVE the Karate Kid stance. lol!

Meredith - I LOVE Annie’s little yellow swimsuit. So adorable. I wish they made that in my size! Your pictures are beautiful, as always. Is it just me, or do your friends (husband and wife) look JUST ALIKE? Crazy!

Janine - Beautiful pictures. Is that lake Michigan? Seriously looks like it could be the ocean. You know, you remind me of how fortunate I am to be able to go to the beach on a moments notice and yet I take it for granted and still don’t go often enough. One of the perks of living on Long Island. I’ve been to the Sound, but not the ocean this summer and that has been bugging me. The jellyfish are probably out in force now and then you can’t go swimming in the ocean. It takes me less than an hour to get there and I really should just make the time and go. The Hamptons are calling my name after seeing these pics!

Kacey - Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live on or by the beach? That is my dream, too…

Esther - I’m so very sad for you today…I live at the beach in California but the weather has not been exactly warm at all,lots of clouds and cold, very weird summer. What beach were you that allowed you to make fires right on the sand?? you cannot do that here in CA. Have a great rest of the summer 🙂

patti - we went for a weekend trip to the beach for my birthday last weekend and i miss it too. it was so beautiful. i’m a beach kind of girl. i think i’ll need to retire to a beach town.

Jacqui - I miss it too and i wasn’t even there! i want so bad to go to the beach, take a week off and lay in the sand …. maybe one day soon!

Susan - What beach is this? Not a Cali beach yeah? If it was there would be a ton of people and no place to move around. I love the trees and the tall grass in the background. Beautiful.

Heather Richter - I miss our beach…Siesta Key in Sarasota. It is so white and the sand feels like flour.
Love Talby’s pic of her writing her name in the sand.
Love the little yellow frilly bathing suit…sweet.
Love the couple’s pics(we don’t take enough of those).
Love that you had a great time, with great friends.
~Heather R.

tara pollard pakosta - dear meg,
out of all the blogs i read, and there are lots,
yours is my all time top fave! i can always count on your for showing such fun, wonderful pictures, posting just what i need to hear, posting real life thoughts that i can relate to and not just the warm fuzzy things everyone posts. you are so real to me and i just want to put your blog into a book and sit and read it. seriously, it’s magic! this post is BEAUTIFUL!!! makes me want to get to the beach too!
xoxoxox
tara

Tracy - Well I am heading there tonight so I will take it all in for you too – okay?! :o) Pictures are awesome as always. I know I will have tons of pictures to show but they will never be as beautiful as the ones you take. Big hugs! :o)

Melanie - I love the beach too:) Your photos are beautiful.

Marina - Oh, how I miss it too! Can’t wait for summer to be back! People always think here in Brazil we have summer all year long, but it’s just not true!
Here’s a website I thought you may like! Beautiful fabrics!
http://cloud9fabrics.com/home.htm
Marina
http://doceconfissao.wordpress.com/

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Oh I would too. Looks like an amazing time!

Suzette - Me too. These photos made me yearn for a beach day.

j - I have the beach. I miss “normal” places.

Melissa - Got to love that KU cap!!
Rock Chalk!

elma - Love the pictures!!! You guys are all soooo cute!! I love that beach to:)

Niki - You look REALLY happy in that last photo! Thanks for sharing your fun!

Kimberlee J. - Me, too. Nearly every day of my life. Sigh.

Michelle - Australia - I’m the third Australian to comment on your pics. Maybe we should start up a ‘We Love Meg’ Aussie fan club?
It’s winter here in Australia but I live in Brisbane which is on the same latitude as Tampa, FL. So we can swim about 9 months of the year. And yes, we LOVE the beach too!
Great pics and great post – as always!

Kat - Gorgeous pics as always.
You inspired me to get out and take lots of pics outside with my kids today.
We are lucky enough to live by the beach in Tasmania, Australia.
Even in winter, it is still a lovely place to be.
You guys look so relaxed and happy and I must say you and Craig are such a good looking couple.

Holly - I think I miss it too! 😉

Vicki Esh - I just came back from spending a weekend in Michigan. I grew up on Lake Huron and even though I’ve been gone for 15 years, it’s still home to me. Thanks for capturing the beauty of Michigan. There’s no place like it!

Mallory - Now that beach has oil in thanks to a wonderful company in Kalmazoo…. I absolutely love the pictures your post… p.s. any new good recipes?

nora - I miss the s’mores. I wasn’t even there! Stove-top s’mores just aren’t the same, ya know?
Great pictures!

jennibell - Beautiful pictures. Beautiful memories. So glad for you that you were able to do this this summer and you were renewed for another year. There is nothing like spending time with family and best friends 🙂

Julie - Your photos make me miss the beach! One of the reasons we chose to go to Alabama in a year ~ two hours from the ocean!! After being “landlocked” for nine years, we can hardly wait to just pile into the van, spend the day at the beach, and head home. I’m definitely envying (in a good way!) your vacation!!!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - Megan,
I loved the little yellow bathing suit. That is as cute as it can get. For some reason I was noticing clothes instead of the beach. It’s a survival mechanism (no beaches near us.) I also loved your green Tee. Where is it from? Plus the necklace you are wearing with it is perfect. Pictures…as always, wonderful.
Dana

Nikki - I miss the beach too 🙁

Alicia - I just love your photos! You make me want to go to the beach (even if it is still winter here in Sydney!) & take heaps of photos. Like that photo of the brightly coloured umbrella- so simple, but looks so good in a photo!

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$6 well spent

July 26, 2010 Filed in family fun,funny videos,travels

dave bought two tarps at costco and a bottle of tear-free baby shampoo.
 
he and craig taped the tarps together, turned on the hose and we had an instant homemade
 
SUPER SIZED slip n' slide!

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everyone used the shampoo on their fronts to be more slippery….IT WAS AWESOME!

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it came more natural to some of the kids.
and frustrating to others.
 
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we finally had to bribe them….one dollar for any kid who can make it to the end.
 
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it was really far.
but suddenly everyone was out on the hill and had won their dollar.
 
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we called lauren outside.
i told her if she would do it…..then i would do it.
she said "if you do and i do….then jenny has to do it too"
and she added "NO PICTURES"
deal.


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no pictures of lauren….i was fine with it.
and jenny is always fun.
 
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dave took some video.
i adore it.
he is shouting "DOLLAR!!!" and everyone is so happy. 

           


that night i uploaded my pictures from the day onto the laptop.
i started clicking through them and others joined me in looking through.
then we got to craig's pics of ME going for me first time.
everyone is looking and i started clicking faster trying to move them OFF of ME.

and i am not kidding….there were 38 pictures in a row.
he caught every split second of it.
i had it on action setting and he just held down the button.

i was screaming with hysterical laughter as i kept clicking and clicking trying to get to a cute kid
instead of ME in my MOM suit….RUNNING.
i kept yelling "NO! OH NO!!!"
we were watching a slow motion movie with way too much detail on full screen….yikes.
it was very very funny.

so last night i highlighted them all to delete them….and then i thought….
it WOULD be funny to make a movie of them.
i am over the embarrassment of it and just think it's funny now.

and now….without furthur ado….
6 seconds of embarrassment.

i was sore the next day.
it's not really meant for grown ups….but it really was fun.

add a comment

shelly@familyblt - I love everything about this post. Such a good idea for fun!

Melanie - Meg, you are so much fun! We just love you for it.

Amy Bogan Griffin - You are soooo AWESOME!!! Thanks for showing us!!!!

Quinn - I love, love, LOVE when bloggers post videos… it’s like seeing their photos come to life. Almost surreal, almost as if you guys are suddenly more real then I always thought you were. Anyways, looks like tons of fun. I think I might put this on my list to do this summer.. hm.
Hope you guys are doing well. 🙂

Lia - that is the COOLEST thing ever. i wanna do it!!!

Alisha Mancinas - YOU. ARE. AMAZING! I wanted to email you the other day, to show you some rainbow soap I came across on etsy or something, but my mac wouldn’t let me because I use gmail, and when I click on the e-mail me link on your blog, my comp wanted to use it’s email program. It was frustrating. 🙂

julia - these are mom suits???? I have three very similar to yours. why didn’t anyone tell me???

Chicago jen - Great post! Not enough pictures of Dave though. Lol about the pic of you!

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - Oh-so-awesome! I love that everyone participated – your still shot video is such a hoot with the added soundtrack! What a good sport you are!

tami - thats fun!!!!

Joanna @ The Casa - Love the video! You are such a fun mom!

jennibell - Sorry. . .meant Craig. . .

jennibell - The video was so much fun. But really, your picture of Dave was the BEST. . .what great memories.

Garner6389 - The baby shampoo is a great idea.We have something in common.We get Migraines.Not sure if thats good or not!!!!!

Vera - Love it! I’m so crabby in the middle of the night – with a headache and all the kids somehow piled in MY bed – but your post made me laugh. Thanks!

Carey - You’re such a champ, Meg. I love your candor and authenticity. I love that you write about being crabby one day and then bounce back with this happy snapshot of your vacation on the next. I have four children that are 5 and under, so I’m well acquainted with “so crabby,” but I know your joy of being of mama, too. So glad to “know” you and your family through your blog.

Liz@HoosierHomemade - I loved seeing the pics. We made a slip n’ slide last year, and the boys loved it. We bought one this year because youngest son was having some friends over for his bday, it lasted 1 day…geez!
Looks like a great family time was had by all!
~Liz

Genn - THAT looks like some serious FUN!!I will have to remember this grand $6 idea.
Loved the videos too, made me feel like I was there. And you look so cute in your swimsuit! Very stylish.

jody - LOVE this! You are so real, so fun!! Thanks! xo

The Lady of the House - You GO Girl! I’m proud of ya! I would of had the gutts to do it!
This post made my heart = )
Stop by my blog and sign up for the giveaway!
Happy Week,
The Lady of the House

Staci Danford - There is nothing more fun than a real live smile… I wanted to go outside and make one myself to see if I could have that much fun.. LOVED it.. Thanks for the grin.
Staci

JustMommer - Wow! Annie made that look easy, hooray for the Moms for going for it!

DreamGirlLisa - Oh sooo great!! My kids made their own slip-n-slide on 4th of July, but I didn’t do it…lol, you are brave sista!!!! Fun to watch the video, I have a smile on my face now 🙂

Allyssa W. - ha! ha! ha!! That was too cute and so funny! Thanks for sharing!

Martina - wooow GREAT idea!

Ashli - You rock!!! Your kids will love looking back on that day and see you having such fun.

Jess Mead - Very creative! I LOVE IT!!!!!

Monica Huete - It looks like you all had a great time !!! Sooooo fun !!! … ^__^

DeeDee - Why is it that your slip and slide ends like this and my family slip and slide adventure ends with a 9 hour trip to the ER for a hubby with a dislocated shoulder?…Whatever!
I love your gusto!
Great Stuff!

Kimberlee J. - My first thoughts were…will she? Will she show the pictures of her going down the slippy slide? No she won’t. SHE WHAT? She posts a photo collage video? You rocked that so hard. Awesome.

Jessie - That was awesome Meg! Loved that you did it too!!

Rachel / cREaTe - love your lil’ video. 🙂 love that the camera was on that setting & you had that many photos! HILARE! and the kids! i’m dying laughing at the thought of all that. 🙂

Sandy - Great fun! That looks like a wonderful time…must tell my sister about it for her kids and the hill in her backyard!
Not to sound stalkerish but, if I were you, I’d totally have that picture of Craig in a frame next to my bed. You’ve got a looker there, girl! 🙂

tara pollard pakosta - so fuN!
and your kids will LOVE that video of you one day!
showing you were there and present and a FUN MOM!
tara

Jaime @ Mamarazzi - Meg… what a great post and a wonderful idea for the slip and slide. If only we had “hills” here! lol…
I guess with enough water, baby shampoo and plastic, one could fly eve if horizontal! 😀 Might need to try that!
Love the video! 😀 Too cute!!

Juli - more = my. Sorry, I’m tired, been teaching VBS all morning!

Lori - What an awesome idea! And your video is too because you are such a good sport to share it. So funny, you know how to make me laugh out loud at my computer almost every day!

Juli - Slip ‘n Slides were way more fun before we had boobs, weren’t they? My best friend & I “bought one for our kids” (that’s more story, stickin’ to it) when they were toddlers. We were SO sore the next day! I’m sure it didn’t help that we were still nursing!

traci in virginia - How fun was that!!!? Thanks for sharing! You are a great Mom and make me smile!!! I am a widow with two kids and I try to make sure my kids are having fun! Your blog is so helpul for that! Thanks so much for all you share!

angela - I loved this! Love the homemade slide. Love that Lauren said no pics….so typical. That’s what I like. You all are so typical. Love your family! Can you do that? Can you love a family you don’t know?

marie tere - I think looking at the videos makes that crabby face smile. And I am so quick to delete pictures of me. But then think, that’s who I am and that’s who my kids will remember in years to come. Love the idea, must look for hill 🙂

Staci - LOVE it!!!!!!!!!

jennifer - You guys have gotta be the coolest family in the history… of well, EVER! I love it! What a super fun day! (We’ve gotta try it!!!!!)

Tiffany - We have also done this! FUN!!!….way to go for posting pics of yourself slipin’ & slidin’!

Lisa - You guys are too funny.

tara - the picture of your husband coming down the slide is priceless…you need to frame it.
the video was hilarious.

Ashley Stinson @ The Hillside Home - this looks like a BLAST. i dream about times like these with my kids someday. (right now i only have 1 little guy… but i dream about a house full like you.) great pics! and great idea for a cheap slip and slide. 🙂

AmyB - Ha ha. Awesome.
Looks like so much fun!!

sarah - SO fun!
I love that shot of Jenny, pure happiness.

Heather R. - L to the O to the V to the E…the super size slip and slide. AWESOME!!! You in the Batman pose on it. AWESOMER!!!
That is great. ~Heather R.

Tricia - Okay. SO much to say. The slip ‘n slide is awesome! My kids (and the neighbor kids) just watched your video and now they are outside plotting where we should put OUR giant slip ‘n slide. 😉
Secondly, you rock my socks! I’m so glad that you had a fantastic vaca. I’m also very glad that you shared the highlights with us.

Keri ~ Forever Folding Laundry - SO fun!!! Those are the types of slip-n-slides my dad made us as kids, but we never took it to the shampoo level of awesomeness. 🙂 Money SO well spent!!
And good for you for posting your video. Totally fun!!
~Keri

jill - OH MY GOSH! HOW HYSTERICALLY HAPPY I WAS TO GET YOUR COMMENT ON MY BLOG!!! I HAVE BEEN A HUGE FAN FOR SO LONG – LOVE THE PICS OF YOUR LIFE! WE HAVE TWO GOLDENDOODLES SO ALWAYS SHOW THE KIDS PICS OF WAFFLE. YES, I LOVE KASEY AND WE HAVE BECOME FRIENDS BECAUSE OF BLOGGING – HOW AWESOME IS THAT? US MIDWEST GIRLS MUST STICK TOGETHER, YA KNOW! SO….THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE VISIT, YOU MUST STOP BY AGAIN…NICE TO ‘MEET’ YA!
XO~JILL

Charity - So fabulous!! What an awesome way to spend an afternoon – thanks for the idea!

Krista - Love you and your mom suit, that was awesome!! Who knew 2 tarps and some shampoo could be so much fun? Love Scott’s “I’m awesome” at the end of his ride. Thanks for sharing. Gosh it looks like it was a lot of fun!

alamama - very cute! loved seeing this in the morning! glad to see a happy face on you!

Susan - I absolutely love this idea. How smart. The regular slip-n-slides are way to short anyway. Yours works well, but it looks like you have a little bit of a down slope. I bet it would be great for innertubing down in the snow too. Awesome idea. I’m heading to Home Depot.

Megan - This is so awesome, how fun! I think everyone got more than a dollar right? Great idea and love the price tag!

Nicole Q. - You are such a good sport . . . i think that’s one thing that makes you a great momma!!!
You had the perfect place to put that thing too — we used to do that for youth group events. Crazy fun!!

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - that video is happy. 🙂

Dina - You make me laugh! Your blog and my coffee are the best two things of my morning:-)

Kelly - That is awesome! My parents have a huge hill at their house and we were trying to convince them to let us do this on their hill. So far it’s a no go but maybe if I show them this they’ll change their minds.

Elizabeth McDonald - Awesome….that is all I can say…AWESOME!

Niki - What a blast! You guys are such fun parents! And your swimsuit is a CUTE mom suit!

amy - I LOVE it, that’s awesome!

Kelly - I absolutely loved your post. What makes it so fun is your participation. It’s nice to see you in it once in a while! I love the yelling “Dollar, dollar! You’ve got a buck!” You guys are so much fun. Your kids are going to have the best memories and stories to tell later on!

Cate O'Malley - love the idea – even better that everyone can have a blast in their own backyard without spending a fortune – great memories!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Oh that looks like some good ole’ fashioned fun. You are so cute slidin’ down the tarp..4 seconds just wasn’t enough. I wanted to hear you talk:)

jess - you rock!!!!! how could you not go down that great slip-n slide!!!!!

Shann - Those are such good pictures Meg! It looks like you had such a good time with your best friends up here in Michigan. I remember doing a slip-in-slide a few years ago. You are right…it is a bit harder for us moms. 🙂 Your swim suit is really cute by the way! Have a good Monday! 🙂

jackie - Looks like you all had a great time. We had friends that had a gigantic piece of rubber that you make inner tubes from, and they did the same thing. They put it down, kept the sprinkler running over it, and baby shampooed, and baby oiled it up, and the kids had a Blast!! It is so hot here too. 100’s w/ the heat index everyday. What a way to stay cool, and I bet you were sore. Have a great week. Jackie

Barb - When you look up “good sport” in the dictionary, there’s a picture of you! 😉
Looks like it was a great time. What a fun person you are.

Meg B. - looks like fun, now to find a hill….

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Great idea!! I bet your fronts were really sore after all that though.
Your family seem so fun : )
Gemma x

Michelle - Meg
When you started this blog, did you think you were going to change the world? Because that is what you are doing. God Bless you girl!! I live in Australia, I love your blog (I ‘met’ you through Cora’s Mum Jess) and I swear you make me a better Mum. I read your blog, I come up with ideas from what you write and my kids love them.
Thank you!

Nikki - should read… so much fun…. I should proof read my comments 🙂

Nikki - That looks like so much.
Thanks for sharing the video…. made me lol 😀

Tammy - That looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing the video of you!

Georgia - haha i love your video! its brilliant. The music made me crack up. You look lovely Meg, wouldnt even know you have had 5 kids!
YUou should post video’s of the family more often, its nice to see everyone in real time.
xx

Trish - how fun!!
and I love that you posted that video of you!

Tasha Griffin - Oh, how fun! We have had some good times on giant homemade slip and slides as well…baby shampoo is a MUCH better idea than baby oil like we used! Looks like you guys had a blast!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - 4 seconds?! Hilarious!!! 🙂

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other fun stuff to do in small towns in michigan.

July 23, 2010 Filed in travels

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walk down the road to the Fluff & Suds for an ice cream treat.
(dave….i forgot to pay you back for this…sorry)


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go bowling on dollar bowling night.
 

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pick fruit.
we picked cherries and peaches.
 

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smiley face on her peach.

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we teased poor lauren stuck at a peach farm with her family saying "what are you texting?!"
"text: i am sitting on a stump in a peach orchard.  what r u doing?"
but she called me out with the dreaded "you text MORE than i do!"
true.

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go see a movie.
$5 tickets and .50 pop and .50 popcorn!!!
for a NEW movie….we saw Despicible Me.
the LOMA rocks!

but the best entertainment we found was something Dave brought with him.
it cost $6 total.
it deserves it's own post.
tomorrow.
     

add a comment

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Biz - This is my first time reading your blog. I was introduced via Farmgirl Paints. I am amazed at this small world! I lived in Junction City/Manhattan/Ft.Riley,Kansas for 10ish years and my Dad’s family is all in Michigan near Grand Rapids! Where about in MI were ya’ll?

Melanie - Fun times.

Meg - Love the Loma! We almost went there last week, while we were on “OUR” beach!! But we never had a rain day!!
FYI for the past few years we have rented a house with those 220 stairs.. I feel your pain. I almost threw up the first time!!! But this year we got a house a little farther north and there were only 140 stairs!! SO Much easier!!

Rachel / cREaTe - so fun! absolutely love the pic of talby’s bite marks in the peach. 🙂 very clever.

Lorilee - Love it! Simple FUN! I’ve picked peaches in south Texas in June. It was excruciatingly HOT and sticky. Anything outdoors in South Texas after May until October is pretty much HOT and sticky! haha!
Blessings,
Lorilee

Nicole Q. - So jealous on the fruit picking. When my parents lived in Portland we would go picking all the time with my mom. Such good memories!!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Meg, that looks so fun! Ok, if I promise to put the kids to bed next year, I can come, right?!

The Lady of the House - LOVE that first pic of the girls. and really? Fluff & Suds – genius name for a store!
Happy Summer – The Lady of the House

Staci - Awwwww 🙂 Cliffhanger…I’ll tune in tomorrow to find out what it is!!!!!

Ashley Stinson @ The Hillside Home - love how lauren has the cell in her hand even in the family picture! hahaha…. reminds me of my brothers (i have 2 teenage brothers that live with my husband, baby and i). we will go on family vacay’s and the cell phones are always present…. even at the campfire! great pics. looks like you all are having a blast. 🙂

kerri b. - Looks like fun! We live in Northern MI and I was surprised to see you vacationing here 🙂 I was wondering if you are renting a house?! We were thinking about renting one for next summer in the UP (a real adventure and an extra long drive for you)but maybe St. Joe would be good to! Hope you are having a relaxing time in MI, sometimes you forget how beautiful a place is when you already live there! Love the kids crafts…keep ’em coming!

Beth W. from Dirty Laundry - mmm, the peaches look yummy, and I can’t wait to see what Dave brought!

MommaH - Love the picture of the kids on the bench. So “Doin’ their own thing”. You are a really good photographer.

Molly - Scott and Annie are adorable together!

Tammy - a lot of fun stuff going on there!!
I wish we had a cheap movie theater- the last one cost $118 for 5 of us and popcorn and shared sodas!

Cmjcbaldwin.wordpress.com - We love to pick fruit and then make it into the yummiest jam ever!-Meg

Marina - hi!
I’m from Brazil, have no idea how I found you blog, but fell in love with it!!
You’re a lot like my own mom, and that’s is the best compliment I can give!
And I love your recepies! Will try some of them soon! Rainbow cake will be the first!
Marina
http://doceconfissao.wordpress.com/

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Good ol’ fashioned fun:) I love small towns. We saw that movie last weekend. Pretty cute. I love Lauren’s comeback. I can’t believe I’ve become one of those texting crazy people. Weird!

Rachel - what a great time and cannot beat those movie prices. Love your blog!!

Alicia Butler - Where exactly did you go? I am with Dana. You are making me want to try Michigan next year 🙂

Julie - Nothing beats good, clean, CHEAP, fun!

Holly - DOnt you love having a teenager! Our oldest just turned 13 and I am hoping we still have a couple of years before we have to force family fun on her,lol!

Jen - 50 cent soda and popcorn!!! I didn’t think that was possible other than at home. WOW. I love Michigan.

Danielle - I love lauren’s sandals from the orchard pics!

LouBoo - Hi – this looks great – love the low-level easy stuff that keeps most of the family happy! I especially like the shot of them walking away in amongst the peach trees. Lucky you to have the climate! This post reminds me of my American friend from Indiana…not sure why…just simple pleasures I guess. Lou x

Gemma - It really is the simple things that make a holiday great!!
Love Gemma x

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - You’ve captured some great moments!
That peach photo just made me smile! 😉

Dana @ Bungalow 56 - Megan,
It just looks like an all around great vacation. Loved the picnic table shot, it captures the kids perfectly. Boy would I love to take my kids to a movie for $5, that would be unbelievable. And popcorn for .50. I think we may need to go to Michigan for our next holiday. Michigan State Tourism should hire you as a spokesperson : )
Dana

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