one last hoorah!

Dan suggested we go camping one more time before the summer was over.  No one was using the camper, so Dan's parents were nice enough to take it out to the campground and get it set up for us.  We stayed out there Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Up on the roof of the 5th Wheel making sure everything looked OK.  (in bathing suits...and bike helments...that's how we roll.)

The weather was perfect and we were able to have lots of great campfires.  I'm still washing the smell out of my hair.  We even cooked dinner over the fire two nights.  (Hobo pies and hotdogs)

We went for a walk down to the lake to see the sunset, but the kids couldn't resist the amazing waves.  

Love these two silly kids.

The kids loved hanging out with their cousins.

(well...at least Sydney did)

We made some cool sand sculptures...

Played lots of cards...

...and just chilled out.  

We may or may not have bathed our children right in Lake Michigan a few times.  I will never tell.

It was a nice way to end the summer.  Now it is back to school time!  Tomorrow is our first day!

Girls Weekend!

I completely forgot to post anything about my amazing, relaxing, restful yet packed full of activities girls weekend I took in July!!

These lovely ladies and traveled up to Suttons Bay/Traverse City/Leelanau Peninsula area for the weekend.  Dan and I usually go up to the Old Mission Peninsula area when we are there, so this was great to see all different wineries and restaurants.
Since we met up in Traverse City, ate right downtown at Red Ginger.

  I've been by this place several times, but hadn't tried it before.  I'm not a big "Asian/Fusion" fan, but everyone else voted, so I went along, assuming I would just order a filet.  Boy was I wrong?!?

After a giant Mojito, I was feeling adventurous and decided to try Sushi.  O.M.G.  This was soooooooooo good.  It was called a Dynamite Roll.  Between the spicy sauce and the avocado, I was in heaven.  I really need to step out of my comfort zone more often!

The next day was jam packed with stuff to do!  We started with a little wine tasting.

 Then some more wine tasting...

then some more wine tasting...

 followed by more wine tasting....

Once we were good and tipsy, we figured we might as well kayak float down the river.

Its amazing what you can accomplish with no kids and a little wine.

All business right here.

Us on the other hand...we just ran into trees and drank our boxed margarita.

After making it down the river in one piece, we stopped by the Sleeping Bear Dunes Overlook.

I really need to stop taking our amazing State Parks for granted.  I have not been here since I was a kid!!

Lake Michigan.  Breathtaking, as usual.  This picture does not even begin to show how beautiful this day was.

Um...hello?  Can we say crazy?!?  Those tiny specs...people climbing up a 90 degree wall of sand. No thanks.

This was such a great weekend, with some amazing ladies.  I felt so recharged and relaxed when I got home.  Just what a girls weekend should be like!