Charlevoix, MI: Day One

After hitting the beach, we hopped back into the car (much to my chagrin) and drove the block back to the house we are renting. It is awesome (and famous, too - check out the Earl Young houses of Charlevoix - we are 305 Clinton)! I grabbed a quick chocolate pudding (after all, we are on vacation) and then Daddy and I walked up to the beach, while Remi took a nappy and Mommy started to unpack. The beach is so cool - there is even a playground right at the beach! Next the the beach is a channel (that connects Lake Michigan to Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix) which has a light house out on the end of it - we got to play out there and wave to the boats! We then went into town and picked up some Taffy for Mommy. Mommy had BBQ'ed some hot dogs for dinner...which was very good...and then we all headed out as a family to the marina (just one block in the other direction). Chocolate ice cream was in store for me!!!

The Moment of Arrival!

As a family, we had yet to see a beach in Michigan. Yes, we have been to the water many times - but this was at a park without any beachfront. So, when we arrived in Charlevoix, we drove right past our house and to some grass parking spots - that looked like they were on a cliff by the water. We leaped out of the car, found a path, and headed down towards the lake (Lake Michigan). So cool!!

The beach was gorgeous but the sand is a bit rocky in parts; the water looks a lot like it does in the Caribbean but is 39 freckin' degrees! Tyler went in up to his knees, of course. Next, it is off to the house to unpack and then back out to explore!

Along the route to Charlevoix...

Daddy had one last week of vacation to burn prior to the turnover of the academic year on July 1, so we decided to head up North (and finally explore the rest of Michigan, after spending the first two years essentially exclusively in Ann Arbor and the rest of Southeast Michigan). Since the ol' 4Runner had been without A/C for 2 years, Mommy dropped Daddy off at work one day last week and got the air working again in the Purple Beast. We found a cool place to stay on VRBO.com - the people are very nice and from Lexington, MA, no less!

We left after everyone awoke on Saturday morning...with the car packed to the brim with food, toys, clothes and the four of us! Although the drive had been billed as 5+ hours, Emily (GPS) said it was around 4. With two stops for a picnic and running around, it actually took about 6! Check out one of our rest stops - the playground of a Lutheran church that said "ATTENTION: PRIVATE PROPERTY." We had fun anyway - and even used a Port-a-Potty in the outfield!

Charlevoix or Bust!

The cottage we are renting for the week.

We are off to Charlevoix for the week. Daddy found this awesome cottage to rent and we are heading off on our first driving family adventure since Remi has joined the crew. It's only 5 hours, so it shouldn't be too difficult, however, I am sick, Remi is sick, mommy is sick and daddy is severly sleep deprived! So keep your fingers crossed...

Another weekend without daddy...

Well, after the block party on Friday night, I was all fired up for a great weekend. I woke up extra early on Saturday to get a jump on the day and that's when I was informed that daddy was at work for the weekend. The thought of another weekend without daddy was just to upsetting for words, so I just decided throw a giant tantrum and cry, cry, cry!

In an effort to make the day special, mommy let me eat breakfast outside. I had two bowls of blueberries and some left over homemade challah that mommy and I had made on Friday. Then we went to the park where I amazed mommy with my basketball skills and did some swinging. I've been practicing on getting on to the big boy swing all by myself. The trick is to reach really high on the chains and then "1, 2, 3, JUMP." I may not get it on the first try, but eventually I'm able to get myself on the swing all by myself. Then I need a push to go high in the sky and practice my pumping.

While the park was a fun adventure, I saw lots of kids with their daddy's and every time I saw a man, I would just start screaming and crying, "I WANT MY DADDY!" over and over and over. So much so that mommy basically had to keep in the backyard the rest of the day so I wouldn't break down over seeing other father's.

I've also rediscovered my wagon. I fell off it (and scraped off half of my face) just after receiving it for my first birthday. Well, now I'm over my fear of red wagons and enjoy taking my water and goldfish for walks around the neighborhood.

"Please can I have more blueberries?"

Remi at the park, scowling while I was having another daddy tantrum

Our neighbors, Ron and Armena, have basically let me adopt their dog, Koba. I spend lots of time in their front yard and even get to take Koba for walks from time to time

But where is the block party? I know we used this last night. Where are all of the people?

S'mores Block Party

Mommy organized a S'mores block party for last Friday night. Lots of neighbors and friends came out to eat some yummy food and just have a good time. I had my first S'more and REALLY enjoyed it. So much so, that all I have been talking about lately is roasting marshmallows and how they are "really really really really really GOOD!" Daddy was actually home that night and helped me and many of my friends make s'mores. Remi had fun at the party, but she had to go home early because it was bedtime and she's a baby, luckily the baby monitor reaches to where we hanging out, so mommy could come back out and join the fun. I've heard rumors that after all the kids in the neighborhood went to bed, the adults stayed up, drank mojito's and warmed themselves by the fire until the wee hours of the morning. Maybe that's why mommy didn't enjoy my 6am wake up call!

Why can't I have these all the time. Notice there are no pictures of me after the s'more. I was so hyper, I was running around so fast the camera couldn't even catch me!

Georgie

Fred and I scheming how to sneak more s'mores.