Our UP Adventures!!!

We had a great time on our mini-vacation to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Each year, we seem to extend the vacation for an extra day, and after this year, we KNOW we'll be extending it by yet another day next year! Cale had so much fun, it was hard getting him to leave. He was so upset that on the morning of our departure, he threw a stuffed animal at my face when I told him we were leaving. Normally, this would have been grounds for some sort of punishment, but I decided to cut the kid some slack, as I know he was just sad that we were leaving...and it didn't really hurt anyways!

I tried to capture the highlights of our time spent in Michigan....starting from the car ride there. You'd think after going to the same location for over 8 years, there would NEVER be a chance that we could possibly get lost....but leave it to us, cuz we did! And, the real kicker was that we were only about 35min from our final destination when we missed our turn. Needless to say, that little mishap landed us an extra hour and a half in the car...making the grand total time of our drive a good 8 hours!!!

Poor Cale was beginning to think we weren't really going to Michigan cuz it was taking sooooo long. Every time we stopped, which was about every 2 hours with Keegyn, he would aske "Are we still going to Michigan?" My only reply was "as soon as we can find it!"

Here's Keegyn at one of our many stops on our way.....fed, burped, diaper changed....ready to get back at it!

Once we FINALLY made it to the cottage, Cale was ready to begin his cray fish expedition.....he caught three right away, thanks to greasy KFC!!!
Getting ready to go launch Uncle Garry's boat at the boat landing

Once at the boat landing, Cale was actually most interested in catching, or trying to catch, dragonflies.
The look of pure annoyance on his face should be all the hints you need in order to know if he actually ever caught one!

Dragonfly expedition aborted...now on to the boat for a ride around the lake. Of course, Cale had his life jacket, "so I can be safe." (OK Dora!)

He seriously wasn't mid nose pick...he was scratching his cute little nose and I just had poor timing!

Just call him "Captain!"

Snuggling to keep warm...little chilly after doing a face plant in the water!

Enjoying a quiet evening on the deck of the cottage.

This ONE spot on the floor had Keegyn's attention for 15 minutes straight! It wasn't even a spot...it was just the carpet...but for some reason, you couldn't turn her attention anywhere but there.

Just waking up to the beautiful sunshine....getting ready to fill up Keegyn's little pool for a pool party!

Cale and I spent one whole morning at the big "sand box"--we brought all new sand toys and Cale was busy, busy, busy....

Hard at work, constructing roads....

Making potholes.....I can't even count the number of times I had to climb up and down the stairs to fill his bucket with water and then proceed to fill up that pothole with the water and run back down to get more water before all of it got sucked up by the sand. I was sweating bullets by 10am!

Well, and as all you hard workers know, constructing roads and dumping trucks can make anyone get a little "hot and sweating."

So....off come the shorts

Forget clothes....only skivvies allowed!!!!

Had I know Cale was a totally changed 3 year old, I would have suggested he put on his swim trunks before we went to the sandbox/wading area. But no time for that now....he wanted to get in the water....

....and was proud of his svelte physique....

Climbing the ladder.....no problem!

Splashing around in the lake water????!!!! Who the heck is this kid???!!! The same kid who wouldn't get in the nice, warm, clean water of his own swimming pool just a few weeks ago becuz, as you may recall, "then my swim trunks will get wet!"

I will never get this one figured out!

Back at the cottage, Keegyn was enjoying a nice leisurly dip in her kiddy pool!

And then was bombarded by BIG BROTHER Cale!! Still don't know how they both fit in that thing!

(notice Cale is sporting swim trunks now---no skivvies allowed this time)

SPLISH SPLASH!!!

Time for some fishin! Worms and all!

Getting Cale's line ready for "the BIG one"

Waiting patiently for "the BIG one" that never was....

Trying one last time from the pontoon.....still nuthin'

Me and Keegyn enjoying our quiet time again on the deck

Grandma and Grandpa T with their little pumpkins!

SMILE!!!

Here we are at Scott's, a cute little ice cream shop in town. Funny how year after year, we always seem to be the only ones in the place whene we're there!

Too much sugar for Cale!

Our last morning of our mini-vacation. Can't wait to see what fun next year brings!

PAN-O-PRAG CELEBRATIONS!

Every year, Lakeville has their own little summer celebration the entire week follwing the 4th of July, called Pan-O-Prag. It's filled with fun family activities like bake sales, kiddie parades and big wheel contests, talent shows, street dances....etc,etc,etc. We normally haven't taken part in any of the activites since most of them are during the week, but this year we headed to downtown Lakeville over this past weekend to take part in some of the festivities. We started our day at Airlake Airport and got to see some really cool military helicopters, trucks and historical planes. Cale really enjoyed seeing the helicopters and planes land and take off into flight! Especially the ones from Amelia Earhart days ( I know I didn't spell that right) with no windows or roofs to cover their heads!

Cale and Jason really likes this military helicopter. Cale couldn't believe how BIG it was!The nice military man in this picture was trying to really get Cale involved and was trying to get him to wear his helmet...Cale wasn't having any of that!

I know...nice picture next to all the huge array of bullets and gun power....

This one was much more friendly...no gun power to be seen.

After the airport we headed to the downtown area to the street market, car show, snacks, and the kiddie fair. Here, Cale decided to partake in the petting zoo, to my amazement! And actually did quite well...I could see from the sidelines that he was a bit skiddish at times with the goats walking ever so close to his side. It was then that I'd see Cale's little hand reach up quickly for Jason's to make sure he was close by!

Being brave and petting the goat....only for about 3 seconds so that I could snap the picture.....

...and then...yep....skiddish again...that goat was hungry and thought Cale's little legs looked mighty plump and juicy!!!

Keegyn enjoying the show of Cale running from the goats....and then about 5 seconds later...a complete and utter meltdown....We left the petting zoo immediately!

This past weekend we got to babysit my adorable baby niece, Mikayla!!! It was only for a quick 3 hours, while Darik and Andrea got away to play some softball, but we had a good time! I thought having 2 kids around was busy....it was a bit more complicated with 3 of them....especially with the age range of 3, 7mo, and 3mo. Two of the three angels wanted to be held and there was only one of me to go around....yes, Jason was "home" per se---but out of commission since he spent the evening tending to the lawn (but I digress). Needless to say, Keegyn went down at 8:30--and then it was smooth sailing the rest of the night!

Happy 4th of July!!!!

We spent our 4th of July doing normal 4th of July stuff! Fireworks, parades, BBQs, and just enjoying time outside!

Keegyn was a trooper at the parade. We weren't quite sure how this one would turn out with all the loud sirens and people and sweltering humidity, but she hung in there and really enjoyed the show!

Cale's cheesy smile...eating his fruit loops before the parade starts.

So prim and proper!

Cale was helping me out at this point....I was dying! He was being a good boy and fanning me off while waiting for the next round of tractors to come by!

Watching the marching band. The only other time he was this glued to what was in front of him was when the girls dance team came by kicking and boogying to the music! Seriously! He's 3!!!