Believe it or not, I did not take any pictures of our trip to G.R./Holland this weekend. We were just too busy enjoying ourselves to get the cameras out I guess. Even so, we truly enjoyed the time spent with our families. (This is the only one I took of one of two cherry pies I made for the weekend.
Thursday afternoon we headed down to G.R. and dropped Spencer off at Bart's parents' home, since my parent's dog, Bandit, doesn't like Spencer. (He's too hyper for him I guess. That and he's not used to other dogs. Maybe some day they'll get used to each other?!) Then we wove our way through traffic - A MESS! to try to get to the mall. Between traffic lights out (due to massive power outages in G.R. after the BIG storm) and 5:00 traffic in G.R. with construction, it was CRAZY! I wanted to go to Motherhood Maternity to get a couple of things, with a gift card that I had. Well, in a round-about way, we finally made it there. I ran in, found a pair of jean capris, a swim suit, and a couple of t-shirts (on clearance!). Then we were off to my parents house for dinner. We had chicken on the grill, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, fruit salad, and homemade cherry pie! My parents packed up and headed out the next morning for their vacation on the East side of the state at my grandparents' cabin. Ethan was up at 6 AM, that morning, so at 9:00 AM, I laid him down for a 2 hr. nap before we headed to Holland to visit Bart's family.
We had lunch in Holland with most of the Glupker Clan - there were 24 of us in attendance that day. We were able to see Bart's Grandma, Parents, Uncles, Aunts, and several cousins, as well as his sister, brother-in-law and nieces and nephews. As always, we had TONS of food! We had hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, salads, corn-on-the-cob, fruit, chips, baked beans, homemade cherry pie, cookies, goodie-bars, etc., etc. It was a BEAUTIFUL, sunny, warm day! Some of the fam headed to a park for their annual 4th of July Baseball game, others headed to Tunnel Park on Lake Michigan. I, on the other hand, stayed back, along with a few others, while Ethan napped. He has done SO well with all of our comings and goings! He is getting used to sleeping in his pak & play where ever we go. Such a good boy!
After a nice long afternoon in Holland, we decided to pack up and head home. We were planning to go back to Bart's parents' house to spend the night, but they were still without power. (Of course, their power came back on when we were about half-way home. Bart's Mom called and said, "Our power's back on, do you want to turn around and come back?" She knew we wouldn't, but it was too bad it hadn't come on an hour earlier. :-( ) The ride home was a little bit hard for Ethan, because it was almost bedtime, and he didn't want to be sitting in his car seat, again! I was worried that he would sleep on the way home. Well, he sure didn't sleep, but he did cry almost half of the way home - not quite, but almost. Poor baby! He was sure glad to get home though! It was about 10:00 PM before he got to bed Friday night.
The nice thing was we had all day Saturday back at home to relax and enjoy the day there. So we all slept in a little bit. Saturday afternoon we headed out to Subway for lunch and then to Lake Missaukee, in Lake City, to hit the beach. Ethan is still not too sure about the lake. I don't know if it's because it's chilly or what. He just fusses when Bart has him in the water, and he wants to come back in to Mommy, who's nice and warm and dry on the sand. Then when I get him, he points back to the water and wants me to take him out. Silly boy! I don't think he knows what he wants.
We walked down to the boat docks to look at the boats and then headed home so Ethan could get his nap. Then we went to our friends' home, Jim & Mel's for dinner. Their daughter and son-in-law, Tommy & Megan, were home from Georgia with their kids, Teddy & Dannen, and cousin, Allie. Our kids enjoyed playing together. We had grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, salad, muffins and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Ethan must have been hungry, he ate a ton! Of course it's all stuff he likes, chicken, sweet potatoes, corn, and strawberries. Then, back at home we had to pack up for camp again.
Sunday we had a nice service at church, including Communion. Then we packed up and headed off with our Sr. Highers to The Springs Camp again. We brought 7 teens down with us for the week. Pray that God will continue to work in their hearts and lives this week at camp. We're here until tomorrow, then we'll head home for our mid-week activities. Bart will return for the wrap-up Friday night and bring the teens home Saturday.
Sorry I was so long-winded. I guess without pictures, that's what our 4th of July weekend was packed with, family, friends, fun, food & fellowship with the Lord! It doesn't get much better than that - does it?
Thursday afternoon we headed down to G.R. and dropped Spencer off at Bart's parents' home, since my parent's dog, Bandit, doesn't like Spencer. (He's too hyper for him I guess. That and he's not used to other dogs. Maybe some day they'll get used to each other?!) Then we wove our way through traffic - A MESS! to try to get to the mall. Between traffic lights out (due to massive power outages in G.R. after the BIG storm) and 5:00 traffic in G.R. with construction, it was CRAZY! I wanted to go to Motherhood Maternity to get a couple of things, with a gift card that I had. Well, in a round-about way, we finally made it there. I ran in, found a pair of jean capris, a swim suit, and a couple of t-shirts (on clearance!). Then we were off to my parents house for dinner. We had chicken on the grill, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, fruit salad, and homemade cherry pie! My parents packed up and headed out the next morning for their vacation on the East side of the state at my grandparents' cabin. Ethan was up at 6 AM, that morning, so at 9:00 AM, I laid him down for a 2 hr. nap before we headed to Holland to visit Bart's family.
We had lunch in Holland with most of the Glupker Clan - there were 24 of us in attendance that day. We were able to see Bart's Grandma, Parents, Uncles, Aunts, and several cousins, as well as his sister, brother-in-law and nieces and nephews. As always, we had TONS of food! We had hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, salads, corn-on-the-cob, fruit, chips, baked beans, homemade cherry pie, cookies, goodie-bars, etc., etc. It was a BEAUTIFUL, sunny, warm day! Some of the fam headed to a park for their annual 4th of July Baseball game, others headed to Tunnel Park on Lake Michigan. I, on the other hand, stayed back, along with a few others, while Ethan napped. He has done SO well with all of our comings and goings! He is getting used to sleeping in his pak & play where ever we go. Such a good boy!
After a nice long afternoon in Holland, we decided to pack up and head home. We were planning to go back to Bart's parents' house to spend the night, but they were still without power. (Of course, their power came back on when we were about half-way home. Bart's Mom called and said, "Our power's back on, do you want to turn around and come back?" She knew we wouldn't, but it was too bad it hadn't come on an hour earlier. :-( ) The ride home was a little bit hard for Ethan, because it was almost bedtime, and he didn't want to be sitting in his car seat, again! I was worried that he would sleep on the way home. Well, he sure didn't sleep, but he did cry almost half of the way home - not quite, but almost. Poor baby! He was sure glad to get home though! It was about 10:00 PM before he got to bed Friday night.
The nice thing was we had all day Saturday back at home to relax and enjoy the day there. So we all slept in a little bit. Saturday afternoon we headed out to Subway for lunch and then to Lake Missaukee, in Lake City, to hit the beach. Ethan is still not too sure about the lake. I don't know if it's because it's chilly or what. He just fusses when Bart has him in the water, and he wants to come back in to Mommy, who's nice and warm and dry on the sand. Then when I get him, he points back to the water and wants me to take him out. Silly boy! I don't think he knows what he wants.
We walked down to the boat docks to look at the boats and then headed home so Ethan could get his nap. Then we went to our friends' home, Jim & Mel's for dinner. Their daughter and son-in-law, Tommy & Megan, were home from Georgia with their kids, Teddy & Dannen, and cousin, Allie. Our kids enjoyed playing together. We had grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, salad, muffins and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Ethan must have been hungry, he ate a ton! Of course it's all stuff he likes, chicken, sweet potatoes, corn, and strawberries. Then, back at home we had to pack up for camp again.
Sunday we had a nice service at church, including Communion. Then we packed up and headed off with our Sr. Highers to The Springs Camp again. We brought 7 teens down with us for the week. Pray that God will continue to work in their hearts and lives this week at camp. We're here until tomorrow, then we'll head home for our mid-week activities. Bart will return for the wrap-up Friday night and bring the teens home Saturday.
Sorry I was so long-winded. I guess without pictures, that's what our 4th of July weekend was packed with, family, friends, fun, food & fellowship with the Lord! It doesn't get much better than that - does it?
