Fall weekend

This weekend my parents came and Sunday we took a gorgeous trip to "the bridge" and Tahquamenon Falls. 

 

 

We found a new favorite restaurant in Mackinaw City!  (Really we just like the name, next time we will have to have a meal too!)

As Expected...

...Nora was thrilled with Kindergarten.

NOT AS EXPECTED...Clara was very sad to not have Nora with her at daycare.

(I asked her to take a picture with Nora and she refused, I snuck this picture in right after that).

However, by the time we got home, she was all knowing of the world and planning preschool for next week...correction, Clara, next YEAR.

I loved seeing Nora in her uniform today, never did I think I would find it so cute.  I was thinking about it today and I compare it to a 6-month old's swim suit, the first leotard, or the first t-ball uniform.  Kids in their 'new' role with a 'new' uniform is such a milestone.

Nora with Miss Vincent.

Nora didn't say it directly, but I think she was a little disappointed she didn't have homework.  This girl is already secretly planning college.

Remember when...

...it was warm and summer...it seems like only yesterday.  Wait.  It was.  So Labor Day is the (un)official end to summer, but please, mother nature, not so literally.

As I look at the weather across the region I think everyone is freezing, relatively speaking, today as I am going through summer pictures.  Thought I would warm you up thinking of summer times with these of the girls on the boat a few weeks ago.

 

The end of a chapter

I realize that we have been so busy during the month of August that I ran out of energy when it was time to blog our "busyness."  Now that school starts tomorrow, I need to do a quick rewind of our fun-filled August visiting with many dear friends.

Going back a few weeks....we met up with our friends from our Shakopee neighborhood, Joe and Andrea, with baby Ava, in Wausau WI to eat, drink, and be merry.... and play with kids and swim, of course.

Next we had our dear friends Ali and Ryan, with their kids Samantha and Cody here to visit, apparently I was too busy visiting to take any quality pictures of the group...(you might need to send some my way Ali).  None the less, we did visit Munising Falls and take the kids out fishing a few times on the boat.

Little miss independence, notice how many stairs we had to wait for while she "did it herself."

I love this....notice the pretzel rod in her mouth while she held the fish....so what happens when she throws the fish back?  

Then, we took friends, Angela and Ryan to see the Might Mac.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day to see the Mackinac bridge, and visit Mackinaw City--VERY cute and "touristy".  I highly recommend it to everyone, and on you way east, swing by Manistique!  On the west side of the bridge is Lake Michigan and on the east (where we are) is Lake Huron.  The area by the bridge, again where we stopped to play, is Huron Straits.

...what bridge, we have shells to look for...

Two year old feet in Lake Huron.

At lastly, but actually in September, another neighbor from Shakopee, Kathy and her friend Dave came last Thursday and Friday.  They weathered the storms, literally on motorcycle, but we had a great visit despite being inside most of the time.  The girls loved the bike, and helmets of course.

Day at the lake

Saturday we went to our friend's cabin.  The girls had a blast and I got girl-time with my friend, Coleen.  Nora said it was "more fun than our lake." Thanks for the great time!

Snack time.

Even kids are mesmerized by campfires.

Good, ol' fashion water time.  

Notice my swinger in the back...Clara would swing forever if you let her.

Ah, a friend to push.  

(action shot)

Spare the photographer....please

Tahquamenon Falls

Last weekend we verntured off about 2 hours from home to Tahquamenon Falls State park near Paradise MI.  We camped, viewed the upper and lower falls, and hiked between them.  I am so impressed with how well Nora did walking as far as she did, she was a trooper!

In this picture you can see how much each girl needs for an over-night camping trip!  I am thrilled that they are down to a small backpack each! We have really worked on streamlining our traveling this summer...no more pack-n-plays, diapers, booster seats.... (mommy is a happy camper)!

Upper falls

Lower falls

Mushroom hunting

Dinner

My three amigos

Perfect Summer Day

Today we decided to venture out in our "back yard" aka: Hiawatha National Forest starting about 10 miles away.  We threw the canoe on the truck, packed a snack and we were off.  A little farther up the road from where we went camping on Friday was saw some raspberries and stopped to pick some.  They were delicious, and the mosquitos thought we were delicious so we didn't spend a lot of time.  The third picture was into the forest so you can get an idea how many wild raspberries there were. 

I, like anyone with two young independent spirits have been trying to get a "good" picture of them since about March.  Today they happened to cooperate briefly, adding to the lovely day.

We went canoeing for about half an hour (the max both girls can tolerate).  We stopped at a smaller lake up the road to avoid windy waters and boat traffic.

After canoeing we stopped for ice cream then came home to swim.  I am trying to get creative with my swim pictures this summer because I have to go in the water with them, I don't actually have pictures of "swimming."