We headed up to Leland for 2 weeks for our annual "Up North" vacation. This is our first summer with Taylor and as a family of 4. The first week Cullen, Jon, and Taylor Newell also joined us and it was a blast having everyone together in the cottage - the boys are so funny and were so sweet to Tay and Avery. Tay ALWAYS smiled when any of them walked into a room and Avery learned how to hunt Pokemon with them - although she never got the Pikachu she wanted!!
We spent our first few days mostly at the beach - Avery's phrase of the vacation has been "Let's hit the waves". She has really enjoyed swimming on her raft and getting rides from all of us and Tay has enjoyed playing in the sand (eating sand) and people watching. We had one day of really big waves and Avery and I had a blast bouncing around in Lake Michigan - I had to drag her off the beach that day. We have also shopped around town and gone out for some yummy meals - including our annual outdoor dinner at the Riverside with Sally Booth. Avery has also been spending lots of time dancing to the soundtrack of Hamilton and putting on concerts for all of us. She has been so expressive with her "moves" and it's been fun to watch. She is really into the story of Hamilton and the duel between Hamilton and Aaron Burr. On one of her beach walks with G, Avery was writing notes to Hamilton (who she calls Alexander) on stones with a feather about how she is sorry he died and how she doesn't like Aaron Burr and then throwing them into the lake so "Alexander" will get them.
After Cullen and his friends took off, Rebecca, Hannah, Ella and Carolyn arrived in Traverse City. We went to the beach near their cottage and had a great dinner in Traverse City along with a visit to Cherry Republic for some playtime in the Cherry Ball Pit and finished the night with Cherry themed ice cream. The next day we went Raspberry picking. And we also made it to Suttons Bay beach on their final day for a swim and time at the playground. I had fun taking the girls into the water and giving them boogie board rides. The girls also built sandcastles and Rebecca challenged them to a contest but then Avery said "I am withdrawing myself from the sandcastle competition" - Hannah was just too good!! All three girls played so well together and Hannah and Ella were very sweet and attentive to Tay! We loved spending time with Boltons and miss them already.
On Hung's last night we headed to Northport for dinner and bowling. It was Avery's first time bowling and she really liked it - She sometimes pushed the ball herself and sometimes used the "alligator ramp". She reminded me of when I used to bowl when I was little and would lean in to where she wanted the ball to go. Tay was really busy and just wanted to crawl and cruise around the whole time! After bowling we played some games in the arcade and Avery was so excited to get yet another stuffed animal from the claw game - she named this one "Rebecca".
Hung had to head back to Indy at the end of our first week. We are staying one more week - I have a couple more days of PTO and then I'll work and Avery and Tay will hang with G. We are grateful to have so much time here!!
Our one hiccup on week one was Avery getting diagnosed with "Swimmers Ear" in both ears. She had been saying how her ears felt weird and that there was something in them - but they didn't really hurt. When we looked at them with a flashlight we could see what looked like little yellow snails in her ears. Hung took her to QuickCare and they were able to clean her ears out a bit and get her some drops to clear up the infection. She handled it really well - she was telling the doctor how "my mom and dad keep using their phones to look in my ears." It should clear up quickly but she had to be careful about submerging her ears in the water which is hard when you go to the beach everyday and want to "Hit the waves".
Beach Time - Avery loved "Hitting the Waves" with Uncle Cullen, taking long walks and playing in the sand. Tay liked it but did not really feel like posing for pictures.
Taking the wagon around town
Checking out Pokemon with Jon - and very into posing for the camera
Playing in the yard and putting on Hamilton performances for the Tobin's and Sally Booth
Beach and Cherry Republic with Hannah and Ella in TC
Raspberry picking - Hannah and Ella were so sweet to Taylor and made sure he was fed lots of Raspberries right off the bush! Avery was happy despite having undiagnosed Swimmer's Ear. Most of these photo credits go to Rebecca :)
Sutton's Bay Beach
Bowling in Northport
