Family Vacay...Artsy Style

Ahhhh...Summer vacations are the BEST!

On Friday morning, we packed up, squished the children in between bags and bikes...and were off to...

Jon's parents and his sister and two girls met us up there! What lovely little artsy towns by the lake! This is right outside our adorable room! We even had our own patio and grill! (And boy, did Jon grill up some MEAN hamburgers for everyone!)



Every day we took a little chain ferry across the water to the shopping district!

Dinner outside a little cafe!

Laney enjoying some art during an evening stroll.

And look what happens when sweet hubs gets the camera! Poor girls!

Outside of the public restrooms at the park! How cute....restrooms!

Emily and Laney had so much fun with cousins Megan and Madison!

Enjoying another ferry ride!

The girls walking back to our hotel! Yep....it was PINK and BLUE! Cute!

After a bit of shopping, we finally hit the BEACH! It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

Jon holding the girls! They LOVED Lake Michigan!

Papa Larry having fun with Megan and Emily.

My sweet Henry enjoyed beach time too!
After beach afternoons, we always enjoyed a nice dinner near the shopping district. There were so many furry friends! Almost every store allowed dogs, had water bowls for dogs and/or dog biscuits for visiting dogs! AND...many dogs greeted us when we went into shops! (Laney LOVED the dogs!)

Catching bubbles!

Although I was away from a computer the whole vacation, my little guy had to have his morning milk while checking out his daily email! Ha!

One morning I decided to walk up THE STAIRS OF DEATH! (There are 300+ stairs.) I couldn't do it without stopping. After I finished, I bet Jon $20 that he couldn't get up those stairs without stopping. He was up for the challenge...until he saw the stairs! And who won? I DID! I honestly thought he would make it up, but I guess the triathlon that he participated in less than 24 hours earlier must have worn him out a tiny bit! Emily and Laney ended up climbing the stairs with Jon. My calves STILL feel like they are going to blow out of my leg! OUCH!

We did manage to buy a few goodies! One even went on a ferry ride!

True entertainers!

Last night while getting ready for dinner, Emily told us that Henry had grease on his face (from Jon's racing bike...that stayed in our room as well). It wasn't grease....it was a black eye! We have no idea what happened! Poor baby didn't cry!

We had such a nice little vacay. Here are a few loves that rode home with us. Oh how I think this rock kitty is perfect!

A new lamp for Jon's office. The shade looks like linen and has metallic trim!

And what goody took the ferry trip? This wonderful metal vase! I plan to get some HUGE curly twigs for it! Jon and I bought it as our anniversary gift.

Our little getaway was much needed! It is great to go away, but nice to come home too! We hope to see Michigan next summer! Until then, I have a few art projects swirling in my head...just waiting!