Jellystone 2022

This year, we tried out a new Jellystone for our summer glamping trip, this one is in South Haven.  It is smaller than the one in Indiana, which worked out perfectly, as our kids could attend whatever events they chose!

We had Leon with us this year, which made packing the car slightly trickier, but setting up camp slightly easier, with his two extra hands helping unload.

The set-up of this Jellystone was so well done.  The cabins had entrances all on the same side, so that each cabin had its own garden area!  They also had posted signs so that you knew exactly which parking spaces were yours!

The whole crew with Yogi!

We set up camp fast enough, that we were able to attend the smore event that same evening!  Leon and Boo Boo Bear played rock, paper, scissor!

We spent an hour at the pool each day, except for leaving day.  And when Avia drove out, to spend a little bonus time with Leon, they got even more time!

A favorite was for sure the arcade (and prize store that went along with it!)

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, Alice is always at my favorite age!  This year she was an explorer and was so excited to meet and greet all of the costumed characters*! 

More swimming!

The twins were playing horseshoes with the camp sign. = )

They had candy bar bingo!  This is my all-time favorite camp game, and it just wouldn't be the same without it!  Juliet was the only winner in our group, but we still had fun. = )

The Hey, Hey, Hey Ride!

We went to camp during slime week, so each night they made a different type of slime.  The slime was not allowed in the cabin or car though.

We went to watch cartoons one night.  I was slightly disappointed it wasn't Yogi.

Despite the temperatures being perfect to a little warm for most of us, William favored his hoodie.

On our last full day, Billy took the kids to play laser tag.  Alice wasn't a big fan, but did at least try it.

On the final day, Alice wanted to go meet up with Ranger Smith at the breakfast event. 

Emily and Juliet walked over and joined her when they woke up.

The final event was a scavenger hunt.  Since I knew that I would be frantically packing (despite my mom taking a load of things we had already used or could do without) I preemptively made note of every letter sign I could find.  Emily was the one who finally cracked the code, and so everyone got to enjoy the spoils of her (and my) labor.

[Emily] the code was "Light up the sky on fourth of July."

We had to check out of our cabin by 11, which is early enough that we went over to explore South Haven!

The first view of the water never ever becomes less thrilling.

The red flags were up, so no swimming, even if I had allowed it, but they had a nice time on the beach.  Alice opted to sit in the car, since the sky was overcast.

Grace's rainbow rock collection.

I wanted a picture in front of the state park sign. All of them came together in a rare show of solidarity, but their timing was less than ideal.

They did let me get a few unobstructed ones.

Being near the water, Billy and I were both craving seafood, and we found the perfect place.  It was right off of the water, made out of wood timbers and named "Captain (something)'s."  Obviously, it was packed on such a beautiful day.  So, we added South Haven to our adult vacation list, and went to McDonald's.

From there we headed East and the kids let us know that they didn't like that it was a longer trip back than there.  That was the cost of seeing Lake Michigan though, and I don't regret it. = )

At home we finished the tye-dye process (rinse, air dry, machine wash, air dry, machine wash, machine dry.)  The instructions were overwhelming, but the colors stayed so vibrant, it was kind of worth it.  

I made a shirt too (but Alice declined.)  She did paint a tiny cat though.

When we left, I noticed that the registration desk had use my Supernatural vanity plate on our tag. lol.  It should read "KAZ 2Y5" but either way it was awesome.

We had a wonderful trip, and I think William, in particular, enjoyed having Leon there!  Hopefully he will remember his trip to Michigan fondly for a long time.

later days

*This always strikes me as weird.  The thought is that little kids would love the characters, but it's really more teenage girls.  At least that was true of myself and is also true of Alice.

Edited 7/18/2023: This post is now a part of my project: 78 State Parks! #73

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Tahquamenon Falls #15

Muskegon State Park #50*

PJ Hoffmaster State Park #52
Grand Haven State Park #53
Waterloo Recreation Area #70a

*this post marks the start of the project, and as such, has information about what I hope to accomplish!

Lake Michigan @ Grand Haven

Since we were all the way in Grand Rapids for Emily's appointment already, Billy took the day off and we made the quick drive to the beach!

The weather for our drive was mostly cloudy and overcast, but once we arrived at the beach it was sunny and beautiful!

I brought my suit, but it was too cold for my taste, so I didn't get in far. = )

Emily thought the clouds looked a little like Michigan (sideways.)

For most of our visit we had our own section of beach right on the edge, and the water was very calm.

Eventually, Billy was getting too much of a burn and retreated to the car for a nap, since the air was nice and cool.  The water started getting choppier, and the beach was suddenly packed.  That's when I realized we had picked July 3rd* to go to the beach.

We spent close to 5 hours playing in the water!  I applied sunscreen regularly to the kids, but neglected at least one application for myself, and my knees burned spectacularly.  Thankfully, the kids were only burned under their eyes where they had wiped off the lotion.

I'd only packed enough food for one meal, so we grabbed from fast food for dinner.  Some of us couldn't even stay awake long enough to eat dinner.

Eventually all four succumbed to slumber, Grace was mid-cookie**.

Even though our reason for heading west was a little sad, spending the day with our toes in the sand went a long way.  Next time we go, we are bringing the canopy!

later days

*Alice was living it up in Texas this week, hence her absence from my pictures. = )
**I woke her up enough to finish or take it out, so that she wouldn't choke. 

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Edited 7/18/2023: This post is now a part of my project: 78 State Parks! #53

Muskegon State Park #50*

*A description of my state park project!

Ophthalmologist, Nephrologist, and the beach

This is the latest post in the series of William, Grace and Juliet's journey with hypophosphatasia.

In July, Sarah called to let me know that she was willing to take a few days off if I wanted to go to the beach.  Since we had a hospital day planned, and hour in the same direction, we decided to just piggy back it for the same day.

Avia decided that she wanted to come too, so last Thursday, William and the twins were slated to see the ophthalmologist, the twins had a visit with the nephrologist, with an ultrasound and William had to go in for a weight check for the endocrinologist. 

We loaded up in a timely manner and hit the road just an hour before their appointment.  

That's when the trouble began. My check engine light came on before we even hit the interstate.  We devised a plan to go trade out cars with Billy, but saw him leave for work just before we could catch him (he wasn't answering his silenced phone...)

So, to be the most efficient, we dropped Sarah off at our house, so that she could trade my mom's car with Billy's and then follow behind us, in case we broke down en route.  With so many appointments, calling the day off was a last resort.

The car performed well enough to get us there a mere 10 minutes late, which was not too bad all things considered.

It was chilly, but since we jumped out of the car and ran to the appointment, the twins were stuck sharing my jacket until they warmed up.

My mom took the big girls to a nearby auto shop to get a reading on my engine.  Sarah joined us not too long after the first appointment (just in time for the ultrasounds!)

We had time for a leisurely lunch out on the rooftop patio. This was the first temperate day we'd been at this facility, to it was everyone's first time to play with the equipment!

Our biggest appointment of the day was with the ophthalmologist.  She said that William and Juliet each had one eye that was not working as much as it needed to, so gave the order to 'patch' them for 2 hours a day.

This means that for 2 hours every day, they have to cover their good eye with an eye patch.  William was terribly resistant to it.  Juliet has been enjoying it I think, as she will wear hers without complaint for even longer.  We return in 3 months to see if this is doing the trick.  The next level is an eyedrop that causes the good eye to lose focus. = /

After a long day at the hospital*, equipped with the knowledge that my car just had a burned out coil causing it to misfire, we made a slower drive home, in two vehicles.  It was sad to miss the beach, but taking the car another hour from home seemed ill advised.

Sarah met us at the auto shop with Billy's car, but since it only seats 7, she had to wait for Billy to get off work and pick her up.

***************

My mom and I took the kids to a local park in Lansing.  It has a splash pad, and best of all a little beach.  On a Thursday evening, it was uncrowded and the kids were able to enjoy their toes in the sand and paddle around in the water.

Maybe next time we will actually make it to Lake Michigan for our beach day.  I'm calling it a win, since no one asked why we didn't go to the beach.

It was not how I expected my day to go, but I was very thankful for my mom and sister who picked up all the pieces that were dropping out of my day.  It could have been so much worse.

later days

*all of their results are in, and everything is looking great!

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