Another Hodgepodge Post

Emily and Grace have been getting in some good outside time this summer.  I liked the lighting in this shot that Emily took of Grace!

Emily picked out this sweater a few weeks ago at a yard sale. I would never ever ever have picked it out for her, but she really likes it (and the colors are pretty.)  Well, fast forward to last week, I was putting something away in the big girls' closet, and the sweater was on Alice's rack!!!  I thought maybe Emily had tried it on, and thought it was too large, so had given it to Alice. But no! It was Alice who liked the sweater so much she stole it from Emily!  To me, this sweater looks sooooo old and dated and I wouldn't ever wear it, but both of my teens (well, teen & tween) love it.  Who knew*?

William, Grace, and Juliet had swim camp last week!  It was 5 hours a day, for 4 days (M-Th) for only $60!!  They loved it, and came home so tired.  

Monday, after drop off, I spent my 'childfree' time hanging out with Zoey's mom!  We spent 3 hours chatting and digging through the bins at the 'cheap' Goodwill, then enjoyed some coffee, and even had time for a dollar tree run, before it was time to collect our dear ones!

On day 3, Grace passed the deep water test for the first time ever!!!!! She is excellent at setting goals and making it happen! = ) I was so proud.

I love filling the 'party tray' with fruits and veggies, for the kids to snack on throughout the day.  It also looks really pretty. = )

We went to the library to redeem summer reading prizes, and since the 'meet up and eat up' was only an hour away, stayed on for lunch!  A few days later, I got a call that Emily had won one of the grand prizes (a Target gift card!) 

I wanted a basket for collecting veggies from the garden.  At Goodwill I found this basket, with a collapsible handle, for $2.50.  I agonized over it the duration of the trip, but ultimately decided to buy it.  I've been loving it, and it does a fantastic job carrying all the produce inside from the garden.  I love it so much, I tried to repurpose it and use it for shopping at the farmers market.  Sadly, the bottom felt vulnerable with the purchase of potatoes and honey (and then a side trip to Carl's for coconut milk and vegetable stock.) = (

So, I went into the next few days in the market for a studier basket.  I found a larger one, with reinforced sides and collapsible handles for $2!!!! Then, since Avia wasn't able to go with us in the morning, we went back for a second look in the afternoon, and I got another one (to help me carry all of my purchases) and then one more, because it was adorable, and only 50 cents and I'm on a kick.

Well, then I got home, and suddenly had 3 baskets without a home, and one that was slightly in the way.  So, I brainstormed a home for my collection: the mudroom wall!  Upon observation, I found that I would only have to make a single hole in the wall, since there were existing holes for the other three. = )

We had corndogs for dinner last night, and I thought everyone might like 'fancy' stadium containers.  I think they did make them taste better!  (Admittedly, I didn't have one, since I had just made a German Salad, and I'm the only one who eats on it.)

3 of my summer chores involved painting outside, so last night I pulled out all my supplies, and this morning (after a rocky start of driving the big girls to camp because their bus broke down.) Grace came out and helped me pain the shed ramp and step!  Sadly, just those items took the rest of the paint.  So, we needed to go to Menards and get another round, which of course meant loading up WGJ.  To make it more exciting, I promised donuts, but then Grace reminded me that her ear was still hurting, and so I called the doctor and got her a late morning appointment. (Turns out she has swimmers' ear.)  

But after the appointment we went to Menards, but by then the big girls were home, and my mom was over for birthday cake and presents!!!  Once we celebrated Avia to the fullest, and she went on with her day, I went back out to finish the side porch and basement entrance.  I kept running into branches between the two, and so broke out the branch cutters, and trimmed the offending bushes (which needed to be done, but felt like just one more delay.)  As I was finishing up the brush work on the basement door, Emily and Grace came out wanting to help with the roller.  They did a pretty good job, but got bored and came in before the job was finished. = /

I did finally get done, and cleaned up.  Tomorrow (or soon) I hope to go seal, at the very least, the back porch. But I have sewing that needs tending, so we'll see.  Sadly, this was the last week that I'll be getting up early to get the big girls ready for camp, and then having the rest of the morning to knock out a 'summer chore' since EGJ start at nature camp next week!

I mentioned celebrating Avia's birthday, and I took a picture too!

We got to celebrate with my mom this year, it's a toss-up where she'll be each summer, so we only get to celebrate with her sometimes.  This year she got 5 cards from my crew and a shadow box for her grandfather's arrowhead collection from us as a group.  Emily and Grace helped her put together the display, then EGJ helped her sort some coins.  Emily also made her a German chocolate cake, but since AE had summer camp in the morning, we didn't get to have it for breakfast, as is tradition.  I think she enjoyed her time here, hopefully she had a great day!

There's this meme floating around:

And I am feeling it!  August is coming so, so fast!  We have tons of fun things left to do this summer, but August is just so close!  I'm not ready for summer to end!!!

later days

 *So, I actually posted the picture on FB and asked for opinions and they were overwhelmingly positive toward this sweater, so I guess I'm the odd man out.  

Charlotte Aquatic Center

I could have included these in so many posts, but adding all of these pictures here makes me the happiest. = )

Our first time was on a Monday, so it was just Emily, Grace and Juliet.

Emily passed her test so that she could swim in the deep end and go off of the diving board.

The next time we went, we met up with Zoey, later that week actually.

Alice took the test, because she was collecting wristbands this summer, sadly, she lost some of them at Jellystone in their salt water pool.

Then, we went while Grace was in Texas, and Alice stayed home, since Billy was working from home.

Then, while Leah was here, we met up with all of the Pritchard girls!  Alice came, but didn't get in.

While Juliet was travelling, we were able to meet up with Jack's family to swim!

While Coyt, Cali and Elizabeth were here, we went twice!! The first time we took the EaTran and everyone came, we brought a lunch to enjoy while everyone dried off and we waited for our ride.

The second time Coyt, Alice and Elizabeth chose to stay at the house, so we were able to take just my car.

The very last time of the summer, completing our goal of going once every week until school started, everyone went. While they swam, Alice and I went thrift store shopping, and out for happy hour shakes at Arby's.

It was a fun summer of water play! I found out too late about most of their summer programs, but next summer we will be on the lookout for all the fun activities that they plan!

later days

Great Wolf Lodge

After waiting patiently an extra year, and few months for our Great Wolf Lodge trip, the day, which we were unsure would ever arrive, finally did!

Emily had just started ballet, and we didn't want her missing her second class, so we left straight from her ballet studio.

It was very cold and windy, with some precipitation. We stopped at the last rest stop before leaving the highway, since the roads we were taking might have limited facilities offered.  We all liked the model of the Mackinaw bridge.

A few hours later, we arrived!!

The details are always appreciated, when noticed.

The kids had a good time trying (or succeeding in) touching the ceiling.

View from the inside balcony.

The view from the outside balcony.

On day one, we decided to explore and get the magiquest game set up.

The arcade was a hit, but expensive.

On day two, we were at the pool from open to close.  Sadly, we were ready to go before they were, so we had some time to kill first.

Once they opened up, were tracked down our cabana.  We had lunch and snacks, and just spent the day in the water.

The giant tubes were up several flights of stairs, so anyone who could ride alone (A/E/W) went many more times than the twins. 

We missed the dance party on the first night, but roused ourselves up enough to go on nights 2 and 3.

On day 3, we finished visiting all the places that we hadn't on the kid's wolf passes.  First up: bowling.

Billy placed 1st, Alice 2nd, and Juliet 3rd.

Next: Gem Mining.

After that, Candy shop.

After that, I took one of them to get souvenirs one at a time.

Alice's dress matched the carpet. 

We spent the rest of the day in the pool (and some of the above pictures are from day 2, though I don't recall which ones. ; ))

After breakfast and check out on day 4, we went to check out the Grand Traverse Bay (this is the East Bay.)

Edit 7/16/23: Emily and I looked up what types of birds these were, while I was compiling data for my state park visit list.  They are Sanderlings. = )

On a whim we stopped at a rest area north of Cadillac.  The kids didn't want to explore, but were good sports, well maybe not Alice.

We had dinner from a taco truck at the farmer's market in Cadillac, and that concluded our lovely trip "up north!" = )

I'm glad we went, finally, and had a good time, but I am in no rush to return.  Maybe we'll go again in the future, but I think we're all content to say "been there, done that."

later days

edit: backdated to align with the end of our trip.

Edited 8/1/2023: This post is now a part of my project: 78 State Parks! #33

Tahquamenon Falls #15

PJ Hoffmaster State Park #52

Grand Haven State Park #53

Waterloo Recreation Area #70a