Last Minute Road Trip

Let's just say I'm pretty last minute. So last minute, that we decided to take off for an overnight trip to Traverse City, Michigan for the Cherry Festival. I don't think my personal driver was very excited, but he did better a few hours into the trip! :) So, around 8PM the night before, we packed the car, the kids and all our beach stuff...then went and hung out with the neighbors. Early the next morning, we were on the road! My parents went along, too. The boys did AMAZING in the car. For the first 3 hours, Bryan and I didn't even realize they were in the car! When we got to Michigan, we went right to the Cherry Festival. I'm not sure we have to go back (to the festival) again, but Traverse City and Lake Michigan were VERY pretty! The boys thought the festival was so cool because we went to the carnival part...we never do carnivals. The people watching was TOO good to pass up. If you're ever in the area, do NOT pass up eating at The North Peak Brewing Company. BEST. FOOD. EVER. Seriously.

Pirates Cove

We opted for mini golf and Go-Karts instead of fireworks for the 4th of July and it made for a great night! I had two holes in one, Matthew had one, but we didn't win...DARN IT. :( The Go-Karts were an experience I will NEVER forget!! Read on...

Dirty feet...seriously?! That's just NASTY!

Matthew got his hole in one on this hole!

Yes. That's my mother. She's putting on her lipstick. You should know that this was on the 10th hole. If you know her, this won't surprise you. My camera, however, surprised her...and we laughed for a LONG time after these pictures!!

So the Go-Kart story goes a little like this:

My mom has never gone. Matthew and Ethan have never gone. I drove with Matthew. My dad drove with Ethan. Bryan and my mom went in their own car. My mom's car was first and she was determined to win. While the man was giving instructions on how to use the car and the track, he said the word GO in his speech. My mother took off...like a bat out of hell...pedal to the metal...100 miles per hour...OUT OF THE GATE. GONE!! All of us died laughing! As she sped away, the poor kid was in a dead sprint trying to catch her. All I could see was her smiling because she seriously thought she was going to win! That poor kid caught her. He dragged her all the way back to us...and restarted the race. Everyone waiting in line saw her. Everyone laughed. Even her. Matthew thought that Nonny not 'following directions' was the best part of his whole vacation. Truly, the Go-Karts were the best part!! If only I would have had my video tape going. I could have won $100,000!!

Everyone NEEDS One!

What?!? You don't need an over sized hula hoop!?! Of course you do! Everyone needs one!! Especially when you see how much fun everyone has trying to do it! Or you HAVE to buy one when your 8 year old is in the middle of a bunch of college kids, having the time of his life, thinking he's totally cool, and overhearing the laughter of everyone walking by. Can I just say that Matthew seriously believed he was "Hollywood's It Man!" The college kids kept telling him how awesome he was...and he believed it. He walked away very proudly that night!!

What's even funnier?! Watching your husband walk the 'goods' back to the hotel...with TWO hula hoops. Ahhh, good times!

Boy Germs. Literally.

I was cleaning off my disc in my camera when I came across this picture. On our road trip to Michigan, only 10 minutes into the drive, I noticed a foot hanging over my seat. Without knowledge to the foot's owner, I took a picture to have proof that they truly are dirty little creatures. Before we got on the road, both the boys took showers...long showers. I'm seriously considering tying them down and scrubbing their feet with a steel wool brush. I honestly haven't seen their feet clean all summer. Are your kids like this?? How do they get so dirty?? Maybe NEVER wearing shoes this summer may have something to do with that??!!

Perfect Ending!

The best way to end a perfect day is by skipping dinner, some Dairy Queen and a walk to feed the ducks...and that's just what we did! Can you believe that feeding the ducks at night was the boys' "highs" for the day?! I love the simplicity of these two!! I love that Ethan wasn't a bit ashamed to wear his Obi Wan Kenobi around town tonight. I love what a great night we had...and what a beautiful sunset we saw in good ol' Dundee!! Perfect ending to an almost perfect day!! Only a Cubs win could have made today better! :)

Take me out to the ballgame!!

What a perfect day for a ballgame! It started off a bit bumpy AND hot, but it turned out to be an amazing day...even with a Cubs' loss. The boys and I took the train to the city and met Bryan at the field. Let's just say public transit is not all it's cracked up to be when you have two kids who are more interested in people watching than listening to their mother call them off the train!

I love this boy, even though he loves the White Sox!

Boredom sunk in during batting practice!

Rally caps!! They didn't work today!

The lucky half of the family!

LOVED TODAY! Best day in a while...even though we didn't stop for Molly's cupcakes!!