to the U.P. and beyond

After the heat of the Eno Festival, it was time to get away, so we headed WAY up north to the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. Jason's grandparents have summered in their cottage on a lake there for ever and ever, and yet we as a family had never been there before. Plus it was Poppa's 90th birthday, so the whole family was gathering to celebrate. We stayed in a rented cabin with Jason's sister and her family, just down the road from Poppa and Ammi's cottage. There was a lot of cousin camraderie, family fun and lots of playing in the lake. We even managed a trip to Agate Beach and a formal photosession with 4 generations (16 people total!).   I took many pictures of course, but will do my best to select ones that capture the fun trip we have in a photo blog entry.

This was Molly's first plane ride. She did pretty well - a little bit fidgety when she wasn't nursing. But better than Jason - let's just say, now we know who still uses those airsick bags. Poor guy caught some 24 hr stomach bug that attacked him on flight #2.

We had long layovers in Chicago but it worked out okay because there was an AWESOME play area for the kids. Even Molly practiced her crawling.

The really cool bridge on the way to the cabin. The whole thing lifts up in the middle! (no I don't know the technical term right now! I'll get back to you on that.)

our rental cabin - it's bigger than it looks. Slept 10 comfortably!

the view from the deck in the photo above, looking out on Portage Lake. There's a trail by the tree line along the lake that you could use to walk to Ammi and Poppa's cottage.

Molly gets 'baptized' into the DeRousie family by getting her toes dipped in Portage Lake.

the boathouse - the main view from the DeRousie cottage (but not their boathouse)

Molly wasn't a big fan of toe dipping - but she got a good ab workout trying to avoid it!

Hayden just LOVED the lake.

How many cousins can you fit in a tube?

Ammi and her great grandchildren on the lawn of the cottage.

We took a day trip to Lake Superior and Agate Beach. When we arrived, it was gray, chilly and windy.

It was my and Molly's first trip to Lake Superior!

Can you find an agate?

Walking on the beach with Grammy.

Sand + cousin = fun!

And then the sun came out and it was BEAUTIFUL! (a 'superior' view, if you will)

I love this picture.

With the sun out, we settled in to stay awhile. We wandered down the beach and found a river that the kids had a BLAST playing in, despite the chilly water.

Will shows off for his sister and cousin!

We had everyone over for dinner at the cabin one night (Jason and I cooked!). Everybody fit on the deck!

The ricotta pasta was well received - especially by Molly!

This is the face Molly made for almost the whole trip when anyone but Mommy or Daddy dared to pick her up. Everyone but Molly thought it was pretty funny.

Hayden got cake and candles in celebration of her upcoming birthday.

She even got presents, including the much dreamed about bridal party barbie set. She was THRILLED! (Thanks Grammy and Granddad!)

Checking out Ammi before the professional photo shoot. 

Liesl shows why it was a good idea to go for ice cream AFTER the photo shoot!

On our last evening, we all hung out at the DeRousie cottage for family fun and Poppa's birthday celebration.

Hayden continued to enjoy the water.

Will successfully rescued the rowboat that was floating away.

Eliza and Poppa got acquainted.

It's not every day you get to see a 90th birthday balloon and it's recipient!

It can't be a UP party without Pasties! (or so I'm told...)

Molly shows off her favorite trick - lean to the side and make you copy her. (by the way, she liked her taste of pasty.)

Apparently we didn't give her enough pasty, because she tried to eat the table.

posing at the doorway, probably hoping she looks cute enough for more cake.

During the trip, Molly's crawling really took off.

On the flight home, the stewardess found out it was Hayden's birthday the next day. Hayden got to tell everyone to clean up over the intercom and had her birthday announced to the plane!

We had a great time in the UP. The weather was gorgeous weather (so much cooler than NC!), the girls loved the lake, we had fun with cousins, and the girls got to experience a piece of family history. What an excellent trip!