This afternoon I have an Arnold Palmer in my hand, sand on my feet, and the smell of sunscreen on my skin. Summer, how I love thee.
Newbie and I just returned from a trip to our favorite local beach and now he's napping while I catch up on the computer. Monday, you done good. It was the perfect kickoff to the week after a fabulous weekend. Baby, let the good times roll.
Road Trip
Friday night we dropped Opie off at our vet's to board him for the weekend, and made a run for it. Pedal to the medal, we headed straight north until we hit the most beautiful part of the country where the channels connect lake after lake and the wind blows sweet and the people bob on boats peppering the water, and the reeds dance with the breeze and the locals relax under the umbrellas of their favorite restaurants. A little too over the rainbow? Maybe. But, my friends, it's all
true. And that's why its an absolute MUST every summer for the Hubs and me: sun, sand, boats, docks, fish, tiki huts. Because it is just
that good.
It was Newbie's second trip Up North, and while he pitched a fit on the ride up, all grumping ceased as soon as we reached the Bay and he ran through the grass to see the boats with his daddy.
Love.
"Camping"
We always say we're going camping when we head Up North, but the truth is, we live a life of luxury up there. My MIL and FIL treat us to all kinds of good eats, and they spare no expense when it comes to fun and comfort. An air mattress on every pull-out bed, my favorite cotton blankets, and lots of loving hospitality. We experienced "luxury camping" even more so this year since my MIL and FIL built a state-of-the-art cottage in place of their previous trailer. This joint is THE BOMB DIGGITY. We loved it. My MIL has a fabulous eye for decor, and she has the place decked out in the most adorable seaside/lake cottage vibe. It was just gorgeous, and we enjoyed every bit of our time indoors. There was a fully loaded box of toys to keep Newbie happy, and a full fridge and pantry to keep the Hubs and me happy too. =)
Following our now seven year tradition (11 years for the Hubs and his parents), we spent lots of our time walking the park and visiting the docks, viewing the lake. It is just so beautiful up there! This trip was spiced up a bit Saturday morning when Grandma took us to watch the Daddy-O and Grandpa play Pickle Ball. I know, super weird name, and it is not, in fact, at all pickley, but it was a lot of fun to watch! It's like a combo of tennis and ping pong and wiffle ball...or something like that. Newbie had a blast playing on the courts and cheering on Daddy-O.
Carting
Something I thought was weird when I first started camping with the Hubs at this park was that everybody and their brother drives around on golf carts up there. Yes, while
camping. Coming from a family tradition of tent camping out in the boonies each summer, golf carts seemed super crazy weird to me several years ago. Now, they are just a part of the Up North experience for us, and check out what Grandma and Grandpa got for Newbie this summer: his very own golf carty quad for the park! His grandpa is going to love that I called it a "golf carty quad." =) Now Newbie can cruise around in his own little motorized vehicle just like his Grandma. He was not the biggest fan at first, but he warmed up a bit after he realized his life was not in jeopardy.
Boating
Boating + camping was as foreign a concept to me as golf carts + camping when I first met the Hubs, (the closest we got to boating while camping when I was a little girl was flipping the Barbie picnic table upside down and letting Skipper float on a puddle of water near the tent. I'm telling you, we roughed it, baby.) but now I am just itching to get out on that boat as soon as we unload the suitcases. My MIL and FIL have a wonderful pontoon boat that I would seriously live on all summer if I could. Me + beverage + pontoon boat + good book + sand bar = good to go all summer long. This was Newbie's first boating experience, and he did really well. He zonked out as soon as we started cruising out of the dock, and then woke up once we anchored at the sandbar after lunch. He was a big fan of the boat, not a big fan of the lake. While his Daddy-O and Grandpa enjoyed the water, Newbie hung out with Grandma and me on the boat. He was really into the steering wheel and the bulldog face-ha!
Recovery
I have a post-boating recovery ritual that involves a steaming hot shower and chocolate chip cookies and a book or a nap. I always feel like I'm hanging out in the wave pool for about five hours after I get off the boat, so it makes the post-boat napping seriously divine. Newbie got in on the fun this year and after we cleaned him up in the shower (hello, nasty swim diaper..how did you get to be four hours old without a change?!) he took a nap then snuggled with me while I introduced him to the joy of the post-boating nap chocolate chip cookie. He is his mama's boy!
Bonfire
You can't go camping without a bonfire. Nor can you go "camping" without a bonfirejh. =) Campfires are my favorite part of camping, and though Newbie didn't last long, we really enjoyed hanging out with the fam around the fire before bedtime.
(They lit this with a blow torch. Yes, I am serious. Like I said...."camping". No flint and sticks here, baby. Somewhere on a desert island, Survivor contestants are weeping.)
(He is playing a flute app on his iPhone while my sister plays the ukelele with that crazy look in her eye. My family is nothing if not feverishly talented around a campfire.)
(Campfire baby feet sticking out of pj's = tastier than marshmallows.)
Day Two: Enter Fishtown
It's funny how cyclical our trips Up North are these days- we have a list of must-do's while we are up there, and each year we manage to squeeze them all in. One of the must-do's is Fishtown. Love the name. Love the place. Love the marina and the shops and the sights. Don't love the smell, but it's a hit we're willing to take each summer. I have similar pictures of Newbie in the same places at Fishtown last year when he was only three months old. It's so fun to visit the same favorite spots from year to year. Newbie liked the big boats at the marina, and screeched when he saw the big fish the fisherman brought in. We managed to walk the docks just in time to see the catch of the day!
(After this picture was taken, I got a lecture from my photog brother the likes of which have never been heard before. A verbal beating is what it was, and the lesson that followed regarding photograph exposure has changed my life. I cannot wait to play with my camera this week! Thanks, Uncle J, for the tough love and free photo tips. You da bomb.)
(While these "camping" trips aren't really camping, my hair always manages to scream "I haven't been washed in three days and I've been living in a tent without a hair dryer!!!" despite the world class amenities at the cottage. Camping hair for the duration of a "camping" vacation...It's a gift, really.)
(I'm not real clear on why anyone lets us out of the house...)
Fisher's
After some sight-seeing and shopping, we hit up Fishers', a local restaurant, for lunch. Note to self: the perch was delicious- definitely to that again. We had a lot of fun yucking it up with the fam, and Newbie was a happy boy through the whole meal, no doubt a result of his grandpa's funny faces!
(Me and the bro sporting a very enthusiastic thumbs up for summer vacation.)
(Newbie loves him some Grandma and Grandpa post-lunch photo shoots.)
Everything northern and summery and wonderful must come to an end, and so after lunch, we took off for home just in time for Newbie's nap.
We were sorry to wave goodbye, but we were desperate for a smooth road trip home. Our timing worked out wonderfully, and Newbie began to stir just as we were pulling back into town. We're hoping to make it back Up North again soon because Mama needs some more sandbar time, and Newbie is ready to give that golf-carty quad another try!
We're soaking in the sun here at home in the meantime, and hoping you all are enjoying your summer as well! I've got chicken thawing and summer squash and zuccinni ready to grill up for dinner, with some big plans of pulling out the water table this afternoon after naptime. Hooray for sunshine and summertime!
