This is the stuff life is built on! The memories and relationships built in just a week are strong enough to last a lifetime.
My boys soaked up time with their cousins!
Our week in Michigan was full of beaches, sand, fireworks, s'mores, games, and laughter. Friends from different chapters of life, family we see all the time and family we haven't seen in years.
Warning: Picture overload!
Julie and her family came for our first weekend. It amazes me that we were neighbors for just a year, yet built a friendship that has lasted for over a decade.
The Daisy Doodle Gang
Daniel was able to join us for our first weekend, too!
The house Jan rented was perfect. There were so many little spaces,
it never felt crowded (until mealtime).
Fires and birthday! Nick celebrated the big 4-0 with us!
The group was filled with five 1983 babies! We kicked off the birthday celebrations with German chocolate cake and fireworks to celebrate Nick.
Niko and Aunt Mary caught the perfect light saber shot
Uncle Ryan treated the Martin Crew to a butterfly house experience for my birthday. It was in the top tier of a long list of my favorites from the trip.
Craig made a friend that did not want to leave him. This guy had ragged, beat up wings, and likely felt Craig would protect him from further harm.
The biggest moth in the world, born with too small a mouth to eat or drink, allowing it to live as a moth for only a few days.
I had no idea axolotls were so endangered!
A cold treat after the hot butterfly house
Coding with Uncle Ryan (and the giant avocado)
The Cousin Crew shirts made their debut before Daniel had to leave!
Game time!
We found a fun trail on our way to drop Daniel at the airport
After the airport, we headed to Sleeping Bear Dunes to take on the giant dunes and meet up with more cousins! Of the six cousins on Gammie's side, we had the families of all but one on this trip. We sure missed Audrey and her group but are so grateful for the group we had!!
The kids all jumped in as if they spent every summer together. It was magical.
Cherry Picking!
83 babies! We didn't get Charlie in this shot, but he is also an '83 guy!
We had a fun night celebrating all the birthdays. Ryan cooked an amazing meal, brandied cherries from our own hard work and we all stayed up later than we needed to laughing and telling stories. I was the first to bed and seemed to benefit from the extra sleep on our big day to follow!
We got up the next day to head to Mackinac Island. With traffic and detours, it took longer than expected. I didn't have long before the ferry but got to sneak in a hug from my friend, Kendra, who I met at the dog park in Florida when Zoey was just a pup.
Both our families have grown, and it is always amazing to get to hear how her sweet family is doing.
The ferry was windy on the way over, but that had nothing on the ferry going back!
Biking was an adventure. The bike given to Alexander was easily four times the size of his too small bike back home. He fell many, many times and got totally frustrated. Love and support from Aunt Mel and his cousin Charlie helped him stick with it. We biked two miles out and two miles back, and he mastered the bike on the return trip!
Niko had the time of his life riding in a trailer behind Uncle Charlie with his bestie cousin, Billie Rose. This continues to be his favorite part of the entire trip.
On our return bike, Mel showed us a 'secret' hike. It was beautiful!
Ring Around the Rosy and ice cream as we all got back from the bike ride
Catching the ferry back was not so easy, with us missing one, and most of the cousin crew missing multiple ferries. We headed up to the front row, top deck, only to be shot with needle-like freezing water spray. Gammie was hollering, Alexander was yelling that it hurt. Niko, on the other hand, was screaming, :I love it! I love it! Mommy, don't you love it?! This is my SWEET POTATO!" meaning his favorite part of the day. It was hysterical!
Gammie had all the kids giggling with games
Shorts was a perfect spot for food, beer, and games
Niko picked this as the Tee area for disc golf every time
The local beer crew
I love my fam!
Zoey was so relaxed on the trip. She loved all the attention and getting to tag along each step of the way. Plus, she got to swim every day; something she misses sorely.
Cheers!
We got to learn about each of the spirits brewed at this distillery. All ingredients are harvested within 33 miles of the distillery.
An odd, salad-tasting drink choice. Hmm, let's pick something else, instead!
Four Square on the beach
Representing Kirkwood, from Atlanta to St Louis
Here's to the cousin crew! Hopefully we can do this again sometime!
A HUGE shoutout must go to Jan for making this happen!! WE LOVE YOU!
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