Our Lake Michigan Getaway – Part One

So I’m finally getting around to documenting our summer getaways and just in time, too!  On Tuesday Henry and Eliza will be heading to school.  It’s going to be bittersweet, that’s for sure, but before I get all sappy and post about their first days of school, I have a lot a recapping to do!

Our first getaway of the summer was to our beloved South Haven, Michigan.  We went for a second year with my sister and her family (Jon and I have been visiting since our college days, took Henry when he was born and started to rent a house when Eliza was one).  After what felt like days upon days of packing, we eventually loaded up the car and hit the road!

My sister and her family had arrived moments before us and were unloading their car as we pulled in the driveway.  My sister and I found each other and did a happy dance inside the house!  After unloading both vehicles, Kimmy and I hopped back in the car and went on our routine vacation grocery shopping trip.

But not without first driving by Lake Michigan…

We decided weeks before how we’d split up dinners for the week.  We took turns every night cooking and allowed for one night for eating out.  Every dinner we made at the rental (to which we lovely refer to as Uncle Greg’s house – the owner of the house whom we’ve never met) was delicious!

The first morning at the house I got to enjoy lots of baby snuggles.  My sister had just had a baby girl in April and those snuggles were THE best!  Vacation was off to a great start!!

This sweet girl and I got in some snuggles, too!

The cousins were ready to head out for a day of fun!

I channeled my inner Joanna and made my sister take this picture of me….I was toooootally pretending to laugh.  LOL

Regretful that I didn’t buy this…

These had me laughing…

Umm… yes.

After the first day of downtown fun we went back to the house and relaxed and let the kids play.  At one point we heard a scream come from Eliza.  Her finger had gotten smashed in a doorway.  All an accident, but it looked rough.  We Googled urgent care locations, but unfortunately had to wait the next morning to take her in to get it checked out.  Honestly, if I had to guess who this would happen to, I would’ve put all my money on Eliza.  This girl can always find a way to get hurt.

Jon took her in to get it checked out.  They were for there for a couple hours… 

Luckily it wasn’t broken and her fingertip was okay, but they put a splint on it anyway mostly for comfort.

Meanwhile, back at the house, the boys were putting on a show to The Greatest Showman soundtrack…

…and I got in more baby snuggles…

Eliza came back and joined the dance party!

We played a game…

…and took pictures with our little ladies…

…and went to the park…

If you look closely, Eliza had asked for her splint to be taken off.  Not surprised.  The pain she was saying she was feeling had somehow vanished…  Oh boy…

Next up – the lake!!!!

We had originally planned on just walking down to take in the sights, but when four kiddos are involved we should’ve know that there would be no chance of them staying dry…

It started to go down…  LOL

My nephew, Lawson, had us cracking up…

Sorry, Kim, I just had to include this one!

Oh my goodness, these kids had such a fun time!

Watching my sister try to leave with her son, Lawson was comical.  Luckily she has a great sense of humor and eventually just picked him up, completely soaked and covered in sand, and carried him up to the road.  I’m not sure about her, but this moment still has me chuckling…

The best!

We rinsed off and I mean…RINSED OFF like crazy and hopped in the hot tub.  We spent the rest of the evening making dinner, having some drinks and relaxing.

The next morning my sister and I went for a run.  It doesn’t get much better than that background!

We went back to the house and packed up for a beach morning!

After an amazing morning at the beach, we went back to the house and headed into town for some much needed ice cream!

The next day was another morning spent at the lake…

My sister and I had goals to go in to downtown and get some martinis and guess what?  It actually happened!!!

Blue cheese and honey – YUM!

Vegetarian sushi – MORE YUM!!!

Once our mom date ended we headed back to the house and I continued to get pampered…

Our husbands took off into town to grab a beer or two and Kimmy and I stayed back with the all the kiddos. We snuggled some more with the baby!!  I loved watching Henry and Eliza interact with their newest little cousin…

The sweetest.

Next up, the second part of our trip…

Thanks for scrolling through!

Marie 🙂