Future Soccer Mom?

In the week between the UP and Tennessee, Cameron went to soccer camp!  This past year in school, soccer was the game of choice at recess and he constantly asked to kick and play at home, too. So, we thought we would try something a little more organized to see if he actually liked the "real" way to play ;)

Th camp went for 5 days and, thankfully, was in the morning.

Cameron was in a group with the head coach of Unity's varsity team, Coach Randy.

Listening to instructions.

 They learned some basic rules(like no touching the ball with your hands and no tackling!) and some skills like passing, dribbling and heading the ball(he thought that was the coolest!) It was all done with fun games and the coach did a great job at getting the kids excited in the heat and moving!

See his hot face after a good kick!

Running around a circle of cones listening to instructions. This was so cute to watch!

And the other best part..."versing" as Cameron calls it, another team.

Game time!!

Going for the steal ;) We even got to see him make a goal!  His smile was as proud and happy as could be!

He absolutely loved it(and it might have had something to do with the popsicles at the end) so, we'll have to see if this Mommy becomes a soccer Mom. 

 But up next, we'll be trying football at summer's end!

UP 2012: Mackinaw City

After we unloaded Levi, washed a few clothes and took a nice long shower without having to worry about running out of time and finding more quarters to get the rest of the soap off(oh, the joys of camping!), we headed back to the bridge for the last leg of our adventure.  On the way up, Haiden was asleep as we crossed and so this was extra special for him.  Cameron was riding with Grandpa and Grandma and we checked in with him over walkie-talkie ;)

 

Happy to be on the road again with a little treat!

 Trying to talk with Cameron...as long as he remembered how to push the button!

While we set up camp for one quick night, the boys played with the bridge as their backdrop!  We had a great site with this as our view from the camper.

Once we were settled, we headed off to the Fort.  Torrey had been several times when he was a child, but this was my first time as well as for the boys!  I know, I know, it's kind of like me growing up in West Michigan and never going to Tulip Time ;)

We got there just in time for a little guided tour.  It's hard to get sense from the picture, but Haiden dropped his gum on the ground and proceeded to step on it(of course) and it obviously became stuck.  It was hilarious to watch him try to kick, stomp and shake it off all while trying to stifle our giggles as the guide is talking.  Silly boy. 

And Cameron was concerned about watching the cannon go off ;)

After the tour, we did a little exploring ourselves!

Possible Christmas card....ha!

Attempt at a family pic.  Nice.

The boys were able to have a little taste of what it would have been like in the fort as a child.

Playing games.....

Haiden thought the object was to get the ball and string wrapped around the stick.  He did great at it ;)

I think this game was called Graces.  It's hard to see but there is a hoop at the end of his 2 sticks that you would "throw" and catch.

Watching some corn and fish hash(yuck!) being made.  I would NOT be a good fort wife!

Helping roll out cookie dough.  If we would have stayed longer, we could have tasted the cookies and some bread being baked in the "oven" outside...but our "tour" was over before the hours that took!

This big kid was starting to come down with strep throat ;( He was a true trooper that last few days--even while packing up the camper in the hot sun.

And this was SUCH a common sight on this trip.  Little man in tow behind everyone else marching to his own beat.  Sweet boy.  And then Cameron was usually in the lead.  An insight into their personalities and dispositions....I think so!

On the search one last time for crayfish and rocks!

Brothers.....

Ha!  Grandpa and Grandma were actually able to sit!

And one last s'more to make the vacation complete!!

This was in essence a perfect vacation.  I am so thankful the boys could experience more of the world around them and see more of God's beautiful creation. We truly did make memories to last a life time!

And our next adventure.....the Smokey Mountains!

Time to start packing...again! 

UP 2012: Grand Marais

When we arrived in Grand Marais, our plan was to stay a night and then continue on.  But, after we choose a spot, set up a tent, pop-up, had dinner and saw the beauty of Lake Superior just steps away we decided to call this home for the next 4 days.  And really, doing all the set up with two 3 year olds and a 6 year old is really just a lot of work!

Nothing too specific about this pic, just wanted to remember the homestead ;)

It just wouldn't be camping without sticky, stringy, finger-licking good s'mores!

And of course mornings by the fire with Grandpa.

The beachfront was literally steps away and we had such a fun time exploring it. It was rather windy and chilly the first bit we were there but that of course didn't slow us down(you might just see many pictures in the same sweatshirts!)

There was not a dock close by so why not just try casting from shore!  Into the wind, with little bait, and rocks.  ;)

One of the first hikes we did was to AuSable Lighthouse.  It was just over 2 miles round trip but it took us all afternoon!  There is just not much you can do to make little legs go any faster then they choose to!

Cameron wanted to be a big help and carry Levi and Haiden on his back.  This of course was no quick pick up and resulted in many more falls, stops and rests!

And what would a hike be without snacks(and finding a tree to go potty..but I won't post those!!)We also took along jelly beans as little power pellets....well, bribes, to get the kids to walk "just a little bit more!"

Always time to dig in the dirt.  NO rush in a 3 year old!

Another common sight on the trails...

The lighthouse was not open, but we were the only ones around!

The neat thing about this trail is that you can walk on the wooded trail going in and take the beach back! Cameron was on the search for the perfect skipping rock.

There are a few places with shipwrecks exposed. I would love to know the story behind the pieces and parts that we saw! Those are all steel nails/bolts sticking up out of the wooden beams.

Later that night we went out to walk a trail that leads to an old logging hill. This was the view on one of the lookouts.  Just beautiful.

This was the sign that was before a sand dune just off the trail.  Torrey did it when we was a child.  So, once Cameron heard that, this Mommy had no chance winning the battle to keep him on the trail.

So I joined them!

There were spots going down that if you jumped up, it felt like you were flying.  Yeah, I didn't try that.  But Cameron did over and over!  That's me in the background climbing back up!  It said it took more than an hour to climb up.  Torrey said it would take 15 minutes so I had to beat him.

I did!

 It really was fun...and a great workout!

I love how when we are camping the boys can wake and and be in one of their favorite places: outside!

Grandpa always was up early to brew the coffee!

The next spot to hit was a trail that started right from the campground.  This was a more "hiking" trail that would lead us to a waterfall and a little stream. The boys loved it.

At first.

Blazing a new trail!

We are not really sure what happened to the trail...but we lost it.  So, we ended up having to walk along somewhat of a steep ledge and carefully walk(aka sit back on your heels, slide down on your bottom as to not fall and tumble forward down to the bottom) a hill down to the beach.

Still on the trail here.  But as you can see, it's getting quite dense and many things(like big fallen trees) are over the path!

And we made it! 

The last full day there, Torrey and his Dad had planned about 5 different hikes/walks to hit before heading back to Newberry.

Notice there was no input from Mommy and Grandma.  Yeah, we knew that was NOT going to happen.

This waterfall was stop one.  All happy(and for some reason all in orange?!)

This was a very common theme with our little tag along here.  Always wanting to hold a hand and trailing behind.

Another waterfall trail...and a fun tree to play in!

This is what most of the picture attempts look like!

We stopped for a picnic lunch at a Pictured Rocks overlook. The color of the water and the shoreline made me think I was in someplace tropical!  Then Haiden had to go to the bathroom again and Cameron wanted to climb on something he should not be and Levi wanted to stay and look, so I snapped out of that daydream.  ;)

After attempting to get another good family pic we just gave up and went with the 2 of us.  Then of course Haiden wants to join in.  Oh, the mind of a 3 year old!

We still had 2 more stops.  

But as you can see, no more happy hikers.  Just sleepy ones.

So it was back to the camper for supper, a fireside story and just one more look for that perfect stone!

The next morning we loaded up and headed out for the last leg!  Coming soon!