UP 2012..Well, the 1st Part at Least!

Amazing.

Our first great adventure of the summer was simply that.  

I can't say in words the fun, excitement, memories and beauty that we experienced.  I can't believe what a difference a year makes with the boys.  Last summer when we ventured up north it was just so much more work.  This year, it was just so much more FUN! And the beauty and places that we were able to explore were pretty amazing for staying in Michigan.

We left just after breakfast on Thursday morning.  Cameron COULD NOT get to sleep the night before...well awake till after 10:00 and up bright and early just before 6:00!  Grandpa and Grandma Vruggink came all loaded up and helped us finish hooking things up and cramming the van, rocket box, trailer, truck and camper with ALL our stuff.  Wow.  Packing for 10 days with 2 boys requires lots of stuff.  And, I am an over packer!

 All smiles and ready to go!!



Our first pit stop.  Nothing all that exciting but I wanted to remember what our haul looked liked ;)

 Our next stop was to a place that whenever you would drive by the comment would be "that would be an interesting place to stop"...so we did!  It was to Call of the Wild.  It really was just a little museum/gift shop that was highly overpriced and you leave saying "and we just paid how much for that?!"  All for the memory sake I guess!  Haiden was all about doing the little scavenger hunt and Cameron was SO ansy to get going again, even in the sight of many animals in front of him.

This was the best I could get of him and I even had to bribe ask him to pose for me.

We were supposed to stop at the Soo Locks to see the boats but that was NOT going to happen per Cameron.  We were surprised at how quickly he wanted to reach the destination.  Overall, the ride went fabulously and surprisingly fast!

Friday morning the boys got all loaded up to do some riding!

We stayed by Torrey's brother for a few days, just hanging out, riding and playing.

Of course we needed some beach time.  And it wouldn't be complete without a snack!

Cheesy boys!

And also a little fishing.  Trent said that he and Levi would catch lots of fish when they would go.  This time not so many fish were around..ha! Looking at the picture I wonder why...and Haiden and Grandpa are somewhere on this dock, too!

 

 Sunday morning(my birthday..and Levi's too!) we again headed out early.  That's a common theme on a Vruggink vacation ;) Something that I had to learn to do in this family!

We loaded up cousin Levi and first stopped at Tahquamenon Falls. 

Oh how I wish I could post ALL the pictures we took just trying to get one good one with both boys looking and making somewhat of a "nice face".  Too funny.

 Overall the weather was just perfect.  At first it was a little chilly when we started out but as the week went on it was just right!

 This is by the lower falls.  

Notice sometimes we have to resort to a sort of wrestling to keep kids contained!

 These falls are just so pretty to look at and listen too.  A great first little hike for the boys.  Not to mention there were all kinds of slugs on the paths for them to stomp see. 

All the boys.  Again, more containing!

It was funny towards the end of the trip we would hear the boys say to one another, "do a good job and then you can get a treat". Ha!

And Haiden cannot leave his boots too far behind!

After the Falls, we headed a little farther north and took some roads through the fires that swept over the UP.  Notice the black but then the greenery already popping up?! 

 

A bumpy ride(dirt roads), a smashed tote and cooler(bumpy ride+loose tailgate on Grandpa's truck), lost clothes and some pit stops we made our next stop to Grand Marais!

To be continued...I still have laundry to do!