Pirate's Cove

One of our stops on an overcast and less than 100 degree morning was Pirate's Cove, a very, very miniature amusement park...it's no Cedar Point, people. But, it was enough to get the kids excited. Bumper boats, golf and the ropes course were some of the highlights. I personally enjoyed the Dairy Queen. Luckily for me, Tessa has a weakness for sweetness so we went there twice!

Tessa enjoying a kiddie cone.

Nate and Dad getting ready to do the ropes course.

Up they went.

That's Troy waving from the zip line. Nate chickened out as they clamped his rope to the zip cord. Pretty sure he was influenced by the little boy that screamed bloody murder the turn before Nate!

Little Nascar driver.

Playing miniature golf. A nanosecond later Tessa's feet slipped through the side of the bridge and she was dangling in the waterfall.

Working on form.

Nate's got a good putt but certainly not enough patience for golf.

Bumper boats with water guns. Notice that Nate chose the "Steelers" boat. He asked me if we could buy one afterward and actually I thought that could be pretty fun at the lake. We'll see!

More Vacation

Our hotel had a great outdoor bar with live music every night! How much better does it get to let your kids run around on the beach during an awesome sunset all the while enjoying some beers. Another of our favorite things to do in the evening was to stroll through the boat basin and admire all the awesome yachts. At one point, Troy had gone off to use to the restroom and left me and kids playing out in the park. As he walked back amidst all of the yachters and big ole boat owners I had Tessa yell across the yard, "Daddy, did you go back to the boat?" We got a good laugh out of that one! I'm sure no one there was believin' that we had a boat there. I mean, our 20ft pontoon would pry look a little silly there.

This will not be the Christmas card. Please notice Nate's moose shirt again....get used to it.

Of course our kids liked to run down the beach where the evening fishermen were by the canal...not the prettiest place on the bay but a beach nonetheless.

Family self photo. This will also be on the cutting room floor for Christmas card.

Up North

After Cousin Lauren's wedding we spent the rest of July vacationing! We took a nice long weekend up north to kick off our summer family vacation. We packed up the minivan with swim suits, sand toys, a basket of everlasting snacks and a cooler laden with juice boxes. The DVD disc changer was loaded and the GPS was programmed to Traverse City. We had sunshine and a beachfront hotel. Funny though how really all we needed to please our kids was any ole' swimming pool and a couple bajillion dollar bills for a vending machine! But, vacation isn't just about the kids, now is it? I mean, mom and dad need a vacation too! Mom and Dad, though, sadly are much harder and more costly to please.

Nate playing on the Traverse Bay beach.

Miss T beach bum.

My Cheeto-eatin' kiddos.

Dinner at Sleders. A local favorite restaurant & bar whose gimmick is to the kiss the moose!

So we did. Here's Troy and Randolph.

Nate smoochin' the moose.

Tessa layin' a big one on Randolph.

A walk on the beach.

Nate got a Tshirt for kissing the moose. He demanded to wear it the next several days in a row

T and Daddy

Me and one of my moose-kissin' men!

Cousin Kelley's pictures!

So, Cousin Kelley loves to take pictures and does a fantastic job at it! She graciously snapped some sweet, sweet pics of my munchkins this past weekend.

This is Tessa showing us how she swims underwater. That's baby cousin Grace in the tube!

Jumping in the pool!

Pool party at Grampa Hara's! Most memorable moment when Cousin Kyle jumped in with baby cousin Liam! Wow!

Taking baby cousin Grace for a swim!

Cousin Lauren's Wedding

Well, Cousin Lauren got married to Stephen this past weekend and that just meant we got to partay with the O'Hara's. This was the kick off to a long summer vacation for the kiddos as we left them behind to hang out with Gramma Char for a whole week!

Apparently I have loaded the pictures funnest to early in the night most tame. Here is Aunt Jeanie dancing with the chicken man (some creepy guy at the bar). I didn't get the footage of her massaging his "beak head"....that's pry better for all of us!

Gramma Char, Creepy Chicken Guy (that my sister threatened to chop of his #*$% if he grinded my mom!) and Aunt Jeanie. This blurry picture does a good job of representing a lot of the O'Hara's inebriated vision that night!

Cousin Ali's boyfriend Cole and Aunt Marilyn. Cole was beating himself up the next day for "not hanging out with the O'Hara's?!! Ha!

Bubba and Troy enjoying a tender moment by the lake.

Uncle Steve giving Aunt Jeanie a lap dance!

Ali and Lola tearing up the waterside dance floor!

Aunt Jeanie, Ali, Char and Amy

Ali and Marilyn

Cousin Kyle & Uncle John

Tessa dancing with a rose. I think all the kids thought the party was for them!

Cousin Brad and "Cousin" Will representing Team Green and Team Blue.

That's Ali, The Maid of Honor, being announced for the wedding party! And, yes, they announced her height and weight and yes, she tore off the sweat suit!

Tessa hanging out with Aunt Jeanie. Uncle Dick was stuck back in Florida with work obligations...later on in the night Aunt Jeanie was on top of a table at the reception! Maybe she thought the party was for her too!

Zack, Will and Nate

Nate and Zack. Love this photo. Love that Nate looks like a 6 year old Don Johnson wanna-be.

Not sure how it ended up that I didn't get a single photo of the bride and groom!?! Thanks for the good time, Lauren and Steve! Best Wishes.