10 Days of Bliss - Part I

We've done a lot of traveling to the midwest with the kids over the years.  Dude (and Squirt for that matter) are quite familiar with aviation and sleeping at Nana and Papa's house.  It typically goes well, although we've never felt like we were experiencing a "vacation" per say.  Fun trips, yes.  All of that changed last week.  We're excited to announce that we experienced our first family VACATION.  Meaning, we felt relaxed, we ate fabulous food, we did activities that Mom, Dad AND the children found enjoyable, we slept it, stayed up late, enjoyed time with fam and friends...it was fabulously wonderful.  The aspect of our 10 day trip that we loved the very most was the amount of joy our Dude experienced.  Watching him love life to its fullest was awesome for us.  We didn't have to scold him once (well, accept after he pushed his cousin off the boat).  We didn't get irritated with him once.  We didn't have to tell him to go find something to keep himself busy once.  He was in pure bliss the entire time.  Life on the water is the life for Dude.  His dad was tickled pink about this realization as he too is a water boy at heart.   

Naturally, I took more photos than I've had time to edit and sort through, so we'll start small.  The first 3 days were spent at Tim's mom and Marc's cottage on Lake Michigan in Holland.  Tim's 2 brothers and their families came for one of the days, so the entire family was together.  This rarely happens as we're spread across the globe.  The 6 cousins were covered in sand most of the day, which was pure heaven for each and every one of them.  Our neices and nephews are are about the sweetest and most fun kids you can possibly ask for.  Duder and Squirt ate up the day being spoiled by their attention. Thanks for hosting us Mom and Marc.  As always, you spoil us beyond measure.  Sorry we didn't get any pictures of you Grandpa Marc.  I guess you're just not as cute as these kids:)

Below are beach photos.  I needed a separate post just for these as I had a hard time eliminating.  We'll continue on with stage 2 of vaca soon.

 I know, I went a little Squirt crazy.  How could I help it with her little ruffled butt?  At this age, Dude wanted nothing to do with sand.  It was repulsive to him.  Not so much the case with this one.

On Monday we were at the cottage with just Mom.  The water was the glassiest we've ever seen it.  Dude is obsessed with walking to the red lighthouse, so we ventured that way while Squirt slept on Mom and Dad's shoulders.  

 She's such a little kisser.

 Dude takes home a piece of the lighthouse every visit.  We have a collection in his top drawer. 

 She looks like an old lady in this hat doesn't she? 

Thus concludes Holland beach time.  Prepare yourselves.  So much more fun yet to come.