Migrin Family Weekend

The first weekend in August, we, Eric's siblings and their families all met up to spend a weekend together at Eric's parents' lake home in Coldwater, Michigan (aka The Cottage).  It was so great to have everyone together for a weekend full of food and fun on the lake.  The weather was perfect and we all had a wonderful time, although I will say by the time it was all over we were all exhausted!  Eric and I joked on the drive there as we reminisced about our trips to the cottage pre-children and how relaxing they were.  We would sleep late, take naps whenever we wanted, take long strolls through the Meijer aisles, stay up sitting around the campfire and head to the drive-in for movie dates.  Now, with kids, the cottage is MUCH different!  Any random day typically goes something like this: Wake up at sunrise, play near the lake, eat breakfast, play in the lake, eat lunch, nap, play in the lake, eat dinner, play near the lake, go to bed.  As I said, it's fun, but exhausting...

Saturday: We got to the cottage late Friday night and headed straight to bed.  As typical the kids were up bright and early to start the day.  Eric's brother and his girlfriend Negin were already there but his sister and her family did not arrive until later that morning, giving us some quiet family time in the lake on Saturday morning. 

Asher has very little patience for fishing currently, but he still likes to go for a few minutes every morning.

Grammy is now retired and finally got the golf cart she's been dreaming of!  ...we had to take it for a spin!

Gramps got new sand for the beach, so the boys had quite literally LOADS of FUN!

Time for a swim!

Asher is practicing swimming with his swim vest and he is starting to get the hang of it.  When Eric's dad had been at our house a week prior and they had all gone to the city pool Asher asked Eric to let him go (he had no jacket on).  Eric told him that if he let go Asher would sink, but Asher insisted.  Eric let go and Asher stayed up in the water all on his own!

As soon as the cousins arrived, everyone was down by the lake for the remainder of the morning.

Emmett, Gramps & Avery (Photo by Rob Migrin)

Asher (Photo by Rob Migrin)

Asher, Emmett, Eric & Avery: Trampoline Fun

Avery playing in the sand with Uncle Rob & (Auntie - Rob?) Negin.

<3

Even Grammy got into the water!!

Jump Emmett!

I think that tube is a little small for you Rob!

Asher braving up and willing to swim all by himself in the lake with his swim vest.

Get Uncle Rob!

Even baby Olive got to get into the water!

Avery with his arms full!

Emmett & Asher tubing.

Our little athlete

Avery with the big guns.

Not quite sure how to use it though.

Asher playing in the sand with Olive.

Pretty girl.

Uncle Rob shows Avery what the super soaker can do.

Olive goes for a ride on the lake.

When evening came, everyone but Grammy and Gramps piled into the boat and headed over to the ice cream store for dessert!

Man do I love this little guy!

Blue Moon, Yum!

Cousins! <3

There was a brief moment that Asher walked behind Emmett and Avery and put his arms around them.  So adorable, but I just wasn't fast enough. :(

Time for bed.  So Tired!

Sunday was much the same as Saturday...

Blueberry pancakes for Breakfast.

Hot Tub Party

Someone's tired...

...A second wind...

...And tired again.

Asher was dying to go out on the jet ski from the moment we left our house on Friday night.  Sunday, Eric finally took him out for a long ride and they got to jump off into the water at the island.

They also got hot dogs for lunch at the island!

After lunch and naps, we headed back to the lake for fun!

Everyone buries Avery

Buried in the sand.

Emmett's Turn.

Eric's Turn.

Avery stomping the sand down to make sure Daddy is nice and snug in the sand.

Snuggles with Gramps

After a fun day playing on the lake, it was time for dinner and then time to say goodbye to Julie, Rob and their loved ones, who were all heading home.  We were able to stick around a little while longer though to enjoy some extra time with Grammy and Gramps.

The whole gang sans Emma (Photo by Rob Migrin)

The Kid's Table ;)

A "Quintuple" hug before saying farewell.

A golf cart ride to see everyone off.

After everyone had left, we all headed over to the fire pit to make s'mores for dessert!  As always, Avery was VERY impatient to get his s'more!

Avery asking Gramps for some chocolate, since Mommy isn't giving him any yet.

After a fun filled day playing with family, Eric and I let Grammy and Gramps put the kids to bed while we enjoyed a night out at the movies to see the new Star Trek movie together.  We went to the 9:30 show (8:30 our time) and were the only ones in the theater other than one other guy.  The movie was good, but for some reason I couldn't shake the thought that this dude was going to murder us!  Eventually though, enough of the movie had gone by that I figured if he was going to kill us he would have done it already!  :p

Monday was our last day in Michigan.  We enjoyed another morning on the lake with Grammy and Gramps and then it was time to head back home.

Avery woke up bright and early so I took him outside to let everyone else keep sleeping.  He wanted to go on a paddle boat ride and insisted on steering...so, we went on a ride going around and round in circles in front of the cottage.

Snuggling up little bro to warm him up after swimming.

Avery pretending to blast water at me...love this series of photos...

Before heading home on Sunday, we went for a boat ride to the island so Asher could show Avery and I the animals at the petting zoo.  I took advantage of the opportunity to also try and get a few family photos with the secret "nice" clothes that I had packed.  Everyone was tired, but it was a nice way to end our time in Michigan and spend a few more sweet moments together with family!

Gramps and two of his boys.

Our Captain.

Brothers <3

This little study, strutting down the runway!

Off to see the animals!

The goats were very interested in us, but not so pleased about the presence of Emma.

"Mooooo!"

Eric, Avery & Emma checking out the Bunnies

First attempt for photos...the light wasn't right.

Better light.  Kids tired and grumpy though...

Smoochin' with my little guy (who loves kisses!)

Avery & Asher with Grammy & Gramps

Toes in the water

Run!  Off to change out of the "nice" clothes and into something much more fun!

Vogue.

Run!

...Awwww...(swimsuits are) much better.

Ready for one last jump in the lake before leaving...off the boat!

Avery wanted in on the action.

Tired guy wanting to snuggle on the return trip.  A sign it's time to head home.

We got back from our boat trip, finished packing up the van, fed the boys some lunch and then headed back home.  It was another great weekend in Michigan and so good to have everyone together!

Grammy's picture of Asher before leaving...not sure what this was about?

Avery showing off the road-trip snacks Grammy gave him!