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| Asher and I enjoyed a couple of games of Money Bags (a birthday present he got from Grammy and Gramps) before leaving for summer school on Thursday morning. |
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| Thursday was also Eric and Asher's last chance to share lunch together since his summer school would come to a close with our vacation. Thus they picked up a $5 Little Caesar's Pizza for lunch to enjoy. |
On Friday morning Avery and I dropped Asher off for his last day of summer school and then went back home to finalize our packing for the vacation. Once things were fairly put together and most of the van was loaded up we headed out so I could get a quick haircut and then we picked up Asher from school.
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| We are constantly telling the boys to put all of their toys (especially balls) away when they are done playing with them outside. On Friday morning they learned the hard way what happens if they don't when I drove over a ball that was under my van. The loud pop combined with the loss of the ball was quite emotional for the boys (especially Avery who loved his "Go Blue Ball") |
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| I attempted to fit all four of us in one suitcase but had no such luck. Eric was the voted off the island. |
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| Avery made a friend at Great Clips while I got my haircut. He was quite amazed by the little boy's tablet and especially the racing game he was playing. |
At around lunch time Eric got home from work and then we headed off for our trip with a stop at Potbelly along the way for lunch. Like last time the trip was slow, but not quite as painful. About mid-way through the trip we surprised the boys each with a new Amazon Fire Tablet to play on. To say they were excited is to put it mildly, but it did keep them entertained and fairly whine-free. I felt a little guilty to be "that mom" with each kid having a tablet to stare on in the car but with Amazon Prime day earlier in the week and getting the two tablets for about $50 total, it was a deal we couldn't pass up.
After another long drive we finally made it to the cottage where we scarfed down some pizza Eric's family had saved for us, visited with everyone there (Eric's parents and brother, Rob..who the boys were thrilled to get to see and play with for a few days) and then headed off to bed. ...not before making sure to show off their new tablets though of course (even though I tried to convince them that we would only be using them in the car!).
The next morning it was Saturday and our cottage fun officially began. It was a cooler, dreary morning so lake time was not top on our list. Instead, we had breakfast, checked out Grammy and Gramps new truck and camper and then all of the boys headed out for a spin in the new truck while Grammy and I stayed behind.
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| Avery helping Grammy make smoothies for breakfast. |
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| Looking through Eric's mom's cook book while we menu-planned surely didn't help. There were so many yummy looking things on it that I ended up buying it thru Amazon on my phone before we were even finished. |
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| As the girls menu planned I received a text from Eric with this pic. What better way to spend some guy time than at the Fireworks store!? |
That afternoon we all had an enjoyable day at the cottage. It got a little warmer outside and the boys convinced Uncle Baby Robby to go swimming with them.
Video: Summer Fun
Rob also gave Eric and I a mini Super Nintendo as a gift for helping with their wedding (which they most definitely did NOT have to do!). Eric had fun playing some of the old games of his childhood and then later he and Rob enjoyed some time together on Rob's Nintendo Switch (which by the way Eric was eyeing it up I knew it would not be long before he owned one of those as well!).
While Eric and Rob challenged each other on video games indoors, the boys worked with Gramps to dig holes for the #operationtreefort supports!
After a long and fun-filled day our first full vacation day was over and we were officially exhausted and ready for bed.
On Sunday we started day 3 off with another lazy morning and Asher got some knitting and crocheting lessons from Grammy. As the day continued it was much of the same as the day before with fun in the lake and more work on the treehouse.
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| Thank goodness for Uncle Rob! I had no desire to go swimming that weekend! |
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| Heading out to make concrete to pour the support footings. |
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| Avery was deemed "The Waterboy" and was quite proud of both his duty and his title. <3 |
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| Post supports! |
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| My cute lunch date. |
After dinner that evening we shared a family boat ride to the ice cream store followed by a little fireworks show held by Eric and Rob to round out the day.
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| Asher was in "a mood" and I was trying to make him smile... |
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| :) |
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| Rob & Avery needed some selfies of their own! |
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| Ice Cream by the Lake |
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| "A for Avery"...by Avery. |
Monday (Day 4) was Uncle Baby Robby's last day at the cottage with us so we made the most of it...especially the boys who had a a total blast playing with their uncle! <3
First off, all of the guys went for a boat ride to take/watch Eric skiing and Rob wake boarding.
Next, they all worked as a manly team to get the treehouse posts in the ground.
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| Avery & Asher got to be the first ones up in the trees! |
When the posts were up the guys cooled off with one last swim in the lake before Uncle Rob had to leave for the airport.
(3) Videos: King of the Raft
Earlier this summer Eric's dad made a brand new raft for the kids to play on in the lake and Fourth of July weekend we launched it into the water. That was when King of the Raft: The New Generation was born. All of the boys love pushing each other off the raft to see who will be the last man standing and Avery LOVES to win and often does because everyone knows that pushing him in scares him as he is the littlest guy (that swims) and gets scared if he is pushed in. Thus, these videos show a lot of Avery happily bouncing around the raft as he is the last one left and therefore "King".
Side Story: On the weekend we launched the raft Asher and Avery were the only two that were left on the raft and Asher started raising his arms and proclaiming that he was King of the Raft. It was at that moment that Avery quietly and swiftly walked up behind him and shoved him into the lake. If only I had captured that on video! It was perfect!
Video: Eric & Avery Spray Asher
After Uncle Rob left for the airport (BTW we were sad to see him go. The boys had an absolute blast with him and he is SOOOO good with his little nephews!) we enjoyed playing outside for the remainder of the day. When the boys began to get a little clingy and annoying I suggested that they see how many acorns the could pick up in the yard (because stepping on them with bare feet is never fun) and Eric's mom upped the ante by telling them she'd pay them a penny for each acorn they found. Best idea ever! ...kept them busy for quite a while.
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| Avery showing off his earnings! |
After dinner that evening the boys all did some fishing at the lake. Eric had a whopper of a pike on his line but it broke itself free before he could reel it in. Then he caught a disgusting catfish, which I don't think I've ever seen before fishing on that lake. Moments later Asher caught another (different) catfish and was not impressed. He too found the fish absolutely disgusting and began to cry because he didn't want it on his fishing pole. I can't say I blame him, but that was the end of fishing for him that night.
Video: Avery Touches a Fishy
Finally we rounded out day 4 of our Michigan vacation with some delicious peanut butter chocolate mousse cheesecake (one of the items on the menu Eric's mom and I created, which she prepared...YUMMY!).
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