more vacation fun (take two)

Again I attempt to post vacation day 2...I started this post before I got the idea of posting by email (so much for that idea), which is why the date is listed as Sunday. (Another note: apparently the date is listed as Monday on the actual posting, but for the record the preview listed the date as Sunday. I'm not losing it)

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Happy Father’s Day! Since it was absolutely gorgeous here in Michigan, we decided to make a little trek to Mackinac Island. By “trek,” I mean take a ridiculously overpriced speed boat thing to the island. Thankfully Wes was free, but adults were $24 each!! We had to go though because it was the last day of the Lilac Festival. Too bad we only saw one bush in bloom…apparently they bloomed early this year :(

Waiting on the boat…Wesley was scared when we told him that he was going to go on a boat, but once he was on, he couldn’t get enough. As soon as we got off the boat, he started talking about when we were going to get back on. Each hour the boat horn sounds, and Wes said “that’s our boat.” I’m not sure if he thought we were going to miss it or just make sure we were paying attention.

I took this picture just as the spray from the boat went in front of our window. You can’t really see the houses on the island, I just thought it was a neat picture.

Wesley couldn’t stop staring at the Mackinaw Bridge and the boats going by.

Look at these amazing homes. I shudder to think how much something like this might cost, especially overlooking Lake Michigan and the Mackinaw Bridge!! I’m sure we couldn’t begin to afford a house nearly this nice even in the middle of Ohio.

This is actually an inn or a bed and breakfast. How wonderful would it be to wake up to the view of the water?

Another inn overlooking the lake and bridge.

This is someone’s home on the island. WOW!

A bed and breakfast

A picture as we walked around the island.

Heading back to the mainland…

The boat wasn’t moving when Wesley stuck his head out the window, never fear! He was so excited to be on a boat again that he couldn’t stand it, so he decided to spend a little time inspecting everything.

I’m not sure what this look is, but it makes me smile.

This picture also makes me smile. How pretty is the sunset and how fun are two boys playing in the water?

no luck

So the pictures didn't transfer when uploading through email - I'll try and post again tomorrow night.

more vacation fun

This is my first attempt at posting to the blog via email, so we’ll see how this goes…hopefully the pictures transfer. Fingers crossed – here we go

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Happy Father’s Day! Since it was absolutely gorgeous here in Michigan, we decided to make a little trek to Mackinac Island. By “trek,” I mean take a ridiculously overpriced speed boat thing to the island. Thankfully Wes was free, but adults were $24 each!! We had to go though because it was the last day of the Lilac Festival. Too bad we only saw one bush in bloom…apparently they bloomed early this year L

 

Waiting on the boat…Wesley was scared when we told him that he was going to go on a boat, but once he was on, he couldn’t get enough. As soon as we got off the boat, he started talking about when we were going to get back on. Each hour the boat horn sounds, and Wes said “that’s our boat.” I’m not sure if he thought we were going to miss it or just make sure we were paying attention.

 

I took this picture just as the spray from the boat went in front of our window. You can’t really see the houses on the island, I just thought it was a neat picture.

 

 

Wesley couldn’t stop staring at the Mackinaw Bridge and the boats going by.

 

Look at these amazing homes. I shudder to think how much something like this might cost, especially overlooking Lake Michigan and the Mackinaw Bridge!! I’m sure we couldn’t begin to afford a house nearly this nice even in the middle of Ohio.

 

This is actually an inn or a bed and breakfast. How wonderful would it be to wake up to the view of the water?

 

Another inn overlooking the lake and bridge.

 

This is someone’s home on the island. WOW!

 

A bed and breakfast

 

A picture as we walked around the island.

 

Heading back to the mainland…

The boat wasn’t moving when Wesley stuck his head out the window, never fear! He was so excited to be on a boat again that he couldn’t stand it, so he decided to spend a little time inspecting everything.

 

 

I’m not sure what this look is, but it makes me smile.

 

This picture also makes me smile. How pretty is the sunset and how fun are two boys playing in the water?

 

 

vacation postings

We just got back from vacation this afternoon and for your enjoyment I typed up blog posts in word to post when we arrived home. I added pictures to the word version, and they will not transfer to the blogger site. GRRRR, so without further ado...

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On our way to the top of the Lower Peninsula in Michigan, we made a stop at Frankenmuth. If you’ve never been there, here’s the gist…it’s a town of fried chicken and Christmas. (Technically I think the chicken might be broasted, but you get the picture.) Anyway,…this town is two of my favorite things, so how could we not go? My parents made the same stop we did, so here’s a breakdown of what we did.

We are dinner at Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn. I was able to get my chicken and Damon could get those weird sausages and pork products he likes so well. Seriously – who eats meat marinated in vinegar? YUCK!

Now I must admit that these are not the most flattering pictures for obvious reasons, but they are the only ones that aren’t all blurry. Wesley doesn’t stop moving unless he is asleep, and even then I would say that he doesn't stay still.

Then the much-anticipated trip to Bronner’s CHRISTmas Store!

And you are reading correctly…the WORLD’s LARGEST Christmas store!! How fun is that? Even in June!

Oh yeah – it’s that big!! I think I read that the store was over seven acres, but don’t quote me. Here are pictures from inside the store, where picture taking is “encouraged.”

 

Yup, it’s a doughnut!

The amazing displays above the decorations on ledges above the walkways

 

One section of the available Sesame Street merchandise

 

And this one just because I think it’s funny. What you cannot see behind the hat is a replica of Michael Jackson’s white glove. For about $70 it could be yours! (Don’t tell me you aren’t thinking of where these beauties could go on your Christmas tree)

Since we had all those pieces of chicken and sausages, we did a little more walking around after leaving Bronner’s.

Cupcakes, anyone?

 

A fun family picture! Wesley was obviously enjoying himself

 

This picture was taken mere minutes later and his mood had drastically improved.

I persuaded Damon to try the bacon mocha. I’m not sure that he loved it, but he was glad he tried it.

 

Try #2 at a family picture - much better

 

Zehnder’s is the place most famous for their chicken. Notice the chicken made of flowers out front - how cute!

 

At the lake!!

 

Not sure about this sand between the toes thing…I just want to cut in here and post last year’s picture of the first sand experience. HA HA! (Side note: I still cannot get over how much older Wesley looks!)

action shots  

 

How much does this kid love the water?

 

Now later in the evening, my mom was sitting outside with my aunt and a friend, and what do you know, a raccoon walks up and climbs a tree!!

Doesn’t he look so innocent? Pretty sure he’s not long for this world since he’s out during the evening and in a fairly populated area…

Wesley “talking” to Santa on the phone. I don’t know about you, but it looks like a bit of concern has crept into Wesley’s expression when asked if he’s been a good boy…A fun patriotic tree How could we not get our pictures taken in this gnome board?

lacking a good entry posting

I always wish I could come up with some witty title for each posting, but one is just not coming to me at this time. My apologies...how excited am I though that our blog hit 50,000 visitors?? We have had 50,404 to be exact. Awesome!! I really don't have anything wild and exciting to say, but I'm here rattling on about nothing. Aren't you glad? :)

Miss Mya that had her heart transplant a few weeks ago could still use prayers. Her kidneys aren't returning to normal function like they should, so she's on dialysis now. The wonderful news though is that her heart isn't showing any signs of rejection!!! Doctors have said that she should be home by Independence Day if she continues to improve.

Two weeks ago, they had a fundraiser 5k run/walk for Mya and it was called "Myles for Mya." How cute is that name? Over 400 people were there to support the family!! I'll post pictures of that later.

We (meaning me, Staci) are working on the paperwork for our second adoption. At this point there isn't much we can do besides our home study, but our social worker is on vacation right now. I should be getting together the paperwork for that, but for whatever reason, I am just not feeling motivated. A similar thing happened during our last adoption where I just didn't want to do anything adoption-related. The problem is this time I feel that way at the beginning and not toward the end of the paperwork...I realized though that last time it all worked out perfectly. God had the whole situation under control, even when it felt like things could not get more out of control! If we had been meant to get our paperwork done earlier, then it would have meant that Wesley was not meant to be our son. Thankfully though, I had that sluggish feeling and we were forced to wait another year to travel to Ukraine. It's amazing how looking back I can see how God used all the things that "got in MY way" (my thoughts at the time) to ensure my reliance on Him to bring us through the adoption process. I wouldn't trade any of those tears and heartache for the world, even though I couldn't wait for the tough times to be over when we were going through them.

I could scream!! I just deleted the rest of my post & I cannot get it back. GRRRRRR...I wrote a wonderful commentary about adoption and how families approach the process differently. Now I cannot remember most of it, but here I go again...

I just got my hair cut off, and I love it! I've been wanting to go pretty short again for a long time. I'll see if I can find a picture of the previous super-spikey look. I digress...Damon and I were watching television and since nothing was on that we wanted to watch, we were scanning through all the channels. What do you know - I found my new haircut on a wrestling show! I believe the woman was a commentator, but her hair was awesome. I made Damon rewind so I could take pictures of the television. Here's the girl:

Now my hair isn't quite so spikey yet, but that is strictly because I'm still working with it. I also think my work isn't quite ready for me to come in with crazy hair :) Government finance officers aren't meant to be wild hair people, you know? Here's me post-cut and highlight: 

I would like to point out to my Mom that I didn't take this picture while driving with your Grandson in the car. I actually took it sitting in the driveway.

I still haven't gotten over deleting my post, so I'm signing off. I'll leave you with a few pictures of my little cutie!!

Wesley eating his first cheeseburger!! Bun and all!

contemplating the cheeseburger

me with my high school girlfriends at Amber and Justin's GORGEOUS wedding (Amber is obviously the one in the middle in the white dress)