Saturday, July 25, 2015

Get Out the Slide Projector, 'Cause We Were on Vacation and There Was NO RAIN! TToT #110

This world is covered with the most unbelievable sights.

I am so grateful for the chance to see some of them (because they are only a few hours drive from our house).

Silver Lake, Michigan. Those are the dunes you'll see up close later in the post. Yes, that is a gigantic slip-n-slide over there on that even more gigantic sand dune. A man who lives in town sets it up one day each year and anyone who wants to do it can. Of course our older boys did it, but I wasn't there to get photos.

I am thankful that we are able to share these places with our kids.


I was trying not to be blown off of the ledge of a lighthouse while taking this photo of Star and Cuckoo on the dunes below.

I'm thankful they can enjoy an activity we've done many times before.

Lake Michigan on a really windy day. That water was about 50 degrees, but they were unhappy when I told them it was time to leave.

And I'm thankful they can have fun finding new, impromptu activities.
Everyone (except me, because I was scared to death I'd re-injure my knee.) spent a lot of time jumping off of a sand cliff. That's Turken.

Bryan and Buttercup's graceful landing
I'm thankful that we get to go on these fun vacations with marvelous friends every single year. (It was our 13th vacation with them!)

Group jump; View from the top; with the ORV area in the distance.
I'm so thankful that we are all healthy and healed and able to do physical activities.

Climbing mountains of sand ain't no easy thang!

Group shot

I'm thankful that we have the same sense of humor and can quote dumb, old movies.


I kid you not, Cuckoo found a comb on the dune and started doing this all on his own. The following scene immediately popped into the minds of all of us.


I am thankful that Phoenix finally got his license (I told you I'd get it into every thankful post!) and was able to drive when we went off-roading. 

This was SO MUCH FUN!!! 

A little taste of what it was like. Unfortunately, with all the jostling, it took me a while to get the video going, so I didn't get the best part of the giggling.



I am thankful for the perfect, gorgeous weather we had the entire week. After the cold, wet summer we've had, it was marvelous to bask in the sun and get lots of swimming in.

We parked our jeeps to stop and watch the sun set.

And with that, another successful vacation is in the blog.

Did you see anything interesting or new to you this week?

As always, you're welcome to join us in counting our thankfuls!

Have a lovely day!


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29 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 26, 2015 at 4:11 AM

    Awesome photos! Love the vibrating giggles! Looks like you had a great time! No way first!?

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  2. UnknownJuly 26, 2015 at 8:17 AM

    Gorgeous photos! Especially love that one of taken jumping. That little airborne body.

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    1. ChristineJuly 26, 2015 at 10:37 PM

      Thank you! They were all just flinging themselves off the edge. No worries whatsoever of being injured.

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  3. clarkJuly 26, 2015 at 8:36 AM

    …always knocks me out to see Lakes that have no 'other side'…. and the dunes! like, were you the only people there? (that would surely be the coolest part, to have the place to yourselfs!)
    excellent photographer
    wise decision on the non-dune jumping!

    (being of sufficient age to have experienced the classic vacation slides (in one of those round carousels and taking a picture off the wall, 'cause who had one of those roll up portable movie screen things, this is way, way better!… and movies!)

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    1. ChristineJuly 26, 2015 at 10:39 PM

      We were not by ourselves up there, but the dunes are so vast that you can easily feel like you are alone. And really, it is such a remote area, it was never crowded, even in town.

      Ha! I have lived through many a slide show, but my grandparents actually had a screen. :)

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  4. TigermouseJuly 26, 2015 at 9:12 AM

    Love the photos, especially the first two group shots - the blue sky looks gorgeous with those clouds.

    Looks like you had a blast - and if I'd been there I would definitely have done the slide and the sand jumping :)

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    1. ChristineJuly 26, 2015 at 10:39 PM

      Thanks!

      WE did. I would have done the slide in a heart beat. The little boys couldn't do it, though, so I stayed with them.

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  5. SandeeJuly 26, 2015 at 9:38 AM

    How fun and I'm so glad you had great weather. Everyone looked so happy and that really is what a vacation is all about. Well that and a lifetime of precious memories.

    Have a fabulous Sunday. ☺

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    1. ChristineJuly 26, 2015 at 10:40 PM

      Every day we thanked God for our great weather. Lots of people have had cold, wet weeks in Michigan this year.

      Our week with our friends is always fun. The great memories are piling up. :)

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  6. UnknownJuly 26, 2015 at 9:44 AM

    Something tells me after a day of climbing those dunes sleeping would be really easy! I'm glad you had good weather for your trip!

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    1. ChristineJuly 26, 2015 at 10:41 PM

      It was easy to sleep, once we went to bed. We always stay up REALLY late on these vacations. We were so, so fortunate with the weather this year.

      Delete
  7. Mary HillJuly 26, 2015 at 10:39 AM

    Glad you had such a wonderful vacation and your son could drive. Those dunes look so high.I would love to visit Lake Michigan one of these days. It looks like the ocean.

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    1. ChristineJuly 26, 2015 at 10:43 PM

      It is just like the ocean, but without the salt and sharks. A complete win. :) The water isn't usually that cold this time of year, but it didn't slow us down one bit.

      The dunes are huge. We've seen dunes before, but I was floored by the size and expanse of these.

      I hope you get to see it someday!

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  8. @dkotuckerJuly 26, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    Awesome pictures!! Looks like you guys have a ton of fun!!! The off-roading looked like a blast...how much fun for Phoenix!!! We took the boys to the sand dunes in Oregon when they were little and you're absolutely right...walking (let alone climbing) sand dunes IS a LOT of work!

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    1. ChristineJuly 26, 2015 at 10:45 PM

      Always loads of fun with our friends.
      We had low expectations of the off-roading, since we were in a tour group. We did so many fun things, and Phoenix was a great driver.

      I heard about the Oregon dunes from our tour guide. He said they were big, but they weren't as pretty as Michigan's. He may have been a wee bit biased, though.

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  9. Dyanne @ I Want BacksiesJuly 26, 2015 at 2:29 PM

    Those dunes are really amazing! I've been TO Lake Michigan, but I've never been IN Lake Michigan, and that was only up around Milwaukee.
    If combing the sand with a sketchy found comb keeps an almost 6 year old happy, then let him comb!
    Love the giggles!

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    1. ChristineJuly 26, 2015 at 10:48 PM

      Funny, our friends that we vacation with live right outside Milwaukee. That is the wrong side of the lake. Nothing like the east side.

      We let him comb, don't worry. He didn't do it for long, though, as the climbing, sliding, and jumping were way more fun.

      It was awesome to be in the jeep with the little boys. It made the activity even better.

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  10. AnonymousJuly 26, 2015 at 3:31 PM

    Gorgeous photos, Christine. I love the frozen action one of Bryan and Buttercup's landing. The group shot from behind and the sunset are great. Funny how kids can get in water of any temperature. There's a place in Nags Head called Jockey's Ridge where there are the highest sand dunes on the East coast. People hand glide and sand slide and have a great time up there. I've only climbed the dunes in the Spring or Fall. Don't think I could do it in the hot summer. Love the jeep giggles.

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    1. ChristineJuly 26, 2015 at 10:51 PM

      Thank you!
      The rest of the week had warmer water that I could stand, but that first windy day? Not a chance in the world I was getting in there!
      Lots of people slide down the dunes in Michigan, but no hand gliding.
      Thankfully, there was a huge wind going, so the temperatures were perfect.
      The giggles made the ORV even better.

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  11. KristiJuly 26, 2015 at 5:42 PM

    Did Cuckoo find the princess?

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  12. DonnaJuly 26, 2015 at 8:34 PM

    That looks like a wonderful vacation. Thanks for sharing it!

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    1. ChristineJuly 27, 2015 at 9:32 PM

      It was!
      Lake Michigan isn't that far from you! ;)

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  13. GirlieOnTheEdgeJuly 26, 2015 at 10:26 PM

    What's the age cut off for adoption? lol The pictures are excellent! Looks like you guys had a total blast!
    I've never been to the Mid West. The idea of a lake that looks like the ocean? That is totally wild.
    Those dunes look amazing, the whole place looks amazing:) Reminds me a little of the dune(s) in Kill Devil Hills in the Outer Banks. It was pretty big but nothing like your dunes.
    P.S. Only kids would play in 50 degree water!
    I really felt a part of your vacation Christine. Thanks!

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    1. ChristineJuly 27, 2015 at 9:34 PM

      Thanks. We had a great time.

      You've never been to the midwest?!?!?! I mean, I know the coast is awesome, but seriously, we have some nice places, too. And no sharks. :)

      I have heard nothing but marvelous things about the Outer Banks. I need to get myself out there some time.

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  14. CarinaJuly 26, 2015 at 10:41 PM

    I LOVE the pictures. I can feel the energy on them. Precious moments.

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  15. Catholic MuttAugust 1, 2015 at 12:16 PM

    Fantastic pictures! Looks like an awesome trip!

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