Ludington!!! (this will be a long one) pictures are all over the place
Paul's perfect landing, shark wrestling
Paul and Danielle, aww!
face cards
I know Ludington was a week ago...but I'm just getting around to posting it.
Most of my friends know that my family celebrates Labor Day weekend, at a resort in Ludington, Michigan. It is my FAVORITE holiday of the year, totally blows Christmas away, because it's an enitre weekend of barely any sleep, swimming, shopping, playing games and late night talks with family. It's amazing. As we grow older, certain brothers can't always attend sometimes. This sucks, cause it's really great when everyone can be there. We still manage to have a good time, usually, but it's not the same. This year Joel had to work, so his family couldn't make it, and Matt's family was driving to Alaska, to move there, so they couldn't make it. :( Kyle was in Texas, doing some sort of school for the Air Force... I've never been good with details. Lol.
My parents, Holly and I left Thursday night, since we live so far away. We drove 5 hours to my Aunt's house in Brimley, which is still in the UP but close to the bridge. So, we left around 10:20 a.m. from Brimley, to drive the rest of the way to Ludington. Since we have such an amazing time there, the drive seems to take FOREVER. This year we had a few surprises so I was even more anxious.
Kyle was going to fly in to Detroit, rent a car and drive up. His wife and kids and my dad and sister had NO idea. Also.. :) my boyfriend Wing was flying to Grand Rapids, and renting a car and driving up. No one knew but my parents and I.
Friday afternoon we got to the resort around 4:30 I think. Sarah and the kids were already there. We unpacked the car and went swimming. I knew Wing's flight wasn't landing til 11:59 p.m...so this night DRAGGED. Lots of fun swimming with the kids tho. After swimming, Paul and Danielle arrived (during, actually). Holly, Paul and I went to Walmart for groceries and dinner. After dinner, I think we just talked and stuff, and everyone went to sleep fairly early. So it was just Jen, my mom and I talking and stuff. I had to wait up for Wing, the resort is kind of in the woods...so I wanted to drive to Walmart, and have him follow me the rest of the way. Well, it was super foggy, so I definitely wanted him to have someone to follow in. I said I had to go to walmart at like 1:30 a.m. and Jen was like, oh I'll drive you. So, Jen and I hopped in the Vibe and took a trip to Walmart...and they were closed. It's a SUPERCENTER, but it closed at 12a.m. What's super about it?? I don't get it. So Jen is like, let's just go down the road to Meijer! I was like "NO! Let's just wait here.." So, she figured out that Wing was coming. LOL. We wanted to surprise her...but when a non-super supercenter foils your plans...you have no choice. So, Wing drove into the parking lot around 2 a.m. or a little earlier, I'm not sure. Then he followed us to the resort. He hadn't eaten all day, so I gave him some leftovers and we just talked til like 3 or 3:30 then we all went to sleep. Holly woke up in the middle of the night and did a double take, cause she was shocked that Wing was there. It was great.
Saturday morning we always go to the flea market. We had a contest to see who could get the coolest thing for 2$ or less. No one ever judges, and there's really no point, but I guess it makes people try to enjoy the otherwise bland flea market. After the flea market, we had sandwiches, and went swimming. I took Wing for a walk to show him the bayou and stuff, where we used to fish, but the dock is falling apart and it was overgrown with seaweed. We had dinner, then smores, and played Apples to Apples with Sarah and the kids. It was a funny game. After that, Wing and I had to go shopping for more groceries, but on the way we stopped at the beach and walked out to the lighthouse, and Wing got some pictures of the sun setting. It was super pretty. When we got back from Walmart, we played peanuts, and did poorly, cause we had LOUSY cards. So we went to sleep at like 3 or something...
Sunday morning Holly made a ton of french toast for breakfast, then we had family church. (my dad does a little message, and we sing praise songs and Paul plays guitar) On Sunday, we always go shopping in downtown Ludington. Wing and I got some better playing cards. :) After shopping we always go to House of Flavors, for ice cream. It's an awesome place for ice cream, and who doesn't love ice cream? This year my uncle Paul and aunt Jodie came shopping for a bit, and Renee and Tony and the kids came too, so that was rad that we got to see them!! After ice cream, we went back to the resort to go swimming. After swimming, Wing, Jen and I made chicken fajitas. It took a long time to make them, but they were super good, so I think it was worth the wait. After dinner, we had a birthday party for the September birthdays (Danielle and Christopher). The kids got some glow bracelets and necklaces, and they had sparklers, and had a lot of fun. The kids were a little wound up, but when they finally went to sleep, we had our final peanuts tournament. Wing and I were really good that night, cause we had new good cards. It was a lot of fun. Everyone went to sleep a little earlier that night.
Wing and I had to wake up super early Monday cause he had to drive to GR and fly back to Boston. It happened to be our 10 month anniversary, so we went to Big Boy for breakfast, since Wing had never been to a Big Boy. It was nice to be able to talk and hang out for a little before he had to leave. We went back to the resort and Wing said goodbye to the family, and he had to drive to GR. After Wing left, everyone had to pack up their stuff and try to get the cabins looking like they were when we got there. This is a challenge... lol. So, everyone went their seperate ways, thankful for an awesome weekend, but sad to be leaving.
grandma and some of the girls in the pool!
Wing and I at the park after ice cream!
the 2 cutest guys in the pool, Wing and Asher
cooking fajitas in the smoky kitchen!!
Wing and I on the dock.
Sunset on Lake Michigan.