August 4-8

Highlights:

- Patrick getting up & mastering the SkySki

-singing "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz on the boat with Lily

-Jackson falling off the dock

-Jackson & Layla playing together on the beach

-Joey starting baby food for the first time

-Jackson's faceplant at BBB with imprinted chair tattoo

The second to the last time we were at the cottage was an absolute blast! We did SO much!

The boys went out fishing one night......

Jackson and Layla played, and played, and played together!

They spent each day in the lake and then at night had bathtime!

Patrick did his Skyski and was getting a bit frustrated with it and then he Finally got it! 

I snapped this pic as quick as I could, i just love the pure joy on his face because he figured it out!

There he goes!

Proud Skyskier!

Logan LOVED the boat....mainly because it put him right to bed! and then when we pulled into the shorestation he would wake up......happy of course!

Then he would play on the beach and his #1 goal was to get off the blanket and to get a handful of sand.....

to eventually try to eat.

Jackson kept busy by playing with all the toys on the beach!

I, of course, had to jump off the dock to cool off each day!

Jackson loved watching me do this. He would actually count me down....

1.....2....3...and then i would run and jump in!

He thought it was absolutely hysterical!

We painted our traditional cottage summer rocks.......
this is some of them from the past few years and below them is this years.....

Summer 2011 rocks!

Jackson bonded with his Auntie Molly. 

They spent time in the hammock together................

and when Jackson was upset that he couldn't go outside, she was right there for him.

Lily and I did some fun stuff too, we swung in the hammock.......

and painted our nails together!

Jackson ran over and got some more loving in the hammock from all of us too!

We had evening skyski sessions after dinner!

and Jackson got to drive the boat!

When Logan was awake in the boat, he enjoyed looking at everything!

We took a trip to Petoskey and HAD to eat at the best lunch place ever......Julienne Tomatoes!!

The baby boy cousins had some good bonding time too!

Joey enjoyed some of his first solids!

I LOVE eating out back for dinner and Jackson and Layla had their own little table too!

One night after dinner we looked over and saw this!

How cool is that?!

Jackson was so excited about seeing the giant hot air balloon that he ran down to the beach to get a better look!

We watched it go higher and higher.....up, up, and away!

During dinner the last night Patrick was teasing Lily and I just LOVED her response to him......

(I'm not listening to you!)

She's learned VERY quickly!

We ended the weekend by celebrating Grampy's birthday!

Happy Birthday and "Labor Day"

McNutts and Stewarts meet at the cottage Thursday before Labor Day. We are sad that Paddy, Crystal, Jackson, and Logan can't make it. Paddy has lots of projects to do for his Grad Classes.

He will finish this December. YEAH!!!!!

Sarah enjoys Joey and he thinks that she is pretty cool, too.

We celebrate Molly and Sarah's birthday with chocolate cake and pecan pie.

How many monkeys sitting on the bed? Well, none fell off and broke her head.

Joey reaches new heights after his bath. Feelin' good and clean.

Layla tries her hand at photography. Not bad!

Read this T-Shirt and see which sister you think Molly is...

Sarah is overjoyed at this "awesome" DVD player.

Dessert is accompanied with homemade ice cream. We can thank the Utleys for that new machine.

The Annual Craft Show at the Castle Farms. I purchased a new table for the kids. Molly bought a witch's hat, rocking chair, plaque for Sarah and herself. We love the booth the Manchester Man has each year! You have to be there at 10:00 a.m. sharp...and we were!

We had a little bit of beach time...not much...but a little.

The girls clean off the bird !@#$%^&. on the dock.

While we are away, the birds hold coffee hour and book

club on McNutt Point.

We decide to visit Torch and see how they are coming on the site for Tom and Susan's new cottage. What a view!!!

We run into Kathy Smith, our old neighbor from Alma, and catch up on old times. Fun to see her!
FYI, this is a complete second posting. I did all of this work last night, accidentally pressed the delete button, and whoosh, everything was gone. I better post this before I lose it again.

****** The reason I put quotations around "Labor" is because in the evening of Labor Day we got a text that Sarah Palmer was in Labor for Carleton Paul Palmer V "Quin" !!! He was born around 10:30 pm. Happy, happy, happy!

The Utleys ...

I forgot to add these on the last post...the girls had fun painting houses that they used up at the cottage. They were intent on their job and worked hard. We managed to keep most of the paint on the houses.

Lily gives Grammy the best hugs. Her nickname is "Snuggle". I LOVE it!

Kathy and Sam Utley come up for their annual visit to the cottage. Sam loves to fish and this trip was successful...in a way....He caught a big Salmon but became a little seasick during the capture. There were 5 foot "rollers". The lake looked calm to us, though. They are out in this picture...just a speck in the background. The fish Sam had broke the hook and got away. Anyways, they came in a bit early but did catch another Salmon to tell stories about.

The Utleys wanted to see Torch Lake, so we stopped by the Tom and Susan's lot. They were in the midst of tearing down the old cottage. I chose not to show those pictures because they are a bit sad. We went down to the water and enjoyed the beauty of the lake. Ahh, no other lake has the beauty of Torch.

We introduced Sam and Kathy to Murray's and they vowed that they would be back again next year to enjoy the culinary skills of East Jordan!

I woke up early on Saturday morning and didn't want to forget this scene. The definition of PEACE. Love it!

On Sunday, after the Utley's left, we went to the Petoskey cemetery, where so many of our relatives are buried. Myers, Warrens, and Schillings. I feel right at home among family!

I have to check and make sure that we are related to some of these Warrens.

Seems funny that we should end up with a cottage near where so many of our family lived. I feel like we are where we should be.

Awesome August

Patrick, Crystal, Jackson, Logan, Molly, Jeremy, Lily, Layla, Joey, mom, and dad came to the cottage in August and missed one person...SARAH. We had fun, but, remember Mokey in many discussions. She was at school going to the prom with Charlton. We know that she was having fun.

This picture says it all. We spent a lot of time on the beach. The weather was glorious.

Logan was checking out everyone and after he gave you his stare, he would break out into a big smile.

Joey enjoyed the boat rides and his life jacket.

Maribeth Burton Taylor and her mom, Pat, came for a visit. It was good to see old friends from Crystal Lake.

We ate on the porch for every meal. Jackson and Layla ate at their own separate table and loved it. As soon as they were done, they would run down to the beach and play in the sand and throw rocks in the water.

We celebrated dad's birthday with a yummy meal and presents. Lily loves snuggling with grampy.
The two new babies, Mr. Moo and Joe Bo had lots of bonding time with Aunt Molly.

Awwwww, the love of cousins!

Grammy LOVES her new grandsons.

More cousin bonding.

J-Man takes a breather from "daddy" responsibilities.

Jackson was a very busy boy on the beach. So much sand to move and rocks to throw!

Layla uses her building talents to make a sand castle.

Layla stops for just a moment to cool off.

Patrick takes on sky skiing. This is a picture of the hydro foil. Very difficult sport.

After many attempts, he gets the hang of it and masters yet another water sport.

All in all, it was a family bonding time. Can't wait for Mokey to come home at the end of the month. As you can see, Patrick and Dad totally relax and find a new use for the baby seats.