Lynnz and Jill Oct. 2011

We welcomed Lynnz and Jillzie up to the Nutt House end of Sept. to the beginning of October. The colors were changing and it was gorgeous. The first day of their visit was pouring down rain, but, that didn't dampen our gusto for adventure. We went up to Petoskey to visit our fav stores...and spent the most time in the wonderful shoe store that is now a tradition to visit.

The girls bought me a hen timer that will help with my cooking and watch over the kitchen...

We ate at Julienne Tomatoes (another tradition) and talked with "Tom" , one of the owners, trying to convince him that he should carry "Mike's Mustard", one of MY personal favs.

We also caught some glimpses of the salmon running up the Bear River. LOVE Petoskey...

The next day was cold, but, much sunnier. Traveled into Boyne City and lo and behold...the FALL FESTIVAL was in progress. Yippee! Great fun.

Fish Running! See the one in the air?

Lynnz found her favorite carmel corn man from last year. He has the best c.c.

Lynnz, Jill, and me with all of our friends in Boyne City.

Jill treated us to lunch at this wonderful sandwich place, Lake Street Market, which takes you back in time.

We left Boyne City and went up the east side of Lake Charlevoix and stopped at Horton Bay, where good ole Ernie Hemmingway hung out. We had a very "chatty" guide telling us every thing you wanted to know about Ernest, but, were afraid to ask!

Crystal...if you know how to turn this picture correctly...have at it. :)

There was a cool little store and restaurant next door. Smelled so good, but it turned out it was only squash that was cookin'. Never knew squash smelled so good!

We went on walks in the "crisp" morning air ...

It was in the 30's. Yowsrrr!

Then Jill and Lynnz treated us to an amazing, I mean fantastic, scrumdileishious, brunch at Stanfords, Bay View Inn. It's on Sunday and not to be missed.

What a display of enticing foods. Thanks, Jill and Lynn!

We had to check out Tom and Susan's cottage progress on Torch. Coming along really well and Terry was really impressed at the looks of it.

We had a guest on the beach...a Bald Eagle. He was interested in a salmon that was on our beach and it was really hard to get a picture because his "eagle eye" saw every move we made in the cottage to take it. He would fly away when I would slyly and quietly move my arm to raise my camera.

L and J helped us take out the jet skis in the chilly water. (Another tradition with them)

The water level was particularly low, so I had to used my superwoman strength to lift one of the jet skis off the lift. (Terry and Jill were on the other side of the lake with the trailer waiting for us)

We said goodbye to the girlz, sadly, but, we will be seeing them in a couple of weeks when we go to Wittenberg's Homecoming and down to Ky to see Miss Sarah-Bara.

On Monday afternoon we took a 10 mile bike ride in Petoskey and it was wonderful...found where the trail goes along the lake outside of the city, along the cliffs, and what a spectacular view! This last picture is early in the morning on the lake. Gorgeous...

A few highlights from our weekend with the girls that only they would "get"...

"I am really worried about my beets!"

"JOKER, JOKER, JOKER!"

"my homework is late because of my LONG LEGS"

Perfection Candy...Drost's in Indian River

Can't wait til next year, Girlz!

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!