Thursday, August 15, 2013

Michigan Musings

Last week, I got to spend time with some of my favorite people on Earth. My parents, my brother, his sweet girlfriend, John, my grandparents, my role model and older cousin Jana, her cool and welcoming husband Brian, and this precious baby girl:

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Charlotte, Brian and Jana's darling daughter, is hands down the cutest baby in the universe. I mean, come on. Look at that face! I took this picture on my phone after she woke up from a nap. Jana and Brian went out to celebrate their fourth anniversary one night, which meant I got to spend one-on-one time with this pretty thang! Her personality is even cuter than her looks, and I loved seeing her! It's amazing how much she's grown since I saw her at the beginning of June!

Instead of bore you with long ramblings of how awesome this trip was, how about some pictures?

After two short flights and a layover, John and I made it to Torch Lake! We then went to my grandparent's village, Elk Rapids, for Harbor Days- an annual fair I loved as a kid! Obviously, I was on cloud nine seeing Jana, and it made it even better once the rest of my fam arrived, marking the end of their 15 hour car ride up north! 
After two short flights and a layover, John and I made it to Torch Lake! We then went to my grandparent's village, Elk Rapids, for Harbor Days- an annual fair I loved as a kid! Obviously, I was on cloud nine seeing Jana, and it made it even better once the rest of my fam arrived, marking the end of their 15 hour car ride up north!

Our first attempt at a family picture in my grandparent's backyard didn't go so well... Corey was a liiiittle preoccupied with fishing... 
Our first attempt at a family picture in my grandparent's backyard didn't go so well... Corey was a liiiittle preoccupied with fishing...

On our way to Mackinac Island! To get there, you have to take a ferry- no cars or anything with an engine allowed on the island!  
On our way to Mackinac Island! To get there, you have to take a ferry- no cars or anything with an engine allowed on the island!

The kids just stand and look pretty while my dad pays for the bikes :)  
The kids just stand and look pretty while my dad pays for the bikes :)

My mom's birthday wish? For her family to all take a trip to Michigan and bike around Mackinac Island... Mission accomplished! 
My mom's birthday wish? For her family to all take a trip to Michigan and bike around Mackinac Island... Mission accomplished!

It doesn't take a long time to bike around the 8 mile island, so we took plenty of stops to enjoy the scenic views on the shore.  
It doesn't take a long time to bike around the 8 mile island, so we took plenty of stops to enjoy the scenic views on the shore.

Another Mackinac must? Fudge-sampling! When the six fudge-vendors on the island have multiple shops each, why buy a whole piece at one place?! You can sample enough at each shop to  satiate your sweet tooth!  
Another Mackinac must? Fudge-sampling! When the six fudge-vendors on the island have multiple shops each, why buy a whole piece at one place?! You can sample enough at each shop to satiate your sweet tooth!

Sibling bonding: Corey actually clipped us together with something on his shorts or back pack... Can't ya tell I'm happy about it?! 
Sibling bonding: Corey actually clipped us together with something on his shorts or back pack... Can't ya tell I'm happy about it?!

Surf's up! John was super impressive at wake-surfing! 
Surf's up! John was super impressive at wake-surfing!

I, on the other hand, struggled just to get up and hold on, even with our awesome captain (thanks, Brian!). 
I, on the other hand, struggled just to get up and hold on, even with our awesome captain (thanks, Brian!).

Yay for local farmers markets and fresh fruits and veggies!   
Yay for local farmers markets and fresh fruits and veggies!

It doesn't get much better than this. I had some cherry wine while I was up north and oh my gosh. So sweet and so good.  
It doesn't get much better than this. I had some cherry wine while I was up north and oh my gosh. So sweet and so good.
Can we stay forever? Look at that view of the beautiful Torch Lake! 
Can we stay forever? Look at that view of the beautiful Torch Lake!

[I am so thankful that I am with a guy who loves spending time with my family. Whether he's helping move a ridiculously heavy rock into the lake or learning how to play Euchre (which we both surprisingly liked!), he is always positive, and I love that about him! Thanks, John!   
I am so thankful that I am with a guy who loves spending time with my family. Whether he's helping move a ridiculously heavy rock into the lake or learning how to play Euchre (which we both surprisingly liked!), he is always positive, and I love that about him! Thanks, John!

I just wanna go back.... I love these people with all my heart! 
I love these people with all my heart!

Can you now understand why I want to go back so badly? The pictures also can't explain how perfect our weather was! 70 degrees is my favorite, and we had mid-seventies all week, with only a little bit of rain! For someone who was sick and tired of South Carolina's monsoon weather, this was a welcome change!

I have to add that although I don't have any pictures of my grandparents, I loved spending quality time with them. I also don't have pictures of my cousin Josh, his awesome wife Melissa, and their adorable sons, who John and I visited on our way back to the airport. They introduced us to Papa Murphey's pizza, and Fort Mill just opened one this week! Can you say fate?! I'm sensing a lot of deLite pizzas in my future...

As much as I miss Michigan, I am excited about my next adventure: my "junior" year (technically fourth year, but hey, that's what I get for taking so long to pick a major) at Clemson!

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