Thumbs Up! for Michigan

We spent the first week of July in Michigan visiting my family and we had a great time. It was such a blessing to spend quality time with far away family. Here's a brief overview of our vacation:

From Waltham, we took the commuter rail into North Station, then got a taxi cab to Logan International Airport.  With all our luggage, we managed trains, planes, and automobiles all the way to Michigan!

What a delightful surprise when we discovered this great play area right around the corner from our gate in the JetBlue terminal.  Raina had a blast climbing on and around all the play structures and conversing with all the other little kids.

All that excitement from the train ride, taxi ride, and playing, tuckered Raina right out.  Perfect!  She was asleep by the time the plane started down the runway.  She slept for an hour and a half and awoke just in time for a bottle and our descent into Chicago.  No crying!  We are so proud of her!  Paul had no need to pass out earplugs to surrounding passengers.

Uncle Steve, Melissa and Raina enjoying a summer afternoon at grandpa and grandma's house

Aunt Larissa shows Raina how to use Uncle Steve's I-phone.

Raina had a great time playing with Uncle Steve and Aunt Larissa!

The whole family is together.  Hooray!!

We celebrated the Fourth of July in downtown Grand Rapids. 

We spent an afternoon at my late grandparents' cottage on Lake Michigan.  The cottage was recently sold; however we were able to go up for one afternoon......... for one last time.  There are precious memories here that go way back beyond my childhood.  It will most certainly be missed; however the memories will continue forever.  I'm so thankful that we were able to get just one more generation up to the cottage.  Raina had fun playing digging in the sand and getting wet in the fresh water.

Sand, sand everywhere!

After the sandy beach, we loved just hanging out in the lawn relaxing and taking in the great views of Lake Michigan.

A tree located next to the cottage has all our relatives names etched into the trunk.  Many of the names are covered in moss, such as my own.  My late brother John's name remains bold and clear!  We love and miss him dearly.

Happy early birthday to Raina.  Grandpa gives Raina a bite of her very first ice cream from Houseman's Ice Cream in Byron Center, Michigan.

She loved every single messy bite of it!!

This is at Fredrick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.  We enjoyed a morning walk through their beautiful grounds admiring the assortment of flowers, plants, sculptures, and various exhibits.  Here we stopped to see the Koi pond.

 

 

 

 

Grandma and Raina

Aunt Jerene (mom #2) and Raina

Grandpa took Raina shopping.  He hoped to find her a Tigers t-shirt to "replace" the Red Sox shirt she was wearing, but was unsuccessful.  She remains a Red Sox girl.  Grandpa found some other really cute outfits for Raina that are adorable on her.

Grandpa would have LOVED to buy Raina these 2 great big bears; however they would have needed their own plane tickets to get back to Boston.  So grandpa and Raina settled for a cute little stuffed doggy, which she loves to snuggle with.

Raina and Grandma!

There really is nothing greater than watching grandparents and grandchildren interact.  The love between them is so authentic and real.  We are so blessed to have such love in our family.  We look forward eagerly to many more visits and quality time together in the future.