Petoskey State Park, Michigan

We spent 3 days at Petoskey State Park Beach. A lovely place to relax and enjoy the views and incredible sunsets.

We introduced the kids to putt putt golf at Pirate's Cove, a very elaborate course.

Journey was VERY disappointed that she wasn't allowed to climb on the boat and other structures. 

Asher took it more seriously and somehow managed to hit a hole in one! Wow!

We spent lots and lots of time at the beach. The kids played in the sand while I looked for rocks. 

Here are the rocks that I found. I just love seeing the variations and contrast. 

They decided to race on this walkway...it lasted for about half an hour!

I taught Asher how to throw the frisbee and man, a few throws later he's better than I am at it! He can throw it right to me most of the time! Best Part- The first time I caught his throw, I dropped the disc, ran to him and swooped him up in a giant hug. After that he ran to me each time I caught his throw for another big hug! I love my sweet little boy so much!

After showers Asher went back with me to watch the sunset once again. 

Our friends Grace and Richard (neighbors at Traverse City) came to visit before we headed up North. Grace gave me these (and more) Petoskey Stones. Named for the town where we are staying, they look pretty plain when dry but exhibit a star pattern when wet. I really am intrigued by them. 

Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, Michigan

Sleeping Bear is about an hour from Traverse City, and certainly worth the drive. We first climbed the big dunes and thought we'd hike just enough to see the lake, however it was very misleading. The farther we went, the farther the lake seemed to be. We gave up and played on the dunes instead.

I love taking photos of them jumping, it just always cracks me up!

Then we ran down the dunes....

Next we hiked the Empire Bluff trail. 

Afterwards we went searching for the beach that we spotted from the top. When we found it we were happy to see a large playground was there also. They loved playing on it and on the beach. 

Traverse City, Michigan

We spent a week at the state park in Traverse City. 

A sleepy beach town, this is not. It's a busy place but our campsite was just across the road from the beach, so we didn't notice the busyness of it until we were driving thru town at rush hour. We happened to have the most perfect campsite, which we booked only a week prior! God really blessed us with this site and the best neighbors you could ask for. One of the great benefits of living on the road is meeting new people, people that we never would have met otherwise. 

Our first night we met Grace and Richard, a couple who adored Asher and Journey and treated them as their own grandkids. After meeting us they returned from the store with marshmallows for the kids to roast and an open invitation to their nightly campfire. We spent nearly every night with them. The last few nights Grace read book after book that the kids brought out to her.  As a going away gift they gave the kids a new book and two stuffed monkeys. A couple days later they came up to Petoskey to see us one last time before we went up to the UP (Upper Penninsula).

The family on the other side of us has 4yr old twin boys that Asher and Journey made friends with immediately. Turns out they were also born early at 30 weeks, so we had a lot in common. 

We had dinner and a campfire together before they left. 

The kids had so much fun playing together and hugged each other goodbye. 

The Twinsburg Twin Fest is on their bucket list, so hopefully in a couple years we can meet them there and camp together again. This is the bridge from the campground to the beach where we waived goodbye as they drove away. 

We spent lots of time digging in the sand on the beach....

...and riding bikes....

...and watching BLACK squirrels!

Asher was excited to discover this shop on our walk thru the downtown area!