Once they were in bed, it was euchre and drinks with Mindy and Matt! Losers had to pick their poison...El Toro or Patron. Easy choice on that one. Mindy and I were victorious for 2 out of the 3 games!
The next morning was beautiful! The kids ate breakfast and were anxious to head down to the beach. They played and found snail shells, fished off the dock, and were chomping at the bit for it to be 11am when they could ride the jet ski's.
We had our lunch on the boat as we took a cruise around the lake and then the boys came inside to rest for a bit before Nana and Pops arrived. They arrived late afternoon and we had Mexican food for dinner and another boat ride where Pops fished and the boys jumped in the lake while a deer was wading in the water nearby.
The girls, Jackie, and Josh arrived late Friday evening after the boys were in bed. We played cards again and sat around talking, catching up.
Saturday morning was more sand, more beach, and more fishing! Late morning we decided to take the kids golfing at a 9 hole course nearby for the first time. It was pretty neat since everyone was able to go. I just watched from the golf cart and helped with the kids, but I'd say Sean really enjoyed it. Evan wasn't into it much beyond hole 4.
We came back to the house and the kids went tubing and jet-skiing. Matt and Mindy prepared a Serbian dinner (he's Serbian). We had Chevaps, which was a Serbian sausage, Serbian cheese pie, and some different salads. It was pretty tasty! It was also the lake's firework display that evening so the kids got decked out in their 4th of July gear and we played yard games, had a bonfire, and made some s'mores. I'm happy to report all 4 kids stayed awake for the fireworks this year! Although Evan was definitely fading toward the second half of the show. It made for an easy bedtime.
Sunday morning Scott went golfing with his dad, Jackie, Josh, Matt, and Mindy. Nana stayed behind with me and the four kids. We took the kids into West Branch to go putt-putting, shopping at Walmart for new cottage toys, and lunch at McDonalds. When the golfers finished we met them at the outlet mall and the girls did some shopping, while the boys drove the kids back to the cottage to play in the sand. Evan fell asleep and slept the rest of the afternoon, while Sean and AJ built an "aquarium" in the sand. It was pretty elaborate!
That evening Jackie prepared individual homemade pizzas and salad and we celebrated AJ's 6th birthday with cupcakes, presents, and goodie sand buckets. We were able to get the kids to bed at a more reasonable time and I even laid down in the room to read quietly. It's amazing how much the sun and four kids can drain your energy.
On our last full day, Monday, we spent the entire day at the cottage playing outside. We took a boat ride over to the park after lunch and let the kids play for a while too. It was a really nice day! Mindy and Matt left around 2pm to go further up north to the Traverse City area to meet up with his friends at a house they rented for the week.
Scott and I prepared dinner that evening. We made simple BBQ fare: hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, orzo salad, corn, and chips. It hit the spot! That night we took the kids to the ice cream shop to get dessert out and then they were off to bed. Since it was our last night we stayed up way too late playing cards with Nana and Pops, but it was worth it!
Tuesday morning we let the kids play together out in the sand for a bit then it was time to start packing and cleaning up. We packed the kids a bag lunch for the car and hit the road around noon. We were shocked to find that there was no traffic! We got home in 2 and a half hours! That was a first!
It was such a nice long weekend up north with family! It's fun watching the kids be able to do more each time. This trip brought a first with golfing for the boys and Evan's first time kneeboarding. The kids all got along for the most part and there were fewer tantrums. It seems to get...easier each year! Happy 4th of July!
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