Michigan Trip

Last weekend we traveled to the upper peninsula of Michigan with my family.  Since Bret and Laura had their wedding in Henderson in February and a lot of Laura's family and friends were unable to make it due to the distance, they planned a reception where Laura grew up.  We were so excited to get away for a vacation and go somewhere we've never been before! (well Blake has been to the UP before, but I sure hadn't!)  We had a 6 am flight out of Omaha Thursday morning and had to leave home at 2:45am to make it there.  We thought Brooks would fall back asleep on the drive, but he didn't.  Luckily he took a short nap on both of the plane rides and did amazingly well the rest of the day!  We were all running on little sleep, but I think we were all excited to be on vacation, that it didn't matter!

We spent most of our time at Laura's grandparent's place right on Lake Huron.  It was beautiful! We were all wondering why Laura would want to leave a place like this for Nebraska, but then when you consider the long cold winters they get in the UP, maybe it wasn't so bad. :) As long as you can visit during the summer months! Here is what we saw from Laura's grandparents back yard.

The first evening we were there, Laura and Bret took us out on a tour of the lake.  The cool air felt so great after the 100 degree weather we were having in NE!

Thursday was our 4 year wedding anniversary.  It was fun to go on vacation on our anniversary (even if it had nothing to do with it!).  Here is our 4 year anniversary pictures! :)  So much has changed in just 4 short years!

Friday, we went to Mackinac Island.  Here we are waiting to leave on the ferry.  (Ferry is the only way to get to the island, and no motorized vehicles are allowed on the island)

We had a fun time on the island and took a horse drawn carriage ride, saw a butterfly house exhibit, and enjoyed walking around the touristy shops.  Unfortunately, I lost my camera half way through the day, so I don't have many pictures from it all!  Luckily someone was nice enough to turn it in, and we got it back!   So here is the only picture I really have of the island.  I may post more if I can get some from my sister and mom.  

Brooks had a fun time just playing outside most of the time we were in Michigan.  He is getting along better and better with his cousin Katy!  This is about the best I've seen them play together without tears! 

Boys just love to play in the dirt! 

I was glad the wedding reception was outdoors and that the weather was so nice! Brooks loved walking around the yard and even got to meet a puppy! 

However, this puppy was not as well behaved around kids as Cheyenne, so Brooks got scared when he took a toy from his hand.  Pretty cute how sad he looks and getting reassured by Dad that the puppy just didn't know better!  Brooks is glaring at the puppy in this picture!

Hopefully I'll be able to post some more pictures of the trip later on when I get copies of the ones from my Mom and sister's cameras.  But this gives you a small glimpse of the weekend!  We had a great time!