More Michigan vacation pictures!

We are home now from our Michigan vacation! We had such a good time at my cousin Rachel's wedding, and we got to do lots of sailing on my parents' new boat! Be prepared...I've included MANY pictures (there were just too many cute ones to choose from!)

Sophie did great on the drive out to Michigan. It ended up being about 14 hours of driving, but we split it up into 2 relaxed days. One of Sophie's favorite things to do was to write and draw in her journal. It might just look like a bunch of scribbles, but I'm sure she had some very profound things written down!

Great-grandma Ellie and Sophie walking up the steps to our cottage on Lake Michigan.

The docks at Gand Haven

Shopping in Grand Haven...my mom kept handing these stuffed bears to Sophie, and she was able to hold 5 of them in her arms. She ended up wanting a stuffed pug instead, so that is what Grandma ended up buying for her!

Playing in the sand out behind our cottage. The water was FREEZING, but this day was warm enough for us to go out to the beach.

Captain Sundae is this really, really, really good ice cream place in Holland that we used to go to as kids on our Michigan vacations. Our goal was to go every day of our trip, but we only made it 5 times. I figure that is pretty good for a week vacation, don't you think? My favorite was the Captain Reese's (twist ice cream, Reeses peanut butter cups, whip cream, and a cherry). I'm afraid to go to my next doctor's appointment and see how much weight I've gained!! Sophie especially enjoyed our ice cream stops. She would sit with her mouth open like a little bird and just wait for someone to give her some ice cream!

We took a picture of Sophie on this turtle when we were here last summer. She's getting to be such a big girl!!
Mike made is grandma's yummy waffles for breakfast! I'm sure everyone will appreciate that I put this picture of us on our blog, since us girls look so beautiful! Mike and Dad had already been out to play frisbee golf, but the girls slept in a little later!


It was very cold outside most evenings, so we made smores on the indoor fireplace.
"Grandma, there sure are a lot of dots on those dominoes!!"

Me and my pretty sister at Kirby's Restaurant in Grand Haven.

And now for a bunch of sailing photos:

Big Red in the background

We would start out each sail with Sophie in the cockpit with us, wearing her cool lifevest. She got more and more relaxed with each trip and was able to sit out there with us for quite a while on our last sailing adventure. She seemed to enjoy herself most when she was down in the "v-berth" (the main bedroom) with her toys. She did so great on the boat!!

Hopefully Uncle Dave wasn't practicing one of his sermons for Sophie!!

Isn't this a cool picture?!?! Mike must have really been hanging off the side of the boat to take it!

The boat in the background is my Uncle Rick and Aunt Laurie's boat. A couple of times we went out sailing together and were able to get right up beside each other!


And now some pictures from my cousin Rachel (and new cousin Tom's) wedding.

Sophie eating dinner in the church gym before the wedding started.


Waiting before the wedding. Isn't my uncle handsome?!?!

Sophie better not be practicing for her wedding already!! She did love to walk up and down these stairs!

At the reception

Mike left early with Sophie, so I got to dance with my dad! All he did was go around and around in circles. Just kidding, Dad!

What a cute couple!


Thanks again for the great vacation, Mom and Dad. We had such a fun time on your boat, and the cottage was great!! We can't wait for next time! (Mike wants to especially thank you for all of the sailing...he had a blast!)