Since it's my prerogative (as Amy always says, "This is YOUR blog, Mom; you can do anything you want!"), I'm gonna have two different posts of the Michigan holiday vacation from over the Fourth of July. This one will be from Nicholas' point of view (good g'ma that I am!).
The day we arrived was THE holiday, July 4th, but because it was a Wednesday, the rest of the family didn't arrive till Friday...except for Don and Ruth who were already there, waiting for us. And since we had no other time to celebrate Nicholas' 7th birthday in Atlanta, we celebrated it at the cottage before the tribe arrived. Amy did a good job of mixing up the holiday and birthday.
The birthday boy then played one of his new Nintendo DS games, showing Uncle Don how to do it, while Aunt Ruth snapped away. HA! We snapped at each other!
The thing about the N DS is that it was a fun playmate while none of the cousins were yet there. But there were rules, of course. You can't spend ALL your time gaming, you know!
So Uncle Don oversaw the Lego construction. Uncle Don, the favorite uncle. Uncle Don, the elementary school teacher. The Uncle Don everyone needs to have.
Well, let's just say it was a big hit! Once Peter and his girlfriend arrived, Nicholas followed them around. Peter is Uncle Don's son. Like father, like son! And Nicholas knows that!!!
Then Aunt Peggy had her 65th birthday! She, too, is/was a school teacher, so guess what she told all the kids! "Since it's MY birthday cake and I can make the rules, you can all come and lick the frosting anywhere you want." And he did! And it was before dinner, because sometimes you just have to eat dessert first! Life really is short!
The last night was when we celebrated the fireworks. The kids, of course, spent the first hour lighting the sparklers, before it was dark enough for the bigger bangs. It was the best fireworks we had had to date (we always pick them up as we pass through Tennessee). Ironically, the next day we adults decided we didn't want to continue the fireworks tradition any more, fearful of any accidents that, thankfully, have been averted all these years thus far. We just don't want to keep pressing our luck.
As I said, this is a Nicholas slant to the holiday trip. My next post will be a bit of everything else. Just because I can?! :)
Wow Ginnie, I am envious of your summer family fun! For sure creating memories for the little ones for years to come.
ReplyDeleteWell, yes, I whole"hart"edly agree with everything I read!! Thanks for this post!!
ReplyDeleteDoes Nicholas understand yet that Uncle Don knows everything? That's what my children believe to this day!!
And if he's reading this, let me just say, "Watch your backside the next time I'm at the kitchen sink and you pass by the open window. Paybacks." We all need Uncle Dons in our life!
So sweet! Those men are certainly good kid magnets and role models for the little ones, and for the rest of us too. I feel pretty blessed that they "belong" to me. :)
ReplyDeleteLove it Ginnie! Thanks so much for sharing and letting us all feel a part of this delight.
ReplyDeleteRRD: We all look forward to these family times with great anticipation, Stacey. This is one of the main hooks on which our year hangs!
ReplyDeleteMrs. M: HA! I'm sure Nicholas thinks Uncle Don is God! Maybe he thinks Peter is, too, for all I know. :)
Ruth: You are VERY blessed, indeed! :)
Judy: You are ever so welcome. Most of this is for YOU! :)
Isn't eating dessert first something one must do at least once in a lifetime? ;)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read more. I just love the family reunions!
This was a lovely post! Listening and seeing it through Nicolas was amazing - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe boat trip on the lake looks wonderful and you know I'm hocked on canoes with Tor as you can see in my last two blog posts:-)
Listen carefully,
ReplyDeletewe are coming over next summer - the family life you have is just fantastic.
PS. Sitting here with RennyBA. Have you seen our latest posts?¨¨and tomorrow - Anna will be my guest writer.
I need an Uncle Don too!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAwww Ginnie - that makes it even more special to me. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCS: We love them, too! And yes, we need to eat dessert first more often! :)
ReplyDeleteRenny: What is it about a lake! Thanks!
Tor: How fun that you and Renny are there together! :)
Moi: I hope you can find one, if you don't have one "naturally!"
Judy: Thank you! :)
I love the togetherness on the couch picture! Even if DS is there.
ReplyDeleteYou have a reprieve from fireworks until the kids get a little older and they will want them full force again!
I viewed Ruth's blog and the great pictures there. She is a pretty woman! Well, you all are!
I love the Nicholas POV! These photos are fantastic, Ginnie. You really captured the essence of family and good times at the lakeside.
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy Belated Birthday to Nicholas!
what amazing pics and an amazing story! Now I must catch up and report on our vacation.. I'm still not caught up with the photos!
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