Beaver Island, Michigan: 2019

It's been quite a long while since I took real photos of any family activities. Partly because I've been photographing a bunch for work stuff so photos for fun just also seemed like work, partly because I just haven't had much interest or time to blog (obviously), and partly just because I upgraded to a new camera a few years ago and wasn't super happy with the switch (right before our California trip, which photos I never finished editing for that very reason).

But we just took a big family trip to one of my favorite childhood vacation spots and I decided to give it another try. I didn't spend as much time taking photos as I normally do on vacation, but I thought easing back in would work better. And part of the reason I used to love to blog was that it encouraged me to spend time working on photos to share them, so here I am again!

You might remember our family trip to Beaver Island, Michigan five years ago. It was such a special trip because it was the first visit for our kids. This year, we did a trip with a lot of my family -- 16 people in all, 8 of them kids! We rented a big former B&B and had a blast.

It's not an easy place to get to, which I think is part of the charm. This time we flew DC --> Newark --> Traverse City. Then drove to Charlevoix. Then took the ferry to Beaver Island. It was a long day of travel made more anxious by a delay in our connecting flight -- you have to book the ferry (if you're bringing a car) on the day ferry reservations open in December and so there is not really any room for error. But we made it to Charlevoix on time and found a great brewery at the ferry terminal that will can any beer you want to carry on the trip.

There was lots of time once we arrived communicating among the cousins via walkie talkie.

 

 

My mom built a frame to make a seed quilt and all the kids gathered nature materials and spent time over the week "weaving." It turned out beautifully and we left it at the Island's historical center.

The house was right on the most perfect beach to kayak, paddle board, and generally cousin shenanigan.

 

I spotted the cutest Hand-Painted Fish Softies on the Art Camp blog and asked my mom to bring the supplies with her. They turned out so awesome -- we're going to make more at home soon and I'll share our steps.

 

We took Kane, Cami, and my dad out for an early morning of fishing with Captain Bob Turner of Kelly Day Charters. Caught nothing for the first three hours and then both kids reeled in some big Lake Trout! I cooked it two ways for dinner: grilled with butter and herbs and Captain's suggested "Poor Man's Lobster" -- I should have "lobstered" it all, it was a delicious way to cook it (bring 3 quarters, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup salt to a rolling boil. Cut fish from skin and into 1" chunks. Add fish, cover, and boil for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Old Bay and broil for just a few minutes).

No trip to the island is ever complete without a hike down to our childhood cabin -- she still looks 100%!

And so much of the week was spent letting the kids roam about, creating games and getting allllllll the fresh air they could handle. The adults spent a lot of time catching up, cooking, and imbibing. Until next time, Emerald Isle!

Project 52 -- Week 14

Cam's infectious good mood is my inspirational photo for Project 52 this week. We've all been crazy busy and in a bit of a funk since returning from spring break (even Cami occasionally). But I'm aspiring to shake it off and smile. At least more often than not.

Project 52 -- Weeks 12 + 13

If you follow us on Instagram, you probably saw that we just returned from a fabulous spring break in Jamaica. I decided to take a blogging break while we were traveling, so I'm grouping together the last two weeks of Project 52 into the theme of "water" -- easy to do given where we were! The first is a photo of Cam on a sunset boat ride we took. It was a bumpy ride, she was in the front, got completely drenched, and thought it was hysterical. The second is of Kane leaping down a waterfall like it was NBD. More on our trip next week!!

Project 52 -- Week 11

Happy St. Patrick's Day, all!! How fitting that this week's theme is GREEN. We are Irish, we are Greens, so this holiday was pretty much made for us. Needless to say, the kids are just a little excited.

Equally exciting is that they start spring break tomorrow! We are actually all in need of a serious break, so this year I'm taking a blogging break too. I'll still be kicking around over on Instagram and Facebook, and I'll see you all back here in a few weeks. Catch you on the flip side!

Project 52 -- Week 10

The theme for this week's Project 52 is "Senses." Instead of taking that literally, I'm posting a photo I took of Kane this week at the National Postal Museum. I'll share more about our visit next week, but given that the last time we visited the museum, Kane was just 2 years old, this week's trip completely messed with my sense of time. Much like last week's Project 52, actually. So maybe I'm sensing a new theme to this project entirely. Kane and Cami spent almost our entire first trip to the museum climbing up and down the stairs of this mail truck. This trip, they hopped in to throw me a bone and let me take a quick photo. Perhaps as an attempt to draw attention away from his inability not to Chandler Bing his photo smile, Kane insists on taking all posed photos with two thumbs up. Let's hope he comes to his senses soon enough.

Project 52 -- Week 9

This week's prompt was "Times" and all I could think of after taking Kane and Cam down to Yards Park last weekend to see the new art installation, Light the Yards, was that times are a changin'. Our first visit to the park was almost five years ago -- Cam was just a year old and much more concerned with getting her chocolate ice cream than exploring the place. Years later, these two ran around playing tag and taking things in by themselves (and checking back in every now and then).

Project 52 -- Week 8 + DIY Tassel Necklaces!

We've got a twofer for you today. Cam and I spent some time this week stringing together super bright DIY Tassel Necklaces and we couldn't stop making tassels. Seriously. The fringe, the faceted beads, the poms on our inspirational garland. All super fun tactile materials perfect for a Project 52 focused on texture. So, here's Cam working hard.

PLUS you can see how to make these simple beauties yourself over at The Land of Nod today. Get thee to the craft store and spread the tassel love.

Project 52 -- Week 7

Cam blows Kane a kiss to end a fight over who was reading their juice glass best. Love.

Project 52 -- Week 6

The devil is in the details ... or so they say. I love this photo (a rare one of the two yahoos together) because of all the details I see. Cami trying to stand as close to Kane without touching him as possible (and announcing that that is exactly what she's doing), because she's obsessed with him and he wanted a photo by himself. The checkered shirt Kane rocks because it's the closest to "daddy's." All of the changes in our living room since we moved in less than a year ago and how much happier (and bigger!) these two look in front of the fireplace than they did the night before our move. The details are all there, you just have to know where to look.