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After what happened on our vacation last year, I admit that the time leading up to this year's vacation (including getting off the exit, unloading the van, etc.), I was a bit anxious. We were returning back to the cabin, the same place Alex had his accident the year before, for another week of vacation. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, see my Remembering Back post of several weeks ago.This year, after the van was unloaded and the cabin door closed behind us, I felt much more relaxed. We feel the Lord really blessed our week together as a family. We thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the quality time we had as a family, we had perfect weather, did some new things we had never done, and revisited those "yearly" events we all enjoy doing.
Megan celebrated another birthday at the cabin, and since we were there, she chose "cabin cake" for her cake. (yellow cake, blueberries, and milk or cool whip) Since our day was so full, we actually didn't eat her cake until that night.
She had the privilege of picking what we did as a family on her birthday. So, after breakfast, the first thing she did was open her presents and cards. 
After that, we went to a blueberry farm that is about five minutes from the cabin and picked blueberries (the first time we have ever done that, imagine that!). 
Yes, we ate ALL these berries in a week (actually, just five days)!
Then we drove to Ludington State Park to the Big Sable Point Lighthouse. We hiked the 2 mile trail out to the lighthouse point.
And, around the last bend in the trail, here's the beautiful lighthouse. Even though it was hot, the view was so worth it!
After climbing up the 130 steps to the top of the lighthouse, we were able to walk around the rim of it. A sign on the railing read, "Your shoes are 92 feet off the ground."
Instead of hiking back the way we came, we took the way of the beach. It was simply more beautiful and much cooler as the water washed over our feet as we walked barefoot on the sand. No crabbing from Leah was heard on this hike back! She had fun collecting "gems" on the shore, anything she saw of interest to her. Into a baggie they went and stayed until we made it back home. Just this week, the baggie was thrown out. (Its contents: a hair curler, a small piece of driftwood, a bottle cap, a broken piece of plastic.... )
Later that afternoon, we took a spin around the lake. Captain Megs steers the ship.
Here Megan and Grace take out the sailboat. Leah went along for the ride. As you can see, it took a bit for them to coordinate their efforts, but they soon got the hang of it.
Soon after, they tied a raft onto this same boat, and guess who pulled them. Yours truly. This shot, however, was when we pulled them on the raft behind the pontoon.
We (or maybe I should say "I") attempted to get an "organized" family photo on the dunes of Lake Michigan. This is the FIRST photo taken, and can you tell who was NOT cooperating? Before we even had things positioned for this shot, Leah was crabbing. All I can say is, so much for the photo session....SIGH....
Thursday evening we drove into Ludington. A tradition every year is going to House of Flavors and getting ice cream. Even though there are so many flavors, each of us seems to have found the one we like, and that's the flavor we stick with year after year.
A yearly favorite is walking out to this Breaker Wall Lighthouse and watching the Badger (a ferry boat that crosses Lake Michigan between Ludington and Wisconsin) as it begins its journey across the lake right before sunset.
On Saturday, we went back to the blueberry farm to pick berries to bring home (not all for us though). 
Full (from eating lots of blueberries), hot, and tired.....but happy nonetheless.
The rest of the pictures are just memories captured throughout the week. Leah was much braver this year, jumping into the water all by herself.
I love this shot.
Berries, berries, and more berries.
Enjoying time with my girlies!
Leah's favorite middle-of-the-inning contest was the water balloon toss, and Megan and Grace both had the same favorite - the Dunkin' Donuts contest (sure wish they had TVs in the restroom :)
We had fun reminiscing over breakfast about life before AND after both of our marriages! This year, we have reconnected through Facebook (one positive thing about FB) and have become followers of each other's blogs, etc. It's been such a blessing! This is her beautiful family (only without her son).
Thanks so much for coming! We loved seeing you again and meeting your daughter for the first time. Hopefully an east coast trip will be in our future someday!
Cole is 12.
They came all the way from Austin, Texas, to visit us (well, not just us, but my whole family and Tom's family that lives in Illinois). They are my sister Tess' boys, and we only see them about once a year.
I think the boys got tired of my photo sessions, but since we only see them once a year, I just couldn't pass up the opportunities to capture the memories digitally! This picture was taken on Leah's birthday.
I just love this picture of Cole and Leah!
Friday afternoon as we were admiring our garden (ha), we noticed all the produce that was waiting to be picked. Connor picked all my green beans, then he helped me stem them all!
After Alex returned home from work, Connor helped him build a fire in our fire ring. That night we cooked dinner over the fire, and then celebrated Leah's birthday. Leah is showing us how old she is.
Thanks to Dad, we had fireworks to let off both Friday and Saturday nights. I gave up trying to capture them on photo because I couldn't actually enjoy their full effect behind the camera.
After Cole put the frog into the water, it just floated for a while. I thought maybe it had hurt itself when it jumped from his hands and landed on the rocks below. Well, it soon darted away, and we haven't seen it since.
Thanks so much for coming, boys!!! We love you!!
Happy Birthday, Baby Doll! We love you!!
It was fun to see those we haven't seen for a while, as well as meet new friends. It really blessed me to see how much our girls enjoyed it. Not only were they in their element (the great outdoors), but were surrounded by their friends.
We ate all meals together as a family. In fact, our table was lovingly nicknamed "the girl table." In between scheduled events, the girls were off with their friends.
Alex drove from our Topeka office and met us at the campsite Friday after work. He was there for dinner and the evening and drove back home about midnight. After work on Saturday he drove back to camp and was there for the remaining time. He arrived just in time for family games Saturday afternoon.
After family games and before Saturday dinner we had a few hours of free time. We spent that time down by the lake, swimming, canoeing, and paddle boating. 
After church on Sunday, we were challenged as an entire group with the following chorus:
