camping again!!!

Labor Day weekend we took one last camping trip to Mackinaw City. We went to our new favorite campground and had a marvelous time. The weather was just beautiful - people near us said it was the nicest weekend in Mackinaw City all summer. We camped with our pop-up this time - we had our three dogs along and didn't want them escaping from the tent!

Meili enjoys sitting in her camping chair at the campsite. Thanks Oma!

Catching a wagon ride at the campground...

Swimming in the Straits of Mackinaw/Lake Huron...

Riding the ferry to Mackinaw Island... Meili loved her first boat ride.

Biking around the island...

We caught a great sunset over the Straits of Mackinaw & Lake Michigan when we rode the ferry back one night.

We did the Labor Day bridge walk over the Mackinaw Bridge. Meili was super grumpy because she didn't fall asleep until after 10 the night before and we woke her up at 6AM to get to the bridge on time. We were blessed with another beautiful day!

We were blessed with many wonderful camping trips this summer. Last night we cleaned our camper, packed it up and pushed it into the garage. It's sad to be done with camping season. Can't wait until 2009!

family camping

There are not many weekends before school starts so we're filling them with camping. First, we camped in Indiana; last weekend we tented in Ontario; and next weekend we're camping in Mackinaw City. We're looking forward to going back to a campground we love and to doing the Labor Day Mackinaw Bridge Walk.

Here are some moments from our Indiana camping weekend:

ready to ride to the beach

enjoying a scooter ride with Cory & Jana


riding to the beach with Allison


Camping food is not the same when Cory is around.
YUM!!!!!!!!


learning how to take pens apart... THANKS Jana =)


someone found Menga's lipstick


"Cory is a crazy driver." (according to Meili)

Meili on the beach with Mariah and Allison

Meili loved getting a chance to "drive."

swimming lessons make me so tired

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Lakewood

Here are some pictures from our time camping at Lakewood after the family reunion. We're so glad that Meili loves camping as much as we do! Can't wait to go again soon!

hanging out by the camper

reading books with Daddy

testing out a new sleeping bag


playing in the wading pool


walking to the beach

taking a wagon ride through the campground

Family Reunion

We attended a VanArragon family reunion this past weekend. Here are a few pictures from the festivities.

all the cousins enjoying a slurpee

sharing a book with Oma

Jean and Meili wait for a turn on the slip and slide

3-D sidewalk chalk and glasses!

YUM!

What a fun summer day. Meili and I walked around Reeds Lake, went out for coffee together, picked strawberries, took the dogs for a haircut, and walked to the library. This is what summer break should always be like! (except for the part when I had to do my homework during Meili's nap...) Meili was a great picker this time and was much more happy about being along. (Last year she cried about sitting on the wet ground and she ate lots of leaves.) This time she started picking right away. I wasn't really watching her so it took a little for me to notice that Meili was taking a bite out of each strawberry before she put it in the basket. Funny! We'll find all of those tomorrow when we're making jam!!!

the newest member of the family

our new puppy Ace

summer break!

I'm done! I cleaned my classroom, turned my student files in, locked my classroom door, and took my rat home! It's great to be off for a few months! I'm looking forward to all the fun stuff Meili and I will be able to do this summer! Here are two favorites of hers: reading and playing with water!

this didn't sound as good as it looks!

can you believe this kid?

not bad for her first time with chopsticks...

cousins

Meili LOVES visiting Oma's house -
especially when she gets to hang out with her cousins!

Ben, Meili, and Jean watching the Muppet Show before bed.

Tulip Time!

It's tulip time! And although we didn't make it to any parades, didn't have dutch costumes to wear, and left our klompen at home, we had a really fun day! The weather was just beautiful and so were the tulips! One highlight for us is always the food! Today we managed to injest: a corn dog, a funnel cake, onion rings, french fries, a deep fried twinkie, and fresh-squeezed lemonade! And that was all just for lunch! Isn't that disgusting!

Spring Break

This year we took Meili camping for spring break. We hooked up our pop-up and headed to Edisto Island, South Carolina. Meili is a wonderful camper and we had so much fun camping as a family! Here are a few highlights from our trip.

walking to the beach

enjoying the Atlantic Ocean

We spent one of our two cool days in Charleston. This is in the petting zoo area at Magnolia Plantation. This white peacock walked up to Meili and screeched right in front of her. It completely freaked Meili out. Since then, Meili has been telling the story over and over - complete with a reinactment of the peacock's screeching noise. It's hilarious!

relaxing at the campground

cheering for daddy every time he hit the wood with his axe

helping build the fire

Roasted marshmallows were a big hit with Meili!