Howard got his split removed earlier this week and we are thrilled! No boxing for the rest of the summer, but the bone is healing wonderfully and he does not require for it to be immobilized any longer.
After fishing every day in Michigan, that split was getting gnarly... we washed it repeatedly but the smell of fish was still there.
Having a seven-year-old boy is not for the faint of heart.
This boy is happy.
Grammie's cinnamon bread in one hand, passie in the other.
This is his best life for sure!
Here are some pictures from the morning of our second day on Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel. So, our first breakfast...
Happy 12th Anniversary to my Hubby. Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all," and life with you has been every bit of a daring adventure.
Twelve years ago I vowed to you that "Where you go, I will go... Where you stay, I will stay."
Hunter has all the essentials ... two swords, a toy gun, a tool box... everything he needs.
At the Grand Hotel, after the amazing five course dinner each night, the lounge opens up and a live band plays dancing music. They rock songs from all the eras and take requests.
Our crew had a ton of fun dancing together.
We had such a blast on Mackinac Island and staying at the Grand Hotel. We did as much in two days as I think our group could have possibly done.
In my last post I explained what makes Mackinac Island so unique (no cars, horses and bicycles for travel on the island, and you have to get there by ferry). What makes the Grand Hotel so unique is that is the largest hotel in the world that only opens for the summer. It has the largest front porch in the world. It also requires coat and tie dress code in the lobby and the dining room after 6:30pm.
It has a high tea in the afternoon complete with a harpist, breakfast and dinner are included in the cost of a room, and both breakfast and dinner is a five course meal.
The grounds are gorgeous with tennis courts, gardens, croquet, pools, and large chess and checkers courts. A swing band plays every night after dinner in one of the lounges, and guests can dance for hours. It is unlike anywhere else in the world.
Making the couple of days even more special is that we were there with my parents, but also my brother and sister-in-law, and my nephew.
So, our first day at the Grand Hotel consisted of checking in to the room (which was a suite that we shared with my parents and had plenty of room for our family of 8 and my parents -- my brother and his family were in a different room), leaving Hunter and Brady to nap, and the four big kids and I walked into town where they were allowed to spend some of their birthday money if they wanted to on a small souvenir. We bought some fudge, and the kids found petoskey stones on the shore of the lake.
Then, the kids quickly went to the pool before we needed to be dressed to gather as a family before dinner.
Here are a few pictures leading up to dinner.
Mackinac Island is a really unique place which is only open to tourist during the summer months, and there are no cars on the island. The only transportation is bicycle, horses/horse and carriage, or walking.
In order to get to the island, you take a Ferry across the northern part of Lake Huron. There are views of the Mackinac Bridge as you cross the lake. The Mackinac Bridge is 5 miles long and connects the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan.
Here are some pictures of our getting to Mackinac Island and our first minutes getting settled at The Grand Hotel.
On Monday evening after spending a day at my parent's home, we headed east to spend the night near Detroit. We had a family appointment in Detroit on Tuesday morning and we didn't want to risk being late by staying at my parents Monday night.
After our morning in Detroit, we had a family lunch at Rain Forest Cafe, which was a ton of fun. It was our children's first time there and Hubby and I had not been to a Rain Forest Cafe since we were dating. It was a great time.
Then, we drove north to spend the night in Mackinac City. Our dinner in Mackinac City included a brick-oven pizza, fresh Michigan cherries, and oranges. It was delicious and fun after an evening of swimming at the hotel pool.
