Vacation Part 2: Rest, Water, and Dogs

if you haven't read part one click here

So, we are at Torch Lake and I've had no sleep
my family is set to arrive in a few hours
and I realize that I did not bring the poles for the tent
One Aunt and Uncle were unable to make it
so with a shuffle of rooms
We decide B and Baby G will take the small kids' room with the bunk beds
and we will use an air mattress we purchased for camping on the floor in the same room
the only problem was the queen size I grabbed for me and Aaron would not fit in the room so we had to share a full-size I purchased for the kids
If you've ever met Aaron you know, he needs a full size mattress for himself

With everything settled, though, I climbed into the bottom bunk and fell fast asleep
while the kids and Aaron went down to the lake to enjoy the clean, amazing water
I woke a few hours later to my Aunt and Uncle from New Orleans arriving
They flew into Chicago and drove through the U.P. stopping and Bed and Breakfasts and every cool spot in the U.P.
The came with gifts of Michigan Cherries, Smoked white fish spread, Michigan wine, expensive gin and vodka, and all sorts of high end snack food like blue cheese stuffed olives and fire roasted red pepper humus

We were waiting for my Mom, Brother, other Aunt and Uncle and my five cousins to arrive as they were driving together
we drank the best gin ever
and I watched in amazement as every dog in the neighborhood ran sans leash in a big group
by every dog I mean
Buddy, Bella, Oscar, Margot, Duffy, and Kylie
not a single little dog in the group
each dog with some sort of webbed feet
in water dog, doggie heaven


Buddy going for a swim


Baby G with Bella

Baby G with Bella

After waiting and waiting for the rest of the family to arrive
we decided we needed to eat and Aaron volunteered to cook for us that first night
we grilled steak, potatoes and onions
simple but delicious
My Uncle was making his own Gin and Tonics very strong
and while I was outside helping Aaron man the grill
I found this photo on my camera

and it has to be my favorite picture from the trip
I thought one of my children snapped a goofy picture of him
but he snapped it of himself
It is special because he is a Katrina survivor
and I rarely get to see him
and a moment of silliness, gin induced or otherwise
is a moment I cherish
He might look like a chipmunk in this picture
but he is now responsible for cleaning up the chemicals that were dumped in the water in New Orleans during Katrina
Needless to say, this picture is magic and joy to me

We spent the rest of the evening reuniting
speaking of their trip here
our lives now
and re-getting to know each other
it was peace and happiness

At about 1 AM my Mom, Bother, and one Cousin arrived without the rest
my Uncle had been forced to work extra and could not leave until the next day
and being that my whole sleep pattern is always out of wack
I rose the following day
to see the sunrise over Torch