Summertime in Northern Michigan (& Beyond)

"Summertime in Northern Michigan" is a whole glorious thing, and not just in Kid Rock songs.

We spent the weekend of the fourth on Lake George, as I used to do lifetimes ago, for Jackie and Tony's uber-casual lakeside wedding, which featured lots of jumping into the lake,

wild tubing adventures, 

outrageous pool floats and even more outrageously attired wedding guests,

and plenty of Americana.

It was vintage Jackie, and practically perfect in every way.

We lucked out and were joined by Tony and Jayne on their maiden camper trip (they're practicing for Tony's upcoming retirement, and we're loving their adventure) in time for the "big" fourth of July parade. 

Then, since I had to fly back for work- which included ridiculous TJAG retirement events such as this fun run-  

and Seth wanted to pre-fish for an upcoming tournament in Ohio,

the kids got to go on a Michigan camper adventure with Tony and Jayne.

I was pea green with envy, especially that they got to go to the National Cherry Festival

(although we're glad they didn't hop on this ride),

but Jayne was awesome about sending pictures, and it looked like they all had a rip roaring good time.

I drove back out to retrieve the kids Friday night, and we said farewell to the grandparents and their camper at this hysterically terrible RV park in the shadows of a nuclear facility (they really are team players!)

and we spent the weekend (literally) in Lake Erie.

 

It was a real summer extravaganaza, full of stolen ice cream and "world famous glacial grooves,"

a lighthouse and a ferry ride to Kelleys Island,

 

and a very strange pear winery with a butterfly habitat. 

Sunday we made the haul back in torrential downpours, stopping for a muddy hike in Cuyahoga Valley National Park,

and the discovery of Pittsburgh's fantastic North Park

before frantically racing back to unpack, start on vacation laundry, and get ready for much-anticipated baseball camp and Monday morning...

Where Did June Go?

I'm not sure where the month of June went...! It was even more action-packed than the Nieman norm.

We've been on the go nonstop, with trips to beautiful coastal North Carolina to see old friends and play in the Perquimans River;

to Ana's mountains for hiking and cider tasting and

-kind of randomly- cherry picking;

to Carolina Beach for a too-short weekend at Aunt Bex's beachhouse;

and to the Shenandoah River to camp and celebrate Father's Day in one of this guy's favorite fishing spots.

A celebration which included car shows and river tubing

and frogs.

As all summers probably should.

When we were home, which was rare, we filled our days with basketball

and swimming 

and Bible Camp,

And now I'm recovering (at work) from a whirlwind fourth in Michigan (pics in the next batch) while the kids enjoy their first adventure in Grandma and Grandpa's new camper and Seth fishes. 

Cheers to summer, even if it's flying by!