A new toy...

So we managed to sell the pop up in less than 24hrs for the same price that we paid seven years ago.  Then the search was on to find our next camping home.  Craigslist was quite a roller coaster (RV's are a HOT selling item!), but we finally snagged a 2006 Outback on Thursday, July 12th.  It's 23 feet long and came with a hitch, sway bars, hoses, rugs, bike rack, etc.  Aaron still needs to have electric brakes installed on his truck, so we're thankful that Bruce let us borrow his for a few days!

It was a little tricky finding a nearby available campsite on the Friday of Cherry Festival, so we ended up in Mesick (about 30minutes away) at Northern Exposure.  It ended up being a perfect place for our first trip with the new digs with great views from the campsite, fishing, beach and playground.  The boys had a ball and we are looking forward to our next adventure! 

Here she is right after we bought her!
 

The boys, buckled up and ready!
 

Eating dinner:
 

The interior:
 

Bunks for the boys.  Shockingly, Austin slept great and stayed in bed all night (he sleeps on the floor by the door in his own room, so we didn't know what to expect.  He even slept on the floor in the hallway at Kerry's house last weekend):
 

The bathroom
 

Our Campsite:
 

The boys did a lot of fishing, but not much catching:
 

The beach:
 

 

 

 

Eventually the boys got tired of fishing and just swam instead!
 

Meanwhile, Austin lounged:
 

Exterior cooktop and sink:
 

Since we pass Crystal Mountain on the way home, we thought it was the perfect place to stop for a breakfast buffet and to feed the fish:
 

So our first camping trip was a success!  All systems were mostly "a-go" but the fridge took awhile to get cold and the hot water heater was giving us some trouble, everything else was great!  Oh, and Jacob snapped the end of Aaron's expensive fishing rod.  He was NOT.PLEASED, but these things can be replaced so he got over it quickly :) 

Fun with friends downstate!

Last weekend was a busy one for the boys and I!  We made our way downstate on Friday for a pool party at my cousin Carmen's house with Julie (all the way from CA) and all six of her kids!  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures because taking care of 3 little boys around a pool and in a new environment kept me too busy.  I think my Aunt got a few though, I'll add those when she posts them!  The boys and I moved on to Mason Friday night to visit with other friends, while my mom stayed the night with Aunt Sharon.  We are super thankful she was there with her because she had a scary emergency that was most likely caused by dehydration with these crazy extreme temps we've been having.  She is feeling better now though and getting ready for another move that mom will help out with this week!

Friday night the boys and I stayed in Mason with Kerry and her two boys (Colin & Jackson) and Amy and her oldest (Sean) came over too.  It was HOT but the boys had a blast playing on the trampoline and pool and making large messes, in general.

Saturday Amy and both boys came over and we had a little get together with Katy and her daughters and a surprise birthday party for Emily, who will be turning 6 while they are on vacation at their place on the Silver Lake Sand Dunes.  Since Emily was going to miss out on a birthday party with her friends from home, we figured she ought to be spoiled by 7 boys and her sister, not to mention it FINALLY gave us three girls a chance to finally buy some PINK! ;) 

The "good" pictures below are Amy's and the not so good ones at the end I took with my camera on my phone!

Colin and Brody, cruising:
 

Jacob playing a little b-ball:
 

Austin:
 

Austin always enjoys a good cupcake.  And by cupcake, I mean frosting.
 

I'm pretty sure that is the best photographic evidence of "the stink eye" that I've ever seen.  Could Jessica be any more adorable?

Emily making a wish and blowing out the candles! 

 

And Amy did a fantastic job getting a group shot! Kerry's boys are in the back row in the middle, Amy's boys are on the right, mine are on the left and Katy has the girls!
 

Funny how these two have never seen a trampoline before, yet they knew exactly what it was and what to do:
 

Best place to be on this hot day!
 

9 Years!

Aaron and I celebrated 9 years of marriage on July 5th!  We had an awesome date starting with dinner at Crystal Mountain, followed up with an alpine slide ride and then a sunset swim.  The countdown for the big 1-0 has begun!!
 

Three more from the 4th at the Hilleys

Mason and Brody excited to go swim:

 

They were even holding hands for a brief minute!
 

Sitting by the fire:
 

Another Beach Day

Beach day from July 8th... Beautiful day with a storm moving in:
 

Close up of my little stinker, trying to harass some minnows Aaron & Jacob caught:
 

A very calm Lake Michigan:
 

Keeping a close eye on his brothers:
 

 

 

Classic Brody:
 

 

Austin did a face plant into the water just before we left.  He wasn't too pleased.
 

Sun shinning on the dunes:
 

 

Storms rolling in: