Just got back from a quick jaunt up to Traverse City, Michigan. I can honestly say this is one of my favorite places on earth. And I am fairly well traveled. We go up every year for the National Cherry Festival for some food, midway rides, people watching, and general good ole family time. And a good time was had by all, including the hubby’s dad and stepmom who joined us. I had cherry BBQ flavored pulled pork, cherry fudge, cotton candy, elephant ears….oh sorry, am I just focusing on food? How odd of me.
The kids were so well behaved 80% of the time, which to me spells overwhelming vacation success. Especially seeing as though they used the occasion of sharing a bed to throw a nightly party at 3:45 am. Seriously, like clock work. Made me quite thankful we have the space so the two of them don’t have to share a room. I am not sure they would sleep again.
One of the highlights of the trip was running into a friend of mine from home at the Old Navy outlet who happened to be vacationing up in Traverse City at the same time. Our kids are relatively the same age and we have been in MOPS and church together and our kids go to the same school. Well it is always nice when friends happen to mention that their parents have a house on Lake Michigan with a beach and it would be so great if you would come hang out. Hmm….let me think….um, yes please. So we had a great day frolicking along the beach, eating piles of spaghetti and getting to know friends better. There were a million of bizarre small world things that came out in conversation which made things even more fun. What a great way to end a great trip.
Oddly enough, the highlight of the trip might have been coming home. As I wrote before, we had worked REALLY hard to clean up the house before we left and my parents raised the bar for cleanliness even higher while we were gone. They weeded out all our garden beds, washed all the windows and cleaned out all the gutters. Then, because we let some friends from out of town stay in our house while we were gone (foiling the plans of all robbers who were waiting to pounce), my mom washed and remade all the beds so we wouldn’t have to worry about it when we got home. I defy you to convince me that you have better parents than that.
You know how often times when you come home from a vacation, you need a vacation from your vacation? All the prep work we did before we left made that soooo not the case. I still feel relaxed and refreshed. The hubby even cleaned and vacuumed the car right when we got home because it had taken quite the beating after a few road trips this summer. So I am totally ready to jump into the whirlwind that is the next few weeks including a very crazy little conference you may have heard of in Chicago. BlogHer anyone?
What is it you love this week? I would love for you to jump in and participate in Things I Love Thursday. Simply post about something you love and link up below with Mr. Linky. More guidelines can be found here(and thanks to all of you last week for listening to my rant and playing by the rules). I am just impressed with myself that I managed to not write about food this week. Although my first whole paragraph was basically an ode to food so some habits are just too hard to break.
It Feels Like Chaos
says:
Wow, your parents are the BEST!! Could you send them my way now that they’ve finished at your place?
It Feels Like Chaos´s last blog ..Spray Paint Mania!
[Reply]
July 8th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Whitney
says:
Can you send your parents this way? Coming home to a clean house after vacation is a dream!
Whitney´s last blog ..TILT- Wipes Your Hands, Feet, & Face
[Reply]
July 9th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Sturgmom
says:
We leave for vacation in 2 days and I cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen tonight. There is NOTHING like coming home to a clean house!
Sturgmom´s last blog ..Seven
[Reply]
July 9th, 2009 at 12:45 am
Jen-After the Alter
says:
I LOVE vacation. I think that no matter what I am doing in my laugh travel has to be part of it. My husband and I use ING for many things and one of those things is to save for vacation. We each put away some money each month. it just leaves our main account and goes into ING w/out our noticing, and next thing you know we have enough for a vacation. It’s perfect!
Jen-After the Alter´s last blog ..Our Loss
[Reply]
July 9th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Erin G
says:
I HEART vacation too. Especially when you come home to a clean house, that’s a must around here.
Also – “midway ride” = proof that you and I live in very separate corners of our country. I don’t even know what that means, I had to google it! You crazy midwesterners and your crazy talk.
Erin G´s last blog ..Lake Wateree for the Fourth
[Reply]
July 9th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Mary @ Giving Up On Perfect
Twitter: givingupperfect
says:
I am totally copying you. I love vacation, too.
Mary @ Giving Up On Perfect´s last blog ..Did you say photos? Vacation photos?
[Reply]
July 9th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Snow White
says:
I LOVE Traverse City — especially around Cherry Festival time!! I’m glad you had a fun time
I love all the houses there with front porches, and the beautiful lake front… the breeze, and oh, the cherries!
[Reply]
July 9th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Kristi_runwatch
says:
So glad you had such a lovely, relaxing time!
Cherry bbq pork sounds intriguing, elephant ears are to die for, and great time with good friends on an unexpected beach day? Goodness, take me with you on your next vacation!
Kristi_runwatch´s last blog ..Adventures and exploring…
[Reply]
July 9th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Ashley
says:
Oh my goodness, having your parents do all that must have made it amazing to come home! What a nice end to a fantastic vacation
[Reply]
July 9th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
LaVonne
Twitter: lavonnelong
says:
I just told someone on Facebook that I need a vacation from my vacation.
We cleaned our home and washed our sheets before we left, and I can’t wait to sleep in my own clean bed!
LaVonne´s last blog ..Robin Hood, "Tea", and Chocolate of course!
[Reply]
July 9th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Laura
says:
We go on vacation in a little over a week. I am going to try to be as organized so that I don’t come home from vacation. To be honest though, after a week of 24/7 with my girls, I sometimes feel like I need a vacation from my vacation.
Laura´s last blog ..Things I Love Thursday – My Pink Coach Purse
[Reply]
July 9th, 2009 at 10:36 pm