Torch Lake

We made our annual trip up North to spend time with my family @ Torch Lake. We had a great time...as always...although the weather wasn't very cooperative!!!

Emma spent most of her time trying to lure unsuspecting adults into playing catch with her....for LONG periods of time! :)

We decided to make a day trip to Mackinaw Island this year. The day started out rainy, but ended up being beautiful!

Here we are on the ferry rideThe first stop was a fudge shop....of course...what else is there to do on the island??? :)

We did find something else to do...we had to work off the fudge anyway! :)

Nicole and Rob just being...Nicole and Rob! :)

We decided the girls weren't quite ready for a 4 mile bike ride around the island! They were great riders!
We stopped about half way around for a rest. We played in the lake and took a bunch of pictures...of course!

Phil was trying to teach Maddie how to skip rocks...she'll get the hang of it eventually!

The bridge (and a random row boat)!

Skippin' the stones with Uncle Robby

Arch Rock

More fudge....Don't judge us!!!

We were hungry!!!

There isn't anything else to eat there, you know!!! :)

Maddie enjoying her chocolate covered Rice Krispy Treat! YUMMY

Although "Philip" means "lover of horses"...he is also a lover of historical signs!!! We stop at EVERY sign..no matter where we are!

This is his signature sign reading pose!

The Grand Hotel.

We were mere commoners in "slacks"

so we were not allowed to enter the premises after 4:00pm!

The dress code is pretty strict when you stay here.

We got pretty close to take some pictures....although we were being watched pretty closely by a security guard!

The gardens around the hotel are amazing!

It looked like it was going to storm so we decided to head back a little early.

It did start to rain on the ride back...but that didn't stop Phil from sitting on the back deck....alone...all wet... :)

Phil and I took the girls Kayaking one morning!

Getting ready for a boat ride...

Sweatshirts in August = Crazy Summer!

My Aunt & Uncle's cottage

The drivers...

It did finally warm up, and we were able to enjoy the lake and the activities that go along with it!

My mom showing off her Frisbee skills!

Emma and Phil getting ready to walk off the sand bar

This lake is always so beautiful

and we are so grateful that we are able to come up here and enjoy it every year!!!

Sadie the Cicada...

So...I know my loyal bloggers have been anticipating my next nature post. I wasn't sure I would ever be able to trump the "live on location" humming birds...but I aim to please! :)

Phil and his mom have a long history of collecting Cicada shells and hiding them in surprising places. For example, on a pillow case, or in a drawer. Phil has continued the tradition with our girls, and they LOVE it!! They have been out "hunting" for the past few days, and we've found that our new swing set is apparently Cicada heaven! Up until yesterday we had only found the shells that they shed, and never the Cicada itself. That all changed....on the day that Emma proclaimed "THE best day of her life!!" She and Maddie were outside hunting/playing when she came across a live Cicada still in it's shell!!
The girls were so excited to show Phil! It was extremely cute to see them share this moment together!
So they call out the photographer!! No pressure...it's only the best day of Emma's life!!! :)
The bug was on the backside of one of the play set beams, so some of the pictures require a little head tilting! :)
We watched the Cicada completely shed it's shell, which took about 30 minutes, which is why we had plenty of time to name her!! Enjoy! :)

Here she's (everything around here is a "she") just starting to push her head out of the shell.

We started to see all the little details more.

Her wings are there, but not open yet.

Phil wanted this shot...I think it's a little gross!

But hey...the sacrifices of the nature photographer...right? :)

She stayed like this for about 10 minutes! Just hanging out!

She finally got all the way out and just stood on top of the shell for a rest. Her wings haven't opened completely yet.

Then Sadie made her big move...away from the shell!

We were so proud! :)

We all thought her wings were pretty amazing!

She climbed around the swing set for a while and then disappeared!

And all we had left was the shell...

which for some reason was even more exciting than it ever was before! :)

New room & Bunk Beds

With all of Phil's "extra" time around the house these days...I had to give him a little honey do list. The first thing on it was to get the girls into their new room, with their new bunk beds.

It took me FOREVER to pick out a color green I liked for the walls. So, after I chose the wrong color , I resorted back to the paint Phil originally picked out! And I think it turned out pretty good. Emma loves to help Phil with projects. She is his little shadow whenever there's something to do around the house. I have a feeling she'll remember everything she's learning too!! Phil wants to get her a pink tool set (he found @ Menards) for Christmas! So cute! :)
Maddie had to get in on the action...for a little bit! :)

With the sheets....

Their first night! They were so excited that we didn't make them sleep in separate rooms! We'll see how long that lasts!!!! But for now...I'm loving it! :)I'm looking forward to decorating the room more soon! I'll update pictures later! :)