Clara was the hardest to handle, being a squirmy nine-month-old past her naptime and stuck on Mama's lap. She liked to look over the seats at people behind us and smile, which was sweet. But she also liked to pull her sister's hair, suck on the end of the seat belt, throw her toys, and gnaw on my chin. Finally (finally!) she succumbed to sleep for about an hour.
We arrived in Detroit on a Friday evening and left for Lorien Saturday morning. This was another long ride, but thankfully the car trip meant we could stop for lunch at a rest stop and otherwise the kids were all buckled in their car seats. Clara slept more!
Abby at the beach
All three "big" kids remembered Lorien from last year. It was fun hearing them recount their favorite things from before and anticipate the great time they expected to have. Josiah was eager to see his "friends" (my cousins and my cousins' kids)--Jonas, Justin, and Andrew. They all wanted to swim, dig in the sand, play on the slide and merry-go-round, eat s'mores . . . and all their wishes came true!
We spent the first week with just my parents and sisters. (There were other families up there, just not our extended family.) Josiah made friends with a little boy named Sam. They met the first night when both were plucking apples from the overgrown apple tree separating our cabins. "I'm five," Josiah told Sam. "I'm five, too!" Sam said excitedly. Then he came right up close to Josiah and said, "Measure." Josiah was clearly several inches taller. But Sam angled his hand from his head to Josiah's and said, "We're the same!" They had lots of fun together all week, and Josiah still comments, "Remember my fwend Sam!"
Lydia
Clara trying out the sand
The weather was warm but not too hot--nice for daily swims in the lake. We all made good use of my parents' Sunfish (sailboat). Lydia, Abby, and Josiah loved "kayaking" with Pa in the shallows, and each went on the sailboat, too. But Josiah blanched at every tack and talked afterwards of the "wild ride" Daddy took him on. (The wind was light that day!) Abby wanted to go again with Daddy, but not Josiah.
We spent hours at the beach. The kids loved digging in the sand and wading and swimming. The lake was lower than usual, so the kids could walk almost all the way out to the anchored, floating dock. Lydia liked jumping off it over and over. The girls and Grandma spent lots of time splashing and floating in the little cove.
That's Grandma and Lydia on the dock
Pa pushing Lydia on the rope swing by the shore
Josiah and Uncle Andrew making roads
Abby the bulldozer operator
Aunt Hannah, Aunt Rach, and Aunt Bobo obliged the kids by pushing them on swings, playing War with them (the card game), chasing them around, telling them stories, etc. etc. It was wonderful to have two weeks with doting aunts! :)
Sunbathing with Aunt Rach (L on left, A on right)
Clara with Aunt Hannah
Clara pulling off her hood with Aunt Bobo
Aunt Rach and Clara
Aunt Hannah and Abby
Josiah gets a piggy-back ride from Aunt Hannah
Aunt Bobo helps Lydia climb the apple tree
Aunt Bobo and Abby
Crazy faces!
Successful climbing
Aunt Rach and Lydia doing the crazy face
Aunt Rach and Abby
Clara was also doted on, of course. She loved the baby swing, especially when Josiah came to tickle her toes or give her a push. She wasn't so sure about the sand at the beach, but did like the water! She wanted to splash and eat rocks. Though she showed some stranger anxiety when she met Uncle Andrew and a few of my guy cousins, overall she warmed right up to the relatives and was content to be passed around, held, and entertained by many.
She loved having a go at a watermelon rind!
Clara also got a turn in Aunt Bobo's kayak (beached)!
Sometimes you've gotta escape the overbearing sibling love
She liked climbing up the slide with Pa
Practicing steps with Grandma--she stretches that left leg out so far and points her toe!
We had a couple fun campfires with the cousins during the second week at Lorien. Our children had quite a bit more sugar than they're used to. I limited them to two s'mores, but afterwards I discovered Josiah clandestinely stuffing a marshmallow into his mouth and riding off on his bike with bulging cheeks.
Lydia squeezed too hard and the marshmallow came out
Abby--I pulled her hair back before she got that sticky beast of a s'more everywhere
Sugar makes ya crazy!
At the end of the first week we took a trip into town on a rainy day. We visited the free Maritime museum, complete with a replica ship and lots of shipwreck artifacts! Everyone enjoyed the excursion, and we walked out on the Thunder Bay pier on Lake Huron as well.
Josiah and Lake Huron
Lydia gets her snuggles with Grandma every chance she has
Just looking, not peeing
At the marina
One of my cousins also has identical twin girls--they were around 16 months old when we were at Lorien. Our girls are very interested in them, and they understand the twin thing now!
Cora and Adele
The big twins and the little twins!
Another of my cousins graciously borrowed his neighbor's balance bikes for our girls, and my mom found another person willing to lend a bike to Josiah. So our kids had great fun riding their bikes all over and tagging along with the bike gang of older cousins.
My brother Andrew, his wife Lisa, and their baby Aria came up the second week with the rest of the relatives. This was our first time meeting Aria, our kids' first cousin on my side. She's just a few weeks younger than Clara, but she's definitely bigger! Lydia and Abby were very excited to meet her--and play with all her toys! They spent some happy hours in Andrew and Lisa's cabin with Aria's Little People sets.
Aria and Andrew
Aria wasn't so sure about all of us, but she'd smile and laugh and clap hands and babble when safe in her parents' arms. Next summer I bet she and Clara will be running around together! Here you can see her a bit skeptical of her crazy cousins . . . (Aria in stroller on left, Clara on the right):
Josiah and Andrew (my cousin Kathleen's son) spent hours making and fixing "fairy houses" in the woodsy area by the playground. Other kids had originally built some of these fairy houses using moss, sticks, bark, leaves, grass, etc. They enchanted Josiah. While he wasn't very adept at making his own, it was for no lack of trying!
My dad, as usual, made sure tradition continued with the pancake breakfast, pizza night, and field games. All involved had lots of fun, of course!
Clara feeling full and throwing pancake pieces; Lydia with Aunt Lisa
Pancake breakfast
Preparing for the Big Game
Abby and Daddy
Josiah was eager to be part of the game. I heard he even hit the ball and made a run!
The line-up for team divisions
Lydia needed Grandma for moral support
Abby was happy to participate as long as Aunt Reenie was with her
Josiah was serious about his team
Even little Gloria joined in the relays!
Pa demonstrates one of the relay events
Josiah concentrates on balancing
Geno loses the cone
Lydia (left) and Abby (right) take a turn
Josiah and Justin (my cousin, a year younger than Josiah) were partners for the water-balloon toss
Abby throws her balloon
How about some cute Clara pictures for good measure?
One day the kids (with help) found a little toad. They loved it almost to death before we had them let it go . . .
Of course, Lydia dearly loved their little pet
It was so nice to have lots of unstructured time with everyone, time to play and talk and walk and eat together. Jer and I enjoyed game nights after the kids were in bed, an evening out together in Alpena, kayaks and walks with one or two others, rounds of Hand and Foot Canasta, volleyball, cornhole, and other leisurely activities.
Aunt Bobo telling stories
Fun on the mat with Aunt Hannah and Aunt Rach
Crazy faces still going strong
