The Westphal family arrived tired but happy at our campsite (a minimal amount of fidgeting in the car, and a few potty stops) in Orchard Beach State Park, on Lake Michigan, near Manistee. (Check it out, if you like. Back arrow to return to blog. http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=480&type=SPRK ). My parents were already there, setting up. The best part was watching my husband’s stress level decrease as he settled in to life as a camper. We unpacked, set up camp, made a campfire, watched the sun set into the lake (Yes, “into”, we even listened for the sizzle.), watched the stars come out, and just plain relaxed. A few moments to share:
1. Very cold nights. I woke up hearing a child cry. The sound was OUTSIDE the tent, a little ways away. “Ryan, Lucas is OUTSIDE the tent!”. I grab the flashlight and shine it where Lucas is supposed to be. Just an empty pillow. Ryan is now putting on jeans. “Oh, I found him.” He is off the mattress, on the floor, under a sleeping bag and some dirty clothes. He is sound asleep. However his parents are not.
2. Ryan and Tim toured a ship in the harbor that used to ferry rail cars. This Daddy-son time was fun for both.
3. We went letterboxing and successfully found TWO letterboxes in the Manistee area (Check it out sometime. Use back arrow to return to blog http://www.atlasquest.com/). We took my parents on our second trip, and stopped for ice cream on the way back. Discovered an old friend running the ice cream shop, and I went out to breakfast with just her the next morning! No kids.
4. Kids biked like maniacs. (Do maniacs bike? Where does this expression, “like a maniac” come from? Why do I keep using it?). They loved it and we increased their boundaries as time went by. Tim and Sarah both have training wheels so you could hear them coming as they zoomed by. They both made friends with other campers, and we enjoyed playing at the playground.
5. Ryan and I spontaneously joined our neighbors one evening before sunset when we saw that they were playing Bocce. That was fun, even if the guys won.
6. We had a beach day with my parents and I at the big lake. They all loved it. The water started out very calm but within two hours, a breeze was blowing in and we headed back for the campsite. We still had great fun. Ryan hates the beach so he skipped out and went to a coffeeshop with his computer. Very happy man.
7. During my breakfast with my friend (and no kids), a couple came to our table. It was my inlaws! What a surprise! They were traveling through the area and happened to stop for breakfast in the same restaurant. They called Ryan to verify it was me before they said Hi! They stopped by the campsite to say Hi to all before continuing on their way.
8. Told stories by the campfire and sang silly songs. We ate smores and popcorn popped over the fire! Plus licorice, peanuts, Pringles, and cookies.
9. Marc and Luc cried when we told them we were headed home.
10. A good time had by all, and we are planning on going again next year.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Five things I love about camping
1. Telling stories in the round by the campfire.
2. Biking to use the "porcelain potties".
3. Hearing the waves of Lake Michigan at night.
4. No TV, no radio, no washing machine, no telephone....
5. Spending time as a family.
2. Biking to use the "porcelain potties".
3. Hearing the waves of Lake Michigan at night.
4. No TV, no radio, no washing machine, no telephone....
5. Spending time as a family.
Monday, August 11, 2008
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabinche/424078457/
Three–the age of independence….Are you familiar with John Ball Park Zoo in Grand Rapids? It’s a wonderful zoo with a wonderful aquarium building. They have a window with a sign that says “octopus”, but usually, you never see him. My son recently discovered how to get the octopus to come out. When the zoo is really busy, there’s a line for the restroom in the hallway of the aquarium. There is also a fire alarm in the hallway of the aquarium. You see where this is going…If your son pulls the fire alarm and your daughter (and many other children) begin crying because it is so loud and scary, and the building clears out and you finally exit the restroom with your children, you will actually see the eye of the octopus and all eight arms moving around right next to the glass as if to say, “What is going on out there?”
Three–the age of independence….Are you familiar with John Ball Park Zoo in Grand Rapids? It’s a wonderful zoo with a wonderful aquarium building. They have a window with a sign that says “octopus”, but usually, you never see him. My son recently discovered how to get the octopus to come out. When the zoo is really busy, there’s a line for the restroom in the hallway of the aquarium. There is also a fire alarm in the hallway of the aquarium. You see where this is going…If your son pulls the fire alarm and your daughter (and many other children) begin crying because it is so loud and scary, and the building clears out and you finally exit the restroom with your children, you will actually see the eye of the octopus and all eight arms moving around right next to the glass as if to say, “What is going on out there?”
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