September ( At least I think that's what that blur was...)

HIghlights reel of a month that flew by at record speed.  Seriously, I don't recall getting to October this quickly since the year Jack was born, and we floated through "Jacktember" in a haze of sleepless nights. 

In the midst of the busy, we did slow down to enjoy:

Woofstock!

Kayaking!

Lantern Fest!

Chalk Fest!

Brandi Carlisle at Blossom!

Apple Day!! (year 14 for this tradition!)

A full week at Severance for Amadeus- and nights out with friends to celebrate!

The Homecoming Parade!

Ingenuity Fest!

Ivy's sudden skill in crocheting! (she made this jellyfish without a pattern)

Bike rides and ducks at Forest Hill!

Jack going to the Homecoming Dance!  (What even??? I just never expected this one.  But Mitchell was on the Homecoming Court so the guys rallied to support him... Have I mentioned I love this group of friends?)

A day at the Zoo!  The kids just glowed all day there.  Animals, plus outdoors, plus a fair amount of nostalgia on their parts = they got along for a change!

Nelson's Ledges!  Another spot these teens just loved. We had to tear them away when it was time to go.

Reconnecting with friends!  My friend Jen from High school, who's been working abroad for 15 years, stopped by to hang out on our porch for a bit on her way to Chigago.  Such fun.

 

Mackinac Island

What a way to start September!  A girls trip to Mackinac Island.  Three days of magic and scenery and bikes and horses and fudge- and just enjoying the heck out of my time with these two teens.  

The girls and I hatched this plan last spring, telling Vio all about the magic of our day on Mackinac all those years ago-- and Ivy's continuing dream to ride horses on the island... and so, we decided to just do it!  Life is short and money is just money, right?  

It was worth every penny to have two nights and one full day in the middle to soak up island life. 

(note, dear reader, two nights is ALLL we could afford.  Magic, it turns out, is rather pricey...)

We stopped in for fudge samples at least 3 times a day.

Windy ferry ride!

Can't handle the pretty.... hi there, Grand Hotel that we didn't stay at (next time?  After I win the Powerball jackpot?)

Our very lovely hotel was on Main Street right across from a very pretty rock beach with a great view of passing ferries and major waves.

Architecture to die for, at every turn...

Dinner on our first night.  Got some calories back into these droopy girls and all of a sudden they're dressing up in the napkins...

Night walk on our first night there.  A quiet hush over the island after the day visitors left...

One of the surprise favorites of the weekend-- the 3D mirror maze attraction.  Went there twice!

Saturday morning on the island... chasing seagulls...

... taking in the view and finding an "open me" letter with encouraging words and $5 inside :)

Then it was off to ride!

We only got lost a few times, and I survived trotting my horse not once but twice.  And I was SO sore the rest of the weekend!  

Lunch in my favorite waterside cafe...

Visiting Butterfly World.  Which I anticipated to be a very silly tourist trap but which was instead a lovely and peaceful respite for us.

Biking around the island Saturday evening.  Because we needed to be even MORE sore.  And then to top it off-- 267 steps to the viewpoint above Arch Rock.

I love Lake Michgan so much.

Sunday morning- time to tour the fort!  The girls were way more into it than I expected! 

Goodbye view of the bridge....

I'm so intensely grateful for this weekend with my girl and her wonderful friend.  And for their friendship in general, and the way their mutual love of horses has allowed me an "in" into my teen's life.