Upper Michigan Day 1

Another ROAD TRIP, just after a 1,600+ mile road trip from SLC to Ann Arbor. This time to the upper parts of MICHIGAN.

DAY 1...

Driving, wooded towns, sleeping Angel, 1st time camping, (but not getting any sleep in the tent), dancing in the tent, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Forest, Dunes Climb, Anna not liking the sand between her little toes, rain, storms, sand in the eyes, blacksmith shop, Leelanau and Northport, picky park ranger, pizza and running after Anna in a grocery store, and getting only a few hours of sleep with an uncomfortable toddler.

We had a beautiful drive through the woods and little towns

Happy Girl, even after many hours in the car.

Dancing in the tent

First Time using our tent after owning it for a couple of years, it worked great through all the rain, if only we could have slept in it. Anna was not content unless she was in the car.

Dunes Climb

Anna didn't like the sand in her toes, at first,

Family toes

Glen Lake, which would have been GORGEOUS had it not been stormy

At the top of Lake Michigan, it was SO WINDY, Anna kept bracing us for help.

It was windy, but BREATHTAKING!!

Goodbye Dear Friend... You will be missed!

Dave, during your internship this summer you know that we have grow close, extremely close, here is how much we bonded...

112+ Minutes per day (google time, this doesn't include bad traffic!)
560+ Minutes per week
70 days during the summer

42.1 miles each way
84.2 miles per day
421 miles per week

For a TOTAL of 784o+ minutes (131+ hours) and 2,947 miles throughout the summer

4-6 construction zones
Many fill ups at the gas station
2 books on CD and lots of hours of talk radio and music
Many Accidents (of others on the road)\

Sure makes your drive home to Ann Arbor seem like nothing huh?
I will miss you!

With Love,
Interstate-80 and Interstate- 15 and all the roads to and from

What to do with little Miss Moppy Head?

Anna's hair is always a topic of discussion at our house. She seems to always have something funky going on. Even when I try to do something cute she either pulls it out or it just sticks straight up. Poor girl has nail straight hair like her Mom and Dad! (Which hairdo to you like best?)

Miss Porcupine

Miss Pippi

Miss Bushy Tail

Miss Alfalfa

Miss Antenna Anna

Gift Wrapped Miss Antenna Anna

Miss Sharky

Miss Electrocutie

Miss Electrocutie (frontal)


Miss Mullet

Miss Prissy

Miss Helmet Head

Miss Wind Tunnel

I guess we are lucky she HAS hair, you can see what she looked like a year ago...

Miss Baldy

YES we are a fun family

Okay so from the looks of our blog we look like we have had a boring summer... but appearances can be deceiving (yes, I did just say the i before e, except after c phrase in order to type that word). I have a lot to blog about, in the last two weeks we have had so many things that I feel a bit overwhelmed of where to start. So this is what I hope to blog about...

Hiking, Cabin trip, 24th of July, my 27th birthday, playing with friends, swimming, Kjersti's cheer camp, My work, playing with cousins, getting GREAT highlights in my hair, Dave's internship and now fellowship applications, booking hotels in upper Michigan, Anna becoming champion eater (finally) and constantly answering questions with a head nod, Dave's 10 year high school reunion, my birthday dinner at Christopher's, 6 year anniversary, Grandma's 92 year birthday, and so much more.

STAY TUNED.... Pictures to come, they are just on the other computer!

Happy 6 Years! (tomorrow, that is)

Since I'm typing this in the morning right beside you in bed, I'm going to have to make it quick so that I don't wake you up. Our official anniversary is tomorrow, but I'm posting today because a) I have time and b) If I wait until tomorrow, you'll probably beat me to it!

It's hard to believe that we've been married this long and you haven't once tried to push me down the stairs or throw me in front of a bus! Thanks for putting up with me all these years.

I can tell you (meaning the readers) that there's nothing like marrying your best friend (not "man's best friend" - that's not legal ... yet). We never fight, we laugh all the time, and we occasionally bring offspring into this world. It is such a blessing to have a beautiful, kind-hearted wife who's so busy focusing on making others happy that she's the posterchild of an unselfish person.


Geographically, I have no idea where we'll be in one year's time, but I'm glad you're with me Sam ... uh, I mean Heidi. Thanks for six incredible years and here's to six more. After that, we'll see!

A Perfect Summer Day

Anna has been sick for the last few days and I have felt quarantined. Today, however, has been wonderful. This is how it went

Wanted to go running early (have tried the last three days and have failed because Anna was up all night and crabby early in the morning), but didn't because I would have woken Anna
Said goodbye to a fabulous- hard- working- early- riser-husband
Slept in until 8
Woke up to a happy and rash/fever free baby
Watched her down a whole cup of pears (the first thing she has eaten in days!)
Watched a little Mary Poppins (trying to get Anna off Signing time, but it isn't working)
Cleaned up a little
Had Anna help me feed the dog- she LOVES this chore!
Took Mia in the car with us and ran Dave's dry cleaning
Talked to a cute co worker and got some hours for next week
Went on a walk/run
Put Anna down and she went right to sleep on her own
Anna has been sleeping for 2.5 hours
Did an exercise video
Sat out in the sun for an hour
checked emails/trips stuff/blogs
Talked to My love
Talked with a best friend- who is PREGNANT!
Talked with a co worker
Journal ed
Showered without a toddler nearby- actually got to shave!
Lost 3 pounds since I last weighed myself
Haven't craved bad foods today... first in a long while
Anna woke up happy saying, "Mama"- love it!
Will now plan book our trip to the upper parts of Michigan
Then will play out in a small pool with Anna
Then plan to run errands-including Costco for Pizza for dinner!
Get to see an old friend tonight!

Hope all goes well the rest of the day, it seems perfect so far. (:

A visit to Great Grandmas

Yesterday we went and spent the afternoon with my Grandma. She is 92 years old next month and is such a trooper. She still lives on her own, drives, and goes to "club" to play bridge every Monday. We went to just hang out. While I chased Anna around the many antiques and breakables (she actually did a good job not breaking anything) my Grandma told me stories about how she collected things (mostly from her world travels) and how she and my Grandpa got married and where they went on their honeymoon. It was fun to hear these stories, I wrote and wrote as she talked so I can document!

For lunch we pulled out a little table that my siblings used to play on. (If you look closely you can see years of crayons and other forms of play). Anna loves being a big girl and sitting up by herself. It brought back memories! She loved this little spoon that Great Grandma gave her.

This is Anna's new "cheese" face. The others I snapped are hillarious... and a bit scary the faces she can make.