The Big Loop

This year we took a special trip up to the U.P. for our good friends Jennifer and Jason’s wedding.  Instead of making a long, straight drive, we decided to split it up into a series of smaller drives and excursions, making the big loop up through the U.P. and back down through Chicago.  It was a fantastic trip, one that is hard to summarize in a quick blog and deserves it’s little photo book of its own.  But in a popcorn recap we’ve included a couple of snapshots for a taste of our trip around the big loop. 🙂

Wednesday: stuffed car, good drive, excited alex running around the campsite, roomy tent with room for tickles and everyone’s beds, fussy aidan not wanting to be on the dirty ground, a snacky supper, an ‘adventurous’ drive to the dunes, carrying sleeping aidan up the sand, alex excited at the bottom- less excited mid-climb, coming up with creative ways to motivate alex to continue on- sand angels- stories about doggies and adventures- ‘climb to that patch of grass, then we’ll carry you…’, alex excited to run down- but then has to re-climb, are we almost there? pics at views, happy aidan, papa venturing ahead, running down down down, alexander’s big biffs- first fussies then smiles, driving to the big lookout, caterpillars everywhere! aidan loves the sand, sunset, more tickles, throwing rocks (what sign?), papa ventures down below, back to campsite before dark, jammies, snacks, and campfires, snuggly aidan on muma’s lap, tucked two boys into bed.  asleep too fast.

Thursday: lazy morning at the campsite, mac & cheese and big lunch, stop at little store for postcards, writing pc in the car, mcdonalds stops for m&p frappes, sleepy kids in car, traverse city, highlighting map at each major city to see trail of travels, long stop at mackinaw, marina walking & boat naming, watching huge ships being loaded to the water, ferry watching, walking the coast guard ship / museum, picnic early-supper, crossing the mackinac bridge, driving through the empty u.p., campsite by the woods, hiding the ‘bear’ truth from alex, killer mosquitos, the airlock, playground time, surprise views & sunset over the lower falls, scrumptious dark chocolate smores

Friday: packing up amidst psychobugs, aidan playing in the car, the upper falls, alex tired of walking, pics, hiking down down steps steps, falls and mist, pictures, gift shopping, pasties at the restaurant, the drive west, no towns, little towns, water and trees, hotel arrival- unpack & move in, bed bouncing, & relaxish time, camp sagola, happy bride & guests arriving, supper prep, smiling january, flowers with melanie & christine, family dinner & exploring, home to hotel for early night

Sabbath: beautiful church in iron mountain, alex and aidan impossible, early potluck for us, asleep aidan, table chatting with january&darin, tonya&doug, fantastico food, playground time, hot hot hot, hotel rests & kid shifts, yard play with a2, camp sagola for visiting & supper, wired boys, dinner and sunset vespers, rehearsal buzz, superpapa & kids head back, just like clockwork, tearful bride, nametags & errands, howling coyotes, lost camera, flowers and details, home by 1am with j&d.

Sunday: up early and over to sagola, superpapa & kids go tshirt shopping, hair & make-up, corset-tying & smiley bride, so laid-back, no fancy hair for girls, little this little that, found camera, pics & happy couple, girl pics, green & cooler, over to auditorium, waiting, long music, bride welcoming guests, superpapa & kids arrive intact, the grande entrance, januarysong, happy kisses, recession and photos, hall transformation, the mr. & mrs… :), fruit tower tasting, wedding burritos, chatting & happy kiddos, alex gathering rosepetals, lovely pics on benches, gathering & packing up, the couple in their own world- as it should be, details and packing up, kids are done, fond farewells, hugs, and happy friends, back to hotel- kids to nap, unwind, playground time, supper, ice cream, playtime, alex giddy in bed until late, hotel hunting, sleep

Monday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAPA!  breakfast & showers & packing again, windey windey to deyoung zoo, fussy fussy alex, animals birthday party- treats for all creatures, kids can help (don’t), camera dies, baby monkeys & others to hold (didn’t), lunch at car, bears and telling alexander the truth about camping in bearcountry, hot hot hot, free t-shirt for papa’s bday, funny monkeys, cool tiger feeding, on our way- sleeping boys (whew!), long long longest drive yet, best buy for camera stop, hotel calls for the superdeal by papa, hotel arrival, very nice & ready for good sleeps, releasing the mini-maniacs into the room (poor neighbors), pool for swimming & energy release, bubble baths for exhausted aidan and wired alex, roomservice pizza, aidan & alex share queen bed- so cute), great night view of the city, goodsleeps.

Tuesday: up about on time, no $60 breakfasts for us!  family to “corner bakery” across street for breakfast, walking the mag. mile & down to rainforest cafe, packing up and waiting for aunt nancy, shedd aquarium!!  (thanks, aunt nancy! :)),  lunch, walls of fish, moody alex, mesmerized aidan loving the fish, alex entranced by the fantastic show, alex likes the seal, sumbarine play a big hit, penguin playplace, beluga whales,  two kids asleep during the way out, giftshop stop, return to parking & hugs and waves, sleepy drive to st. joseph, missed connections with berrienfriends, chocolate cheesecake & ice cream still yummy, a very long ride home, 20 minute potty requests, pulled over with crying aidan, huge break on the ticket, “just get these kids home safely…”, WILL DO!