Hikes and apples

We were lucky to have beautiful weather for most of this fall.  One Saturday Trent, Hailey and I took advantage of it for a ride up north.  We headed to Baldwin first to turn off the water at the cabin and make sure it was ready for the winter. It was a gorgeous day and the river looked so pretty with the changing colors on the trees.  We saw dozens of salmon in the river right in front of the cabin.  They were huge and so loud when the broke the surface of the water.  Hailey was mesmerized.  It was really interesting to see - it has been a long time since I was up north this late in the fall to see it myself. 

When I was in college I hiked around in Ludington State Park for a day.  It left an impression on me as being a very interesting and fun place to hike with hidden little turn outs and majestic views.  I have always wanted to go back there.  Since Ludington is only a half hour drive from Baldwin and sort of on the way home - my dream came true.

It was much windier and more chilly closer to Lake Michigan.  We probably should have brought warmer coats. 

It was quite crowded in the park on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon but once we got out on a trail a bit we lost most of the people.  The park was much like I remember and did not disappoint.  I think we will add it to our list of places to visit more often. 

One of the activities Hailey had on her fall bucket list was to go apple picking.  On a Friday afternoon when Trent had a half day and the other kids were finished with school, we got to check that item off of her list. 

Evan brought his girlfriend April along and Hailey invited her friend Sarah.  She had also asked her other bestie Eleni, but sadly Eleni woke up that day to find out her Grandma had passed away.  We picked some extra apples for their family and Trent baked them one of his famous apple pies. 

It was another stellar fall day.  We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.  The kids had fun tasting the various kinds of apples and taking selfies and giggling among the trees. 

Trent the circus performer likes to show off his juggling skills.  

I think we have enough apples now.  We may have over picked just a little bit.  

 

I think Trent baked around ten apple pies.  He made applesauce and we of course ate them in their original form.   When we were "appled" out, we sliced, cut and cored them and froze another two freezer bags full.  If the apple a day saying is true - we have nothing to fear this fall! 

Back to state finals!

Evan got the chance to compete in DI state finals for the second year in a row.  He loves this stuff and he is great at it.  For a shy not super social kid somehow he manages to be an amazing leader.  

All ready to head to the campus for his Instant Challenge.

Hailey decided to bring Evan's stuffie Laddie along thinking it would be a surprise to Evan and maybe good luck. 

He was excited to have Laddie and maybe the luck worked since they scored 95 out of 100 on their Instant Challenge.

An hour or so later we trekked across campus to watch them in their Central Challenge - this is the skit part they have to perform.

Hailey watching the team before them through the window and with a little help from Daddy.

Performing their skit.  It was about a science lab with genetically mutated owls and zombies.  Evan was a bounty hunting tracker.  He wrote most of the script by himself.  It was pretty creative.

 After the performance.

It was a gorgeous day - it felt like summer.  It was an amazing day to walk around campus.  We had to get the traditional picture in the quad.

We ate lunch and then went geocaching to a frisbee golf course where we found a "mustache cache".

The kids were mostly excited to get back to our hotel so they could swim in the pool.

We went for an early dinner before the awards assembly to celebrate a fun weekend and a job well done.

Evan relaxing after a long day. (With his mustache and Laddie and drink from the restaurant) They scored 9th out of twelve - he was not too disappointed.  He shouldn't be - he did an amazing job leading his team all the way to State!

Hailey and Mommy's DAY OF FUN!

Yesterday Hailey and I had a whole afternoon and evening to do whatever we wanted.  In trying to think of something fun, kind of active and not too expensive - I remembered how much I used to love walking the Grand Haven boardwalk back in my teenage days.   I don't think I have walked (or hung out in Grand Haven for that matter) in years.

 

It was sunny when we left and as we got to the boardwalk a weird weather front was coming through.  It almost seemed like it was going to rain.  I checked my weather app and it looked clear so we soldiered on. 

 

The walk was not crowded at all.  This is the calm before the storm that will hit in the next few weeks during the Coast Guard festival.

As we kept walking it was getting more and more foggy.  We could barely even see the end of the pier or the lighthouse. 

Hailey thought the pier was pretty awesome with the cat walk.  It was very windy and the waves in the channel were pretty big.  Some were even splashing onto the pier.  We stayed well away from the channel side.

We made it out to the lighthouse with no problem, but I was a little bummed that we couldn't walk around to the front of it.  As I said, the waves and wind were pretty strong and I didn't think it would be wise to risk going out front.  (There were a bunch of others out there, but since kids learn by what they see - I wanted her to think twice when faced with a similar situation down the road.)

I found out today that yesterday just after we left (we were probably walking on the non pier part of the boardwalk) a twelve year old boy fell off into the channel.  I guess a fisherman directed him to a ladder and he was fine but how scary!

As we headed back the sun came out and like POOF!  the fog was gone.  Very weird weather.

Since she had been a trooper and not complained one bit during the over three miles that we walked, she earned a trip to the Pump House.  She said she would walk it again anytime for a trip there!

The best thing about having one child with you is how you get to say yes to so much more.  A Pump House stop with all of us would break the bank but Hailey and me - not so much.  Mini golf with the whole family is costly and takes forever.  With the two of us - cheap and quick.  It makes you feel like the world's greatest mom because you get to do a bunch of special things with your one child for the day.  I love that.

She was so excited after the Pump House when I told her that I had one more surprise and it was mini golf.  She did pretty well too - she even hit me right in the face with her metal club on her back swing.  Yep.  Back swing in mini golf.  She told me that is how Daddy tells her to do it.  Good thing I had sun glasses on or she probably would have taken my eye out.

It was a fun day that we will both remember for a long time!