A Sweet Surprise

We decided it was high time for another camping trip, something we hadn't done since Karissa was a baby! Things just kept coming up each summer (other vacations: Zion, Puerto Rico... and babies: Austin was born in the summer). We really wanted to see the Sleeping Bear Dunes up near Traverse City on the "pinkie" of the Michigan hand. It was rated the most beautiful place in America on Good Morning America. We had also read the legend of the dunes last year in a children's book Victoria got from the library, where a mama bear and her two cubs swam across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin to Michigan to avoid a fire. The cubs couldn't make it and ended up forming the two islands just off the bay of the "pinkie" and the mama formed the big dune as she waited for her cubs to arrive. So sad and sweet!

Jason's parents had just bought a camper and thought it would be fun to meet us up there. It was to be a surprise for the kids, so I had to bite my tongue! After a much shorter day at work, Jason came home and we left for a very long 4 1/2 hour drive (it took 6 hours due to traffic, weather, and getting lost!) No matter, the kids were still very excited to go camping. Austin kept asking, "Are we camping yet?" They were very surprised and excited to see Gramms and Abuelo there. They also loved the camper! It was nice to have around with a crawling baby and all the sandy, dusty, dirt.

Erik's first camping trip!

There were crafts for the kids to do at the campsite.

The biggest highlight and main idea of the trip was to hike the "big dune". It was the perfect day for it, though it was much longer than we thought and I had to turn around and nurse Erik, who was with Gramms sleeping when we started on the hike. I did get to go back to the point where I left to help Jason with Austin come back, so at least I got a good work-out! Victoria went up the main dune about 4 or 5 times, just for the fun of it. Karissa and Austin did surprisingly well with all the steep climbs and deep sand.

This is the first dune and the biggest- called the "Big Dune". Abuelo was the only one around me to take a picture of the steepness. It was super steep with very deep sand. Running down it at the end was the best!

The point where the sand ends is actually where the steep dune starts.

Victoria at the top of the "Big Dune" the first time.

The rest in between dunes.

I believe the island out there is one of the baby bears. Waaaay down below on the shore, overlooking Lake Michigan and the islands is what they considered the most beautiful place in America. If we didn't have so many little ones, we would have gone to that point, but at least we got to see it.

We also visited the visitor's center about the area, had some good picnics, a great campfire dinner, and a dutch oven monkey bread dessert. The kids enjoyed some playgrounds and especially a dip in the bay. Austin surprised us all by his bravery in the water, which was a little nerve-wracking. There were no waves, so he just kept walking out in the water and chasing ducks. He also surprised us the night before by running into the camper and slicing his forehead open. Jason got to him first and promptly put pressure on the wound, but when I saw him, all I saw was tons of blood dripping down his face. It was hard to tell with Jason's hand in the way, so I thought it was his eye that was wounded. He even had blood coming out of his mouth! Jason and Kay took him to the urgent care, where he fell asleep, it being his bedtime. He got four stitches and woke up for the last one. He's very excited to get to wear a band-aid all the time. In fact, right after his accident the first thing he asked for was a band-aid. Silly boy!

 This water was turquoise from a distance the day before due to the clouds and winds.

 It was great to be with Jason's parents and see a beautiful part of our country.