Pictured Rocks 9.25.12

We drove from  Houghton to Munising (home of The Pictured Rocks Lakeshore) in about 4 hours, giving us enough time to set up camp, eat dinner, and play on the beach before it was time for bed.  We even got to stay at our favorite campsite (although it made us miss Pat and Sara even more).  This is one of our most favorite places!

Jeralyn playing while dinner was cooking.

Eating part of her dinner...

And sharing it with Daddy.

Afterwards we walked down to the beach.  I love this place!  So many memories!

This photo is priceless!  Daddy's little girl!

She crawled around and then stuck her face in the sand to get a little taste.  Yum!

I wonder what people thought when they saw her crawling prints in the sand.

If you look really closely you can see a little girl with her eyes set on the water (which Mommy had to rescue her from many times).

Got her!

Article: 'Freaked out' Bear

Thought you may enjoy this bear story!

Video: Slide 9.25.12

Playing at the park 9.25.12

After we left the campground that morning we drove north in the Keewenaw.  There were so many places we could have gone to see, but we wanted to do most of our driving during Jeralyn's nap, so we couldn't stay too long.  One day we'll have to come back in the summer and enjoy the beautiful beaches.  Instead we enjoyed our time watching Jeralyn enjoy a couple of parks.

It's been a long time since I have seen an "old-fashioned" slide, swing-set, and merry-go-round.  I miss the simplicity of them!

Jeralyn loved the slide!

And the merry-go-round!  Mommy had to quick snap some photos and then look the other way.  Just watching it go around and around makes me feel gross!  I'm such a wimp these days!

And then we drove back toward Houghton and found the slides!!  I have dreamed of this moment for a long time.  When we lived in Houghton 10 years ago there were only 2 slides, which was cool, but now they have expanded the play area and it's really awesome!

Jeralyn loved the tunnels and slides!

The Houghton/Hancock lift bridge.

Going down the slide with Daddy.

Car travel, clouds, camping Sept. 24-25, 2012

We said goodbye to Pat and Sara and headed east through Wisconsin, on our way to Houghton, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula.  It was a long day of travel for us, but we got to see some beautiful fall color!  We stopped in Ontonagon, Michigan for dinner.  It's such a small town, so we got a lot of stares being the outsiders that we were.

Some creepy clouds.

We camped at Hancock Campground in Hancock, Michigan.  It got to 34 degrees this night.  Brrr!  But we all stayed warm, Jeralyn probably being the warmest.  She did really well with the camping experience!

Here she is in the morning crawling around while Dad prepared breakfast and packed up.

Palisade Head 9.23.12

After our earlier hike north of Gooseberry Falls we drove a bit farther to check out Palisade Head in Silver Bay, Minnesota.  What a beautiful spot!!  I just love the Great Lakes.  Even though we live near the ocean, it's different being on the Great Lakes.  There are real beaches with sand and the water is a beautiful blue hue!

We let her crawl around on the rock.  Here she was trying to eat some rabbit poop.  Yum!

She just loved crawling around on the rock.  It was like a baby climbing wall.  I think she could have played here all day!  It made her daddy real proud!

Instagram/iPhone photos Sept. 21-23, 2012

I'm backing up again, but also getting back on track chronologically with posting.  (does that even make sense?)

Going over to "nowhere" on the airport ferry before our flight.

Jeralyn and Quent on our flight from Ketchikan to Seattle.  We had an hour delay and she was probably the most fussy she was the whole trip on this flight considering it was a wee bit past her bedtime.  But compared to some kids, her behavior was great!

We stopped for lunch at Famous Dave's BBQ after flying into Minneapolis.

Our friends Pat and Sara had boy/girl twins at the end of May.  This is Garrett.  I think he looks like Pat.

And this is Olivia.  I think she looks like Sara.

Road trip!

And what's a vacation without ice cream?

Video: Puff Balls 9.6.12

Months ago I cut out a hole in a container and showed her how to put puff balls in them (found the idea on Pinterest).  She wanted to EAT the balls, so I had to put that idea on the back burner.  Well, I tried it again with her and she totally got it!  She still likes to pretend she's going to eat one of the balls--silly girl!

Video: Pushing Cart 9.4.12

As of the day I'm posting this she's advanced quite a bit with pushing her cart.  She took her first solo steps on October 6, 2012, but hasn't tried that again since.  I guess she will walk when she's ready!

Video: Petting Tigger 7.30.12

I have forgotten to post this video so many times.  I finally remembered.  All of you who have met Tigger and seen his intolerance for such things will be amazed at just how tolerant this 10-year old kitty has become!  He has his moments, but for the most part Jeralyn gets away with things *I* would never get away with!  Enjoy!

Rocking Chair 9.18.12

This post/picture is out of sequence, but I wanted to post it anyway.  My dad and family sent Jeralyn this rocking chair for her birthday.  It was the rocking chair my dad and his siblings had when they were youngsters.  She's funny when she sits in it.  She understands how to rock!  So cute!

A Hike with Friends 9.23.12

We followed Pat and Sara to some pretty spots along Lake Superior north of Duluth.  I cannot remember what this exact trail is called, but I know it was a bit more north of Gooseberry Falls.  We hiked for 2-3 hours and dreamed up some vacations.  It was a beautiful day!  Jeralyn slept through most of this hike.