Charlevoix, MI

Emmett, Payton & Jolie Historic lighthouse in Charlevoix, Michigan
Daddy & Brady (that is a peach pit in Graham's mouth:)
On the stairs of the light house
My boys

So handsome...

Finnley

Finnley & Brady

Love his sweet neck

Dancing to the Navy band

Payton going down the giant slide at the carnival

My parents took the whole family to Charlevoix, Michigan this year. Each family had their own 1 bedroom condo with a loft. It was perfect! Payton slept in the bedroom downstairs and then in the loft was another master bedroom, minus the door:) Brady slept up there with us in his pack n play. There was a full kitchen and the hotel had a continental breakfast.

Charlevoix was such a cute and quaint little town. On one side was Lake Michigan and on the other side of downtown was Lake Charlevoix. We went to both beaches but preferred the little one by the hotel on Lake Michigan. Both beaches had playgrounds right there on the sand which was awesome for the kids.

The week we were there happened to also be Venetian week so there were things to do each day of the week. We sat and listened/danced to a band, went to a carnival and had fun at the kids day on the beach. The kids were able to go for a bike ride on one of the bike trails that were around and Graham, Tom and my Dad went to a local brewery to taste the Michigan beers.

We celebrated my Mom's birthday while in Charlevoix as well as my parents 40th wedding anniversary!! The kids had such a great time playing at the beach and swimming in the pool and there was not one argument between any of them that I can remember:) Another successful family vacation! Thanks Mom and Dad!!

Turkey Run

Climbing up a ladder while on a hike Hiking
Leach Boys

A normal site while camping

The guys putting up a tent

Brady waiting patiently while the guys put up the tent

The girls getting their tent ready

Blake and Lukey

Chase & Payton

Last year Graham, Payton and I went camping at Turkey Run State Park in Marshall, Indiana. We loved it so much that we invited our neighbors, the Geers and the Rosenbergs along for the adventure this year. The boys had such a great time together. We got two huge sites, one for sleeping and the other for playing. Brady joined us for his very first camping experience and he did awesome! He was cooperative with all of us dragging him around and sleeping in the camper.

We spent the first day setting up camp. The girls got the Geer's tent up in about a quarter of the time it took the guys to get the Rosenberg's tent up:) Day two we spent at the state park pool, playing and jumping off the diving board. After swimming everyone went for a hike while Brady and I stayed back at camp. Day three everyone went floating on the river in tubes. Brady and I hung back but the boys said it was a blast! I think this is going to be an annual trip and I am hoping that I will be able to participate a bit more next year :)

Food

I introduced rice cereal to Brady shortly after we returned from the Outer Banks. He wasn't so sure about it at first but warmed up to the idea pretty quickly. After about a week, I tried oatmeal in which he liked much better than the rice. We did cereal once a day, graduating to two times a day for about 3 weeks.


A few days before his 6 month birthday I gave Brady applesauce and again he was not so sure about it. So far we have tried applesauce, bananas and Peas (peas were introduced tonight). He LOVES applesauce and bananas but is pretty much turning his little nose up to peas. I will keep at it though. Next on the menu is green beans, sweet potatoes and pears.