Summer Lovin

SSSShhhhhhh...don't tell anyone but August is the best month in Northern Michigan. Great weather, the water is warm(ish) and there aren't as many tourists. (Evidently, some of you poor saps are in school already or soon will be! You'll remind me in June, I am sure.) Anyways, after morning nap, we put on the suits and headed out to the end of Esch Rd. Otter Creek comes into Lake Michigan at this road end and makes a perfect beach for families. Ty swam in the creek, Marie and Jim enjoyed the shallows of the big lake and we took both kids out to the sandbar for some splashing in the waves. You can see the sandbar in the image below; the brown line about 20ft out from the shore.

Jim and Marie played non-stop along the shore. She chased him, splashed him and pushed him in the water. They both enjoyed the waves breaking at the shore, just about right up to Marie's shoulders. Occasionally she would need to run the 50 ft to the blanket to wipe her face on her towel. Ty was all about walking around in the creek and sand. He would go out to the big lake if he was held and laughed his little head off at the waves.

"I ate my blueberries; now I can play with the cup as Momma forgot my bucket!"

I am not sure what the kids love more: playing at the beach or eating at the beach. Ty ate a CUP of noodles, blueberries and a few cheese crackers. Marie put away the PB and rice crackers. Jim did his share by polishing off his tomato salad (poor Daddy).

Jim and I took a few turns having swims out in Lake Michigan. It was so perfect. Wavy but not too much and the water was quite warm! Both kids enjoyed the waves very much when they were with the safety of a parent but were sensibly afraid to venture out on their own.

In the background is Empire Bluff where 12 years ago a certain Mr. Whall asked me a big question. Little did we know that 12 years later we would be swimming with our little ones at the shore.

And to top it off, both kids crashed fast asleep with 10 minutes of the car ride home.