Kathy & Randy Visit Michigan!

Reunited! They don't look at all happy to see each other again, do they? =)

We were so excited that Kathy and Randy made their first trip to Michigan... to visit us!!! They've never had a reason to come, so it's nice that they were able to see where our family lives, and to see where Pete and I grew up. It was a crazy, hectic trip, but totally worth it. We started the tour in Traverse City. We spent the first evening having dinner at Pete's parents house and going on a boat ride. The next day we took K&R on a tour of the Michigan cherry orchards (cherry harvesting here is a lot different than California). The rest of the afternoon was spent hanging out in the backyard of the cottage and enjoying the weather and the lake. On Monday we drove them to Marquette for the rest of their stay. We are all pretty wiped out after the drive, so we only made it to dinner, then we headed home for an early bedtime. On Tuesday we took them for a little hike to the rock beach on Presque Isle, had a nice lunch, then hung out at the house that afternoon. Pete made a wonderful white fish dinner, and we watched a little bit of rain come down. On Wednesday, we took the boat ride around Pictured Rocks. Pete and I had to do a few things in the afternoon, so Uncle Randy and Auntie Cake spent time with Charlie and his pool in the backyard. Randy also gave Pete and I some pointers on our garden, and he even helped me clean the whole thing up with my new hula hoe! We stayed up late Wednesday evening packing, and Auntie Cake got to read story after story for Charlie before bedtime. Thursday everyone got up early because we were all leaving town. It was a very emotional good-bye, as they all are, but we made it through it. We are so lucky that K&R made the trip out. They are very dear friends to Pete and I, and their relationship with Charlie is one that will last a lifetime. Charlie is the luckiest little guy to have two such wonderful people in his life! Thanks again, Kathy & Randy, for making the trip out. We hope you enjoyed it as much we did, and we look forward to a visit every summer! =)

A quick shot after coming off the boat.

Stealing some of Uncle Randy's dessert.

Just hangin' with Uncle Randy and Grandpa.

Charlie kept asking to pick the yellow cherries. Pete would stop the car so he could hang out the window to pick them off the trees.

A couple shots in the cherry orchard.

Uncle Randy tasting the Michigan cherries.

Sitting on the "Uncle Randy" tractor.

Daddy used to drive these tractors too!

He tested out every tractor in the orchard!

Checkin' out the equipment.

Helping Uncle Randy throw the BIG rock into the lake.

Throwing rocks at Auntie Cake.

Double knuckles.

My handsome little man.

Enjoying the boat ride with Auntie Cake.

Uncle Randy keeping my boys occupied when they got antsy during dinner.

A little manly bonding time on the hike.

Group shot at the rock beach.

Warming up with Mom and Auntie Cake.

So goofy!

This boy LOVES peaches!

Sharing some with Uncle Randy.