Off We Go!

That’s a wrap! After nearly 18 months at home, tomorrow Steven, Sammy and Amaya head back to Thornton Creek and start 2nd grade. I can’t believe it. Despite a fully, successful year of first grade at home, it doesn’t quite seem for 2nd grade. 2nd grade!

It was a wonderful, full week where we tried to balance setting the stage for the return to school and enjoying one last week of downtime. Even for me, the routine of school mornings feels like a lifetime ago. At home, the kids didn’t have to be ready for school until 8:50am. Now we’ll be heading to the bus stop shortly after 8. New routines abound.

Monday and Tuesday were quiet days. Library books. Art projects, Magnatiles. Parks. Swim.

Amaya made cardboard relief art.

First day of level 4 for Steven and Sammy!

On Wednesday evening, the kids and I headed over to Thornton Creek for open house / meet the teacher. It was great to be in the busy school though, with no visitors allowed, I’m not sure when I’ll get to return. There are four 2nd grade classrooms with two by the K and 1st grade rooms (where Steven and Sammy are) and two over by the upper grades (where Amaya is). We found our classrooms, handed in our supplies and got to meet our teachers.

Steven and Sammy’s room with Mrs. Bates.

Amaya’s room with Mrs. Boomer.

Popsicles afterward!

On Wednesday night, both Amaya and Steven had trouble falling asleep so down they came while I watched TV. I think this was a first, and another first was that we let them sleep through the night downstairs together. They were both very surprised to wake up downstairs!

At lunchtime on Thursday, the kids and I packed up the car and started the drive up north for a weekend in Charlevoix and Petoskey. We went to Petoskey early July 2020 and I was so excited for another weekend away.

We made good time and, by 4:30pm, were at our cabin on Oyster Bay / Lake Charlevoix. Truly a rustic little spot off a dirt road. No wifi, no AC, no water & dryer. The kids looooved it.

We checked out the lake and dock before even going inside.

After we got settled, we headed to downtown Charlevoix. I had only been one time before, five years ago, for a wedding. We wandered around town and got the lay of the land before grabbing dinner.

Steven named this gnome, “Papa”. 🙂

There’s a drawbridge going into Charlevoix and it was a huuuuuge draw for the kids, especially Steven. It’s active, too, so over the course of three days they got more than their share of draw bridge openings.

Steven and a map.

A late dinner outdoors.

While we were eating, we got our first draw bridge excitement. Can you see it open in the distance?

The kids really liked that the house was a log cabin. It had a loft that Amaya immediately claimed. She did offer to share with the brothers on a rotating schedule.

We had a lazy Friday morning and then headed to Petoskey. We ate at a restaurant we visited last time, which was a fun memory to revisit.

After lunch we headed down by the pier in our wet suits and carrying metal detectors. I was almost deserted when we first arrived. The kids had a great time searching for metal, finding rocks (Amaya found a petoskey stone) and swimming. It was cool, but the wet suits kept the kids warm enough. They were a great investment this summer.

Walking out to the lighthouse, the kids were on “gnat patrol”, swatting away the little bugs in the area.

From there, we went to Petoskey State Park where we spent the rest of the afternoon. The water was so calm and it got progressively warmer.

Steven and Sammy were the hit of the beach with their metal detectors. Steven even found a tent hook~

This older guy came by with his metal detector and talked with the kids for a bit. He said that the key is patience and more patience. You can find great stuff but you have to put in the time. I think he really liked seeing a bunch of kids who were the same age he was when he got started.

Sammy spent a long time building this castle. Then he had a great time destroying it.

The night before we tried to get an outdoor table at a waterside restaurant in Charlevoix but the wait was too long so we tried again on Friday and got seated right away. Prime spot to watch the draw bridge open 3 times over the course of our meal.

Saturday morning was another lazy morning and I woke up feeling sick. (Though later recovered.) It was rainy, with rain in the forecast for Sunday as well, so the kids and I decided to enjoy the day and then start making our way back to Novi a day early so we could get to the State Fair on Sunday. It was easy to come to the decision together knowing sunshine was in the forecast back home.

We walked around Charlevoix and had lunch.

We passed by a flower store with this beautiful doorway.

Steven staged the photos of the three kids together. I just executed his vision. 🙂

One last trip out back to the dock. You can see Amaya is wearing my Charlevoix sweatshirt.

Before we left, Steven took pictures of everything.

Little cabin on the lake.

On our way to Petoskey, we stopped at Roadside Park on Lake Michigan. One last chance to find beautiful rocks.

Detour to buy pottery for my rocks!

The main goal of our stop in Petoskey was to visit a toy store. The kids remembered it from last time and, to be fair, it’s a good one.

Steven left with a new friend – Flying Morminer.

None of us wanted to get home late so we decided to stay the night at a hotel on the way home. Our Panda Express was waiting for us when we arrived. Perfect.

“Surprising” daddy on Sunday morning with our earily arrival!

And then it was off to the state fair. Jason had a fantasy football draft at 2pm so the kids and I headed over around 1pm. Jason finally made it around 5pm, after a ton of traffic and long long lines to get in. The crowds got heavier and heavier as the day progressed. It took us over 30 minutes just to get lemonade and corn dogs.

But it was worth it. We had so much fun.

There was a limit of 3 people in each ferris wheel car so Amaya and Steven went off on their own while I rode with Sammy. He wasn’t thrilled about the height.

Once Jason arrived, Sammy and I were able to ride The Tornado. The first pic is before he went and still a little nervous. The next is right after. We would have taken another turn on this ride if time had allowed. But Amaya had her eyes set on the fun slide.

Bounce house! Amaya and Steven had their turn while Sammy and I were on The Tornado.

We had an intentionally lazy day today, with tomorrow kicking off a new school year. (I still can’t believe it. Back to school! And second grade!)

While i did some work, the kids and Jason spent a lot of time looking at ball cards.

Sammy, the avocado picker

A hair touch-up in preparation for school tomorrow.

Steven and I enjoyed the great weather with a trail walk at Maybury State Park, down the road. It’s perfect for him because the trail is interspersed with many, many maps. (But they’re also full of mosquitoes, who love Steven.)