The kids and I just got back from three days & three nights in Petoskey & Charlevoix (because it’s nearly impossible for me to stay still) and it’s getting late so, for the first time, I set a timer and decided whatever I can accomplish in 35 minutes is what this blog update will be. It’s a good way to get this done (which I want to do) without spending excessive time (which I do not want to do). After selecting and uploading photos I have 19 minutes left so if suddenly this is just a bunch of pictures with no context, you’ll know why.

Wednesday evening the kids had Meet the Teacher night in advance of Tuesday’s first day of school. Amaya dressed for the occasion. 🙂 This is the first year that all three kids have their own classes. I had to nudge Sammy into this just a bit but he was the boldest of the three, walking into his classroom. I had no doubts he’d be totally fine. And one of his favorite friends is in his class, too.

SSA all got to see each others’ classrooms which are conveniently clustered together. Last year, Amaya was half the school away from the brothers.

After lunch on Thursday the kids and I took our annual trip Up North. It’s crazy to think that, sometime in the spring, I suggested to my mom that she should join us. We had a wonderful weekend but, even outside of the potential of that trip, everything is just a bit paler, duller when I can’t share it with Nana. Even typing this now blows my mind. But we’re keeping on keeping on.

We had a house halfway between downtown Petoskey and downtown Charlevoix – about 10 minutes to each. Right by our house was a little path own to the lake. SSA really enjoyed skipping rocks down there.

Our Thursday night dinner was in Charlevoix right by the drawbridge. Steven has been waiting a full year to see it rise and fall again. He was not disappointed! (Though, again, this restaurant attracts wasps so I’m not sure we will eat outside there next year.)

Waiting…

First drawbridge opening of the season for Bobes!

Sammy, in a MI chair. I loved it. He was not impressed.

We got to bed at a reasonable hour and then had a lazy morning before putting on our suits and heading to Petoskey for lunch. While I was paying for parking I told the kids to “go play on the tracks” which made an older couple laugh.

Lunch at Duffy’s, three years running.

We spent the afternoon at Petoskey State Park. The weather was perfect, sunny and not too hot. The kids spent most of the time using their metal detectors and a bit of time in the water. Even I went in and enjoyed the lake waves.

Steven, trying to decide if he was willing to go with Sammy to get me (Mommy Salty Cucumber, as he calls me) a bottle of water. He did!

Sammy and I spent some time relaxing together <3

We had some real waves on Friday! Today the lake was totally calm.

Not a filter in sight, just pure MI blue sky.

After a trip home for showers, we headed back to Petoskey for dinner where we had dinner (three years running) at Beards Brewery.

Amaya has taken to wearing some of Nana’s bracelets along with the Pandora bracelet she got at Disney. I love this so much.

After dinner we had obligatory ice cream.

As a surprise on the drive home, we went back to the little beach pull off to see the sunset over the lake and skip more rocks. It was beautiful. Again, no filter, just Michigan.

This sky! On Saturday we headed to Charlevoix in the morning where I bumped into my old friend Ginny! So wild. She lives in NY now (Westchester) and we haven’t seen each other in almost 4 years. We spent a while together walking on the pier with the kids and talking while they played on a beach playground.

Then it was back to Petoskey for shopping and snacks before heading to the Petoskey pier to hunt for Petoskey stones.

I can’t believe our luck with the weather.

(Three minute countdown!) Today we made the most of the day after checking out of our Airbnb. We had brunch in Petoskey at Roast & Toast, did more rock collecting on the shore and then visited a mini golf place that we all loved when we were there two years ago.

Sammy, proud of his rock tower

Amaya said, “Wait, I have to look sad.”

It was a lovely way to end our summer. I will admit I’m ready for the school year to start and to move into a new season. Next week will be an update on SSA’s first week of third grade!

And I did it, with 0:55 on the timer!