Pure Michigan

Well, I have escaped the craziness that is my life and have taken refuge at the most obvious of locations - My mother's.

I have been planning all summer this 2 week getaway with the kids in tow. I hope to make this trek every August from here on out.

It is a 5.5-hour drive without stops from my house. Obviously with kids, it takes a bit longer. I was pretty nervous yesterday driving up here all by myself without someone else to help take care of the kiddos. But like most things I worry about, I had nothing to worry about. The kids did amazing! I did not have one issue the whole way. We left around 10 in the morning and got up here just after 4:30 in the evening. We stopped for lunch and that was it. I could not have asked for a better drive. Amen.

As soon as we got up here, Calan has been attached to Papa Bill's hip wanting to do anything and everything that he is doing. So many guy things to do up. He is in heaven.

Maisie is, of course, just Maisie doing her own thing finding joy and happiness in the simplest of things.

Bob will head up Friday evening after work with our dog. As well as, friends of ours are coming up for the weekend with their children. I enjoy being able to share this special spot with friends.

Not sure everything that we will do while we are up here, but relaxing is definitely what the doctor ordered.

I hope that for years to come that my mom's house is the great place that my dad's parent's house was to us as kids. Since we are unable to see my family as much as my husband's, I hope trips like this feel special to them and are something that they look forward to every year.

I want them to enjoy nature and the simple life that my parent's house offers them. I love living in a city, and wouldn't move to the country for anything, but having places like my mom's to escape to is amazing.

Pure Michigan.

My view for the next 12 days. Not too shabby.