Maliana ~
We began the week prepping for our annual trip to Lake Michigan by getting a haircut and boogie board for the beach. We got an added bonus too because as we ate a quick dinner of your favorite “salad burrito” from Taco Bell (aka 7 layer burrito), we watched the demolition of part of a nearby shopping center. You loved the big machinery and exclaimed, “That’s big just like Daddy!” Ha.
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| just a little stoked to be getting your boogie board |
Daddy took you and your bike on a date to Safety Town after he got home since he forgot to bring your bike to school with you for bike day. You were pretty bummed about missing bike day, but this date completely made up for it. You were extra silly when you got home, jamming to “Bad Romance” in the car and then putting on a goofy break dance show to “Sexy and I Know It”. You are a character!
It’s been nice out so another night I got out the chalk and washable paint and let you and the neighbor kids go to town on our newly sealed driveway. Now that it’s a more uniform black, it makes a perfect canvas and your artwork shows up splendidly. You all loved getting good and messy. Big props to whoever invented washable paints.
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| neighborhood Picassos |
We stayed out until dark, at which time you were not completely on board with the idea of bedtime. You were pretty upset so Daddy and I took turns telling you stories to calm you down. Mine was about a starfish, a shark, and a seagull, while Daddy’s was about a baby and mommy turtle. At first we were a bit leery, thinking we couldn’t come up with something good, but you loved them and we discovered that it was actually pretty fun.
On your last day of school before leaving for the lake, I witnessed your first unprompted hug, given to classmate Joshie as we left the building. It was very sweet. You must have had a good day too because you definitely had a good strut going as we walked to the car. You also commented on your Samba soccer shoes saying, “Mom, everyone LOVED my soccer shoes!” to which I replied, “Yeah, you’re kind of a big deal, huh?” Thankfully, I successfully hid my chuckle as I watched your chest puff out a bit further and the swagger get a little more exaggerated as we reached the car.
Finally, the day arrived and we hit the road for the lake. You are such a good little traveler. Upon your request we listened to “Call Me Maybe” over and over again, sang Christmas carol after Christmas carol, and a hilarious rendition of “Where Is Thumbkin?” Daddy and I cracked up as we kept sneaking peeks at you singing in the backseat. You have the BEST face when you’re really getting into a song. And of course, you ALWAYS add a little extra flair to everything.
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I swear this was just a part of "Where is Thumbkin?" and NOT
you learning the fine art of hand gestures while driving |
As soon as we hit the cottage, you immediately wanted to jump right in the lake and begin swimming. You got the hang of boogie boarding pretty quickly as well, catching waves just a short time after your first attempt.
Here are some pictures from our first night at Lake Michigan.
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| trail of both you and Daddy's footprints |
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| finding "hidden treasures" aka rocks |
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| walking up to the lake cottage |
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| catching a wave |
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| more boogie boarding with Joey |
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I can't remember which cousins these were...but it's just
such a pretty shot |
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| first sunset picture |
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| you, Alex, Joey, and Sammy |
Unfortunately, you had an allergic reaction to something in the over 100 year old lake cottage, which made you break out in an itchy rash all weekend. Luckily, we actually slept at a nearby hotel and not in the cottage, so that provided some reprieve from whatever was making you so uncomfortable. Next year we’ll prepare better, perhaps taking you to an allergist before making this trip. Rash or no rash though, you had an amazing time with all of your cousins and extended family members. As you can see from the pictures below, you did not let some itchy red bumps stop you from having fun and enjoying family.
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| the builder and the destroyer |
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| good fun to bury Daddy in the sand |
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you wanted to get in on the fun so Sammy and
Uncle Kevin buried you with Daddy |
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| exploring the shoreline with Mom |
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| beach beauty... |
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| throwing rocks in the lake |
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| teasing the waves..."nana nana boo boo!" |
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| running from the waves that we just teased |
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| trying to walk on the sand bank without falling |
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| not succeeding...but having fun |
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| exploring with Daddy now |
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| cool piece of driftwood |
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| Memaw and Papaw |
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| cousin Abby helping you and Sam dig a big hole |
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| Joey was so helpful all weekend |
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seriously...who would have thought that sunsets
this beautiful could be in Michigan? Gorgeous! |
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| quietly watching the sun dip down into the water |
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| with Abby and Sammy |
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| helping Reilly put the kayak away |
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you LIGHT UP when you see these three girls!
(Alex, Joey and Sammy) |
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| sliver of moon high above a quiet beach |
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following you girls up the stairs to the
cottage at the end of a fun day |
Beginning another fun day on the beach...
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| with cousin Kayle |
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| watching the big cousins bury one of their own in the sand |
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| Sam sat and hung out with you girls for a long time...very sweet |
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| Daddy and Uncle Kevin |
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pretending to kayak with Mommy since the
actual waves freaked you out |
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| 2012 Wilkinson family beach picture |
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| bonfire on our last night there |
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| all hopped up on s'mores |
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| Papaw, Kevin, Memaw, and Daddy |
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just a moment captured from around the fire...L to R;
Abby, Sammy, you, Aunt Beth, and Alex |
The final morning at the lake we came back to the cottage to say goodbye. You were having so much fun running around the house with your cousins and sounding like a stampede of elephants upstairs, you threw a fit when it was time to go. In fact, you behaved exactly like Daddy used to behave when he had to leave as a child. It was sad to see those big tears welling up in your eyes, a combination of lack of sleep, effects of your allergies, and just not wanting to say goodbye because of all the fun you were having. It’s one of those times when being a parent really sucks, when making your kid cry is inevitable.
The good news is that once we were on the road you took a two and a half hour nap and were completely back to your silly self by the time we had unloaded the car. It’s fun to get away, wonderful to spend time with far away family, but it’s always nice to come home too.
Love,
Mama
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