Video Bar

Check out the video bar at the top right.

I like the first two dog videos.

Enjoy your watch.

Shawn in the grass

Shawn trying to hide in the dune grass!


















I asked him to take another pic and this is the look I get.
















Then he smerks for his Mama!

Love ya Shawner!

Funny People

These two crack me up!

I love your blog!!!!!

Thanks Mari! That is a really cute little note!
I love your blog too!

Since Mari gave to anyone on her blog list, I would also like to pass around. Probably most of mine are on hers also. LOL

Silver Lake Sand Dunes

The kids made it up this dune pretty well. Tom did fairly well with a couple breaks. Me on the other hand--several breaks. Why? You ask? Well, this particular dune was really steap and the day before I climbed another dune and my legs were burning with pain in in my quads. First I was wanting to stay down to take pictures of people flying over the top of this dune. Then, I decided that I really wanted to see what it was like up there. I am so happy that I made it because the view was awesome!
This was at the top of the dune looking back to where we started walking from. That water in the background happens to be Silver Lake. You can see some of the vehicles taking a break and going back for some more dune riding.
This is Matt and Amanda. We rented a dune buggy for them and they had a great time riding on the dunes. This little thing is not that powerful they had to keep going on some of the smaller dunes. They did attempt this big one that we climbed to the top of. If he could keep it going, he could make it. What a riot to watch them.
This is someone in a really nice buggy flying over the steeped part. This was why I wanted to stay down and take a few pics. This was from half way up the dune. We could not believe how fast and how daring some of these people are.
This is a view from the top of the dune. Lake Michigan in the distance. This is the steep that they had to get up and go over. Some would get stuck at top, or just stop, some would rest up there or wait for others in their group. Some had to go down backwards because they could not make it. This was not the steepest one either.

Have a great day! Everyone should try to do this someday. Fun had by all!

Little Sable Lighthouse

We are on our way to the Little Sable and it really don't look that little!

We did make it all the way to the top. I forget how many stairs. Over 90.

Once you make it up, there is such a beautiful view.

Also, when you are at the top, on the outside rail it tells how far you are from certain places.

Amanda and Matt at top of Lighthouse. Lake Michigan behind!

Matt, Amanda, Mitch, Mason, Shawn

On the rocks below the lighthouse.

Shawn, Mitch, Mason

On a piece of driftwood on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

We had a lot of fun that day. Walking the beach, climbing the Lighthouse, going over to the dunes--that will be in next post.

SILVER LAKE MACWOODS DUNE RIDE

Shawn, Matt, Amanda, Mitch, Tom, Mason

We had fun riding the Mac Wood Dune Ride.

I was surprised at how fast we went. Up and down the dunes!

Very beautiful.

You can see how the dunes will change all the time with the wind that is up there.

The "Dune" grass was planted a long time ago by some boyscouts and it continued to spread.

This is one of the views from the ride. That is Lake Michigan.

This next picture you can see why I was not in the picture of the first picture! LOL

Really, that is someone who was skydiving and his shoot did not open up.

No really, just something funny to look at! We all thought it was a hoot.

We had a great driver named Rob!

Update

Thank you all for praying and wishing us well on our camping trip.

Camping was great! I will add that post later with some cool pics!

Update on my step-son's Mom. Yesterday we find out that they misdiagnosed her and U of M said that she has Leukemia. Not the Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Her white cells are minimal to non and will need a blood transfusion. The boys don't know this part yet.

Mason, the littlest one does not even want to go to the hospital to see his Mom. I think it scares him. Last time he came home and said he did not feel good and went downstairs and slammed his door and was crying for a while. I did try to comfort him.

Anyway, so this is a change and since you all are caring and praying for them I thought I would update you.

Thanks again!

Maribeth----I am happy for me about the news of my new job. I just have to go tell our DON now. I will miss working with you guys, but I am always staying in touch.

Prayer

Hello everyone!

I just have a little tidbit of info for ya and a little requests.

My two step-sons Mom was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma T-cell NK. (Cancer of the lymph nodes). She has been in the hospital the last couple weeks and not doing very well. The cancer is in the bone marrow and getting injections into her spine and now her brain. Mitchell(10) and Mason (8-soon) kinda keep things held in and don't want to talk about things. Mason is a little depressed until we get his mind on something else.

I guess what I am asking is prayer for their Mom and the two of them.

Also, we are going camping this weekend up to Silver Lake at Jellystone, Yogi Bear campground. We will have a great time. I will show pics and write a posts after we all get back.

Everyone enjoy your weekend.

The cooler weather is great for sleeping and opening the windows for some fresh air!!
Short summer though!

USCG FESTIVAL FIREWORKS

THIS WAS ON THE MACKINAC SHIP ON THE SIDE. I THOUGHT I WOULD GET A SHOT OF THAT.
GRAND HAVEN HAS A MUSICAL FOUNTAIN. THEY PLAY MUSIC AND HAVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF MUSIC ON CERTAIN NIGHTS. IT ALWAYS PLAYS AT DUSK AND IT IS PRETTY NEAT TO WATCH THE FOUNTAIN FLOW AND SWAY TO THE MUSIC. IT ALSO HAS VARIOUS COLORS THROUGHOUT THE FOUNTAIN SHOW TOO.

NOW FOR SOME FIREWORKS! THESE WERE ALSO DONE TO MUSIC AND THIS WAS A SPECATCULAR SHOW. JUST LIKE EVERY YEAR AT THE COAST GUARD FESTIVAL. THIS FEST ALWAYS PUTS OFF THE BEST FIREWORK DISPLAY THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.

AS YOU CAN SEE THEY SET SOME OFF ON THE WATER OR NEAR THE WATER AND THEN UP ON THE HILL ABOVE THE MUSICAL FOUNTAIN.
PRETTY NEAT HEY?
THESE ARE JUST A FEW PICS OF THE ONES THAT I HAVE. ALSO I DID COMPETE WITH A TREE BRANCH. OH WELL, THEY STILL TURNED OUT PRETTY GOOD I THOUGHT.

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THE SHOW!

USCG FESTIVAL

On our way to the great Mackinac Ship of the USCG. That huge tall thing on the front is what lifts in and out the big boueys. We got to tour the whole ship. All of us had a nice time climbing aboard the ship and up and down the ladders (which were steep, no wonder they slide down them). Up in that window area is where all the mechanical equipment and maps and radar stuff is. I don't know all the lingo but that is what ya get from me.
This is the ship from Canada.
Kara and Shawn at the bell in Grand Haven. This was on our way to the ship.

We were on the back of the ship and I seen the flag and had to get a shot of it. So cool how it was blowing in the breeze and in the background see the boats and Grand Haven lighthouse in the canal.

USCG FESTIVAL-kids parade

This is a couple of the service people starting the parade. I don't know their names but I am thankful for the service that they do for our country. This is Tom (in the State hat--which I raz him about all the time--I like UofM). Next to him in the white shirt is Bill, he is also in the CG. Actually all those people in the picture and then some are people that serve in the CG and their kids in the kids parade. My boys are Mason (orange hat), Mitch (red shirt), Shawn (brown shirt, red bike and a whole TWO balloons). He did not want to put much effort into decorating his bike. Oh well!
This is Amanda, she had to get some candy at the parade since the boys were in the parade. She did not want me to take her pic, but I did anyway.

We had a great time going to the kids parade which is the little parade the first Saturday of the Festival. Actually, the parade wasn't so little. It was nice sized and there were floats! Can you believe it? People actually still make floats. Like when I was in High School for our Homecoming.

Allendale's 4th of July parade consists of a lot of tractors, people walking and passing out flyers and candy and old cars, but not many homemade floats that you ride on. It is still a nice parade. Just not like I use to see.

I did not get a chance to go to the second parade which is the really big one as I had to work. I guess that parade was over two hours long.

Anyway, my next post is going to be some pics of the Mackinac CG ship and some little things and fireworks. Woo0hoo!!!!