We're back!!!

[Jackie]

We arrived home yesterday from our Vacation. My uncle has a cabin in northwestern Wisconsin. I say "cabin", because that's what they call it, but it's REALLY bigger than my house!!! Absolutely beautiful. We had a family reunion there. They've got four full baths, it's located on a lake where they have their own private dock (covered) with a pontoon boat, a paddle boat, and two canoes. There's a beaver dam close to the dock, and all kinds of birds and wild flowers. My aunt is REALLY into nature stuff, so she has books and binoculars readily available. I finally got to re-meet my HS'ing cousin...we're both using "The Mystery of History" this year! It rained, but that sure didn't stop my kids! Rachael and her one cousing spent the whole morning at the dock fishing in the rain!

Then we drove home through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and camped three nights at the Straits of Mackinac. Again we had some rain, but it was on and off so it didn't damper our spirits too much. We drove up to see the Soo Locks at Saute St. Marie. If anyone is ever up that way, it's really worth seeing. We got to see the liargest freighter on the Great Lakes come through. And there was a little piece of wood drifting in the locks; I asked Phillip if maybe that was Paddle-to-the-Sea! Rachael wants to make a working model of a lock to demonstrate for her Oral Report in November.

Anyway, we're home now, and it was GREAT to sleep in a real bed! (Even at the cabin, we were sleeping in the camper.)

[becky]

Four bathrooms... only in my dreams!

[HeidiPA]

WELCOME BACK, Jackie! I didn't even know you were on vacation, but it sounds like you had a great time.
We have good friends who used to live in northern Michigan and we went to visit and got to see Mackinac Island, the bridge, etc. It's very beautiful up there.
Heidi

[abcTammy]

Sounds like a happy vacation. I've always wanted to get up to Mackinac Island. Nothing like getting away 8)
Happy Home Comming!
Tammy

[Jackie]

We didn't make it to the island. I'd love to go sometime. I told DH that he needs to starts saving now so we can spend one of our anniversaries at the Grande Hotel, LOL!

[Trudy Powell]

Oh, that sounds like a wonderful vacation. We haven't been on an extended trip with the kids yet (ages 7, 5, and 3). We plan on taking a nice one in the next couple of years as we just spent the last year and a half remodeling the house we bought while we lived in the unfinished basement. There are so many great places to go, it will be hard to pick one. I think Wyoming and Montana would be so beautiful, but then I love the southeast and the Savannah, Georgia, area, and the historical sites all along through there. Oh well, it's fun to think about.

[Jackie]

Trudy, I'd love to go down your way! I went to school in Oklahoma for two years, and many groups went to the Ozarks, but I never made it. I hear it's beautiful country. About all I know about it is "Where the Red Fern Grows".

We were only gone a week this time. This year we had planned on staying home, but then we had the Family Reunion come up. Next year we'll stay home, and maybe do a few days camping here or there close by, or take a day trip or two. We've lots of neat things in Ohio, especially if you're into history. The kids would love to go to Cedar Point or King's Island, but that's a little costly.