Pure Michigan

So much has happened since our last post!  We had a busy two weeks that were filled with family, friends and LOTS of fun.

It all started with my Dad's CFO of the Year award's luncheon in Milwaukee.  He received the CFO of the Year Career Achievement Award and we're so proud of him!  

I stopped by to see PJers on the way back home that Friday afternoon - cutie pants.

On Friday evening Katie and Joe came up from Indy to spend the weekend with us.  Katie's belly really has popped since the last time we saw her, she is so cute!  It looks like she swallowed a basketball.  Baby isn't due until January, so we're looking forward to seeing her basketball get bigger and bigger.  We had such a fun weekend with Katie & Joe.  Leah also came by on Friday night, and we had the typical laugh-fest that we always have when the three of us are together.

At the park - Kessler and Spumoni swimming

Little Hiker

Eating al fresco in downtown Lake Forest - so fun!!

On Sunday we bid adieu to Katie and Joe and started our roadtrip to the western coastal towns of Michigan.  We travelled with Donna and Emil in their roomy conversion van and we had a blast.  WOW is all I can say, the scenery was simply amazing.  It was peak time for fall colors, so it was just beautiful everywhere you looked.  We lucked out on weather too, with sunny, warm days everyday.  We had a busy four days of travel.  The first night we stayed in beautiful downtown South Haven, MI and enjoyed this gorgeous sunset.

The next day we meandered our way up to Empire, MI stopping at wineries, apple orchards and little beach towns along the way.

Tuesday, after our delicious breakfast at the B&B we stayed at, we spent the day at the AWESOME Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.  This was recently named Good Morning America's "Most Beautiful Place in the Country" and I have to agree - it was extremely beautiful.  I mean, look at these views!!  We stopped at the local "Cherry Republic" store and restaurant that literally is the Bubba Gump Shrimp company, but for cherries.  They have cherries in everything!  The food was delicious, and the store was dangerous - I wanted everything!

Walking around the grounds of our B&B

The water was so clear and the sky was so blue.

Picnic lunch in the woods:)

Hiking up the dunes was a lot of work!

 On Wednesday we were so excited to spend the day at the historic Mackinac Island.  The island does not allow any motor vehicles, and is home to the famous Grand Hotel that was featured in the film "Somewhere in Time" many years ago (but always a classic).  I have always wanted to go there, and it did not disappoint.

Passing under the Mackinaw City Bridge while on the ferry to Mackinac Island

We took a private buggy tour of the island

Butterfly Garden

Arch Rock in Mackinac Island State Park

Thursday was our last day, we saw the sights of Charlevoix before making the long drive home to Chicago.  I was so happy to have breakfast with Sam, an old friend from my masters swim class coaching days.  He and his wife live in Charlevoix.

Breakfast with Sam and Cass

Rainbow when we got back to Chicago - our house is at the end of the rainbow?

We returned Thursday night, and bright and early Friday morning I headed to New Jersey for a long weekend to visit my dear friend, Shelley.  Shelley and I grew up together and were inseparable for too many years to count.  She and her family live just outside of New York in New Jersey.  Last week Shelley received her last round of chemotherapy for the leukemia she was diagnosed with in the Spring, and so I went out there to visit and help out.  We had a nice time and it was so wonderful spending time with Shelley, Rob and Alyssa, her fun and adorable 2 yr old daughter that I got to hang out with.  I miss them already!  Shelley has been in remission since her first round of chemo (Thank God!!), so the rest of the treatment plan is just to make sure she stays that way.  We know she will!  Keep up the great work Shell!  xoxo

Finally, just wanted to include a couple shots of Luke getting ready for Halloween!