4th of July Pics

4th of July, 2009

We had a very relaxing 4th of July long weekend full of sun, sand, sharks-teeth, shells and fun!

We left on July 1st and headed to Venice, FL for sometime in the sun at the many beaches in the Venice area.  We drove through a torrential rain storm all the way south on I-75.  By the time we arrived at our destination and got settled in (after doing some grocery shopping) the sun was out and we got ready for the next day and hitting the beach.  

Each day that we were there from July 1 through July 6, we would get up and have breakfast and then hit the Beach, any beach, it really didn't matter, a long as it had waves, the Gulf, sand and Shark's Teeth.  We would stay until around 2 p.m. and then head home for showers and lunch.  We would then relax and enjoy the peaceful time with hardly any cell phone service.  I completed 22 Scrapbook pages over those 6 days - Very productive!

On the 4th we went to Venice Beach and got the perfect spot in the sand, so Elani could dig and watched the sun set before the Fireworks started.  Sunday was our last day at the beach and then we headed home on Monday.  What a great relaxing place without a care in the world.  Elani had a ball playing in the waves and sand at the beaches.  It was hard getting her to come out of the water to go home every day.  Just had to promise her that we would be back the next day!  She is like a little fish!

More Michigan Pics

Catch up Time

I can't believe I have neglected this blog for the past two months.  We've been so busy, but we are now settled in at home for a couple of months.

June 25th we flew to Michigan to celebrate my birthday with our daughter Michelle.  We took Elani with us.  Rudy found some great rates on flights and we couldn't pass it up.  When we arrived in Grand Rapids at 1:00 p.m., Michelle picked us up and we drove to her house where we relaxed for a couple of hours before going to The Bear Claw for dinner with my Mom and Don.  Michelle made a cake and brought it, but it wasn't edible (we tried).....  long story.  We took lots of pictures outside the restaurant and then down along Lake Cadillac.  This time of year, it doesn't get dark in Michigan until almost 10:00 p.m.  I forgot that about Michigan summers.

Friday we worked in Michelle's garage sorting through some boxes that she was storing for us and we threw a lot of stuff away, too.  In the afternoon we went to Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Paul's house on Rose Lake.  They took us on a pontoon ride and Elani caught her very first fish and then another one.  After two she was done with fishing (they stopped biting).  It was so nice and very relaxing riding around the lake.  Michelle fixed dinner and we ate on their patio.  While Rob was giving Elani rides on his 3-wheeler, Michelle and I took off for our traditional photo-shoot at Lake Cadillac.  We took lots of pictures of just Michelle and me.  Our time together.  Very special to me.  

Saturday we went to my mom's house on the Muskegon River and tubed down the river for 1 1/2 hours.  It was very refreshing to say the least.  We never got off the tubes once after we started the ride back to the house.  When we arrived mom had fresh strawberry shortcake waiting for us.  Another thing I miss about Michigan summer's - sweet juicy strawberries.  The Florida grown just aren't the same.  Later that afternoon we came back to Michelle and Rob's and had grilled chicken, pasta salad for dinner.  We made a fire in the back yard and roasted marshmellows and made smores in the spitting rain with umbrellas. We didn't let a little rain stop us from having a good time.

Sunday we had to get up early and head back to Grand Rapids for our returning flight.

When we arrived there we found out that our flight had been cancelled and wouldn't leave until Monday at 4:00 p.m.  This was not going to work for us, so they made us other arrangements.  We had to rent a car and drive to Fort Wayne, IN and catch a 7:30 flight that would arrive in Tampa/St. Pete at 9:30 p.m.  Janine had our car, so she drove to the airport and picked us up and we finally climbed into bed around 1:00 a.m.  My alarm went off for Monday's work day at 5:00 a.m.  Needless to say, I was somewhat tired by the time I left work that night at 6 p.m.

It was a great weekend though.  A great way to spend my birthday, too!