Treasure the Moment....

Vacation Complete!

We are home again.  Pete picked up the kids and I today and as usual I had to hit the ground running...I arrived home to messages from soccer coaches, the reality of our plumbing failure while I was gone, 1 month of vacation laundry, and a mile long To Do list to get the kids ready for school on Monday.  Summer vacation is over!  Where did it go!

I want to share this fun photo we took at Cedar Point.  I have wanted to do this forever and it was so much fun!  Of course my wacky family got way into it.......aren't they the best?

Feeling Old and Feeling Young All at once!

Yesterday after a large family gathering the kids ended up spending the night with family members so there I was on a Saturday night with no kiddos.  Heck, this 38 year old mom was looking forward to a quiet night but this rare opportunity came up to take my 21 year old cousin out for a drink.  We went to a martini bar together in town and then headed down the street to watch the Olympics at a local pub.  I was amazed when they asked for my ID at the door (OK, so maybe they asked for everyone's ID but I felt special). 

I just love Chrissy.......we are the two sole girls in the family and I am her Godmother.  We got a kick out of the fact my grandma cannot separate the two of us.  She thinks that Christine is me so we get a good laugh out of that. 

Other than being carded......the other favorite part of the night was someone asking if she was my sister!   I will take that.  We had a great time together.  Chris, thank you for a great time.  I love you and our time together!

Tomorrow we pack it up and head back West.........we are all already feeling sad from missing everyone.  We had such a special vacation that will stay with us forever.  It was exactly the vacation I wanted to give the kids. Summertime in Michigan is so special.

Coasters. Junk Food, and Games....Oh MY!

Sandusky, Ohio here we come!  Cedar Point Baby!  At 7 am we headed out in the Up-Lander and headed South to Cedar Point.  My Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Tyler and I were excited to take this park by storm and we did.  This is one of those days that can be best shown with a slide show so if you care to see our fun..........

At the end of the day there was one Roller Coaster that looked ever so daunting but I have this philosophy "When in Rome do as the Romans Do".  That means if I ever get to New Zealand or Rome and they eat deep fried leather shoe as a cuisine than I would probably give it a go.  So with Christine I loaded on the Dragster.........just some facts:

• Track Length - 2800 ft
• Height - 420'
• Angle of the lift hill - 90 degrees
• Vertical drop - 400'
• Angle of Descent - 90 degrees
• Launch speed - 120 mph (in less than 4 seconds)
• Drop speed - 120 mph

Here is a little visual comparison:

I was very unsure and just so you know I have no real interest in plummeting to my death nor breaking any land speed records.  I wondered why I would do this but you only live once.  Might as well go out with my feet running in the sand...........

Here we are at the top!

I have some great shots on the coasters that I bought and will share once I scan from home.  Thanks Aunt Audrey, Uncle Larry and Christine for a day that Tyler and we not forget.  We love you!

Summertime in Northern Michigan!

and had the best time Up North Michigan.  It was so great to be back with my cousins!  I just love being with them!...........

We had such a great time on Sunday at my Aunt Linda and Uncle Chris's (Did I mention what great hosts they are?).  I have to admit that when I took the kids up to Mackinac and we planned on spending the night we all took a vote and it was unanimous to go back and fore go the hotel because we missed them.  Now we are all feel the void.  In true Weinzapfel form Sunday was filled with competition after competition..........

Hula Hoop Competition


Need I say who the big winner was?

Baseball Game


What would the game be without controversy?
or some cheating?
Tie Game!

Horse Shoes Anyone?

But what was all this about............being with the best family in the world.  This is who I am and where I came from.  You can always come home. Thank you to my Aunt Linda, Uncle Chris, Aunt Dianna and Harry for taking us in, taking good care of us, feeding us, and welcoming us home.  The wave good-bye was a hard one.......
          

We are back downstate and my brother is here to spend the last few days with us.  The kids are excited to be playing with Uncle Timmy but I am not sure who is wearing out whom first.  All I know is I have someone to entertain them while I rest up.............

Tomorrow is Cedar Point for Tyler and I with my Aunt Audrey, Uncle Larry and Christine.

Feet don't Fail me Now!

Don't give up on me now!  I am still on vacation in Northern Michigan.  It has been one activity after another.........the last few days has seen us on:

• a trip to Mackinac Island
• dipping our feet in Lake Michigan
• Having an old fashioned tea party
• Eating
• a "Hobo" Dinner cooked over a campfire
• Hula Hooping
• Tyler has been golfing (I decided to retire my clubs)
• Painting
• More Poker
• More Libations
• Campfires with sparklers & s'mores (yummy) - These California kids are loving lighting things up.
• In a Lighthouse
• Putt Putt Golfing
• Spending time with my cousins
• The occasional nap (when I can sneak one in)
• Did I mention the eating!
• Dinner at my cousin's restaurant.
• Shopping in Alden, Michigan
• More libations and more eating
• Michaela cooking (I am on vacation)

Ok, a few more pics to show you the craziness...............
Tea Party
Putt Putt winners!
Gotta show those Losers!

See you soon!..............Life is Good and I am still standing to talk about it.  Miss me!    
      

Help! I need a vacation from my vacation!

Miss me??  I am getting the emails now asking where the heck am I.  I am alive but hanging on to the edge of my seat.  I have been..........

• in a parade (in a fire truck no less)
• floating down the Platte River
• in Lake Michigan
• on the water (time after time)
• boating (a pontoon boat)
• cherry picking (and eating cherries until I could eat no more!)
• watching the most spectacular fireworks show
• golfing 9 holes (the first time and the absolute last time)
• ran a 5K
• Kayaking
• playing poker (losing my rear)
• having a few drinks (ok a few more than a "few")
• spending lots of time with my family
• seeing great friends
• and that is only in the first few days...........................

I have had not time to write but am taking over 250 pictures a day!  Way to many to share but here is a snippet of our activities:

who else gets a self-portrait during 5K?

Love my new favorite shirt!  A Skull and it says Michigan! I literally wore it out of the store.

Ok asleep on the Platte River after too much fun, sun, water and beer
 

Ok, I think that is a brief summary of my life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in Northern Michigan......I actually have to refer back to Kid Rock on this one (music please).......sing along people "It was Summertime in Northern Michigan"        

Where In the World Is Tracy?

..........I am in Traverse City, Michigan and it feels like paradise.  I so owe an update and it is coming.  I think a few slide shows are in order too.  But for now here is what life looks like.......

We are living it up on the water............See you soon! 

Capture-A-Memory Scrappers are the Best!

and I am not just saying that!  The gals at Capture-A-Memory in Flint, Michigan welcomed me and right off I knew I would love this sold-out group!  They were a lively and talented bunch.........

My mom went along as my own personal paparazzi to 'capture my memory'.  There was such a positive response and I absolutely loved my time there.  I had a great time sharing my passion with this dynamic group. A very special 'Thank You' to Pat the manager who invited me to teach at their great store. If you are in the Flint, MI area it is definitely worth the visit. 

THANK YOU GIRLS!

Go Right through for MSU.......

I think we need a theme song for this post and it is my College Alma Mater's Fight Song............Michigan State University

Ok, that is better.  Today we headed to the Michigan State campus to sight-see, shop and see our friend's Julie and Jaden. 

First we ate lunch at the ever famous Peanut Barrel.  This is a local spot we used to meet at to study and have a beer (I know drinking and studying do not mix!) and the burgers are delicious to this very day.
 

Then we met up with Julie and Jaden and got some shopping in to pick up some MSU gear.  Can I just tell you that Aunt Julie was nice enough to buy my kids giant foam fingers and footballs?  (I had the strange urge to give her a finger).  I am sure the people they sit next to on the plane with love those foam fingers.  Aunt Tracy paid back by buying Jaden a nice messy sucker.  Julie was a roommate of mine in college and to this day whenever we meet up it was like we never were apart.  She is also Tyler's Godmother.
Can you believe that this angelic lady (the Godmother of my first born) gave me a finger (not a foam one either) in the picture previous to this?

We headed on campus to feed the ducks in the Red Cedar River in front of the library.  This had to be one of my most favorite places on campus when I went to school there. 


   

The kids loved being with Jaden and of course I could not stop snapping photos of him!
   

Then on to see Sparty and the famous stadium.

The day was not over yet.  We headed to the Michigan Athletic Club and took the kids swimming (is anyone tired from our vacation already????  I know I sure am!).

We literally tired Jaden right out (ok, I admit I slept the whole way home too and probably drooled like this).

Thank you guys for a great day!  See you soon.........this weekend to be exact up-north!

Fishing, Archery and Canoing all in one Day!

We packed in a lot of fun all in one day.  Having California kids they are experiencing lots of new things on this trip:

1. bug spray (can you believe they have never had on bug spray?) Micky wondered why I was spraying sunscreen on her at night and I had to explain it was bug spray for mosquitoes.
2. archery
3. canoing
4. catching fireflies
5. swimming in fresh water

Today we went to our friend's new house right on a river where the kids experienced it all!  Lee and E are such great friends and we absolutely love their kids.  E has been in our lives for a lifetime (my brother's best friend).  Today they showed us true Michigan fun.  They started out by fishing.......

Then it was off in the canoes..........

where we got some swimming in.........

Time to eat and relax (as if we are not relaxing enough)........

Then E showed the kids archery.  The kids just loved shooting the bear target. 

Meanwhile Kennedy Belle was my ever agreeable model.  Isn't she adorable?  I just love her and I love the way she shadows me.

How can we beat all that in one day?  Oh my no wonder I came home and napped.