At the beginning of the summer, Mema and Pops were
discussing summer plans with us. They mentioned
going back up to Kelley's Island to see Great Grandma Marge
(technically not Rob's grandma, but I will spare
you the details). We were all "yes! totally! count
us in"! But, as the days grew closer (and we had
just got back into the swing of things from our
Oregon trip) I started to question if we should go
or not. But, as usual, my mentality that any
travel is good for you won out. It's definitely
a hassle (the packing and planning) but I will
always choose travel over staying home.
And we always come back with a greater
appreciation for our country or - in this case
our beautiful state!
(view from the road outside Marge's house)
We planned to leave our house no later
than 1:00 on Friday ...but we got delayed a bit and it was
closer to 1:30. Thankfully, Kelley's Island is just
about a two and half hour drive to Marblehead/Lakeside.
Then, you catch a ferry which takes you the rest of the way.
This year, we paid the extra $32 to take our car over - which
I highly recommend if you are traveling light like us.
Like us - means you bring, two overnight bags, a
bag of sand toys, a cot and pillow, cooler, stroller, and
car seat. It was an ongoing joke that we basically packed
our entire house. But, really, I was prepared for
anything. S'mores stick? check. Applesauce? check.
Itch stick? check. Extra towels? Check.
You get the idea.
We arrived around cocktail hour, so we got busy
making drinks. Max got busy with all the new
toys Marge had pulled from her attic - including
colorful wooden blocks, army men, trucks, and an
old Fisher Price Rotary phone. We ate a delicious
dinner (that I didn't have to plan or prepare!) - of
hamburgers, salad, and corn on the cob (which my
mother in law would tell you has zero nutritional value,
but I continue to eat because holy hell it's so
good slathered in butter and salt).
Before we knew it - it was time to get Max
ready for bath and bed. After he fell asleep we watched a
new show called "I bought a farm" which everyone
joked was maybe the future for Papa Rob and I
with my new found love of llamas and alpacas!
(this was the highlight of Max's morning - riding on
Grandma Marge's tractor)
Saturday morning brought a whole new level of
heat and humidity to the island - and we got our
exercise in early by taking a two mile walk
into town. We broke the walk up by playing
at the beach, and on the local machinery...and
dreaming up a new dock for Marge :)
By the time we arrived back home, Marge was just
in the car in her driveway about to head out and
search for us because we had been gone so long!
We convinced Max to go back into town for some
last minute groceries and ice for our cooler.
He had his first "push pop" - which sadly there
are no pictures of because it was a drippy
mess that I was trying to prevent from going all
over the car!
After lunch at Marge's we hit the beach - (which is
actually also a park that you can camp at).
The water was surprisingly warm and all of us
got in right away. Max ventured out pretty far with
Pops and then wanted to just swim back and forth
between all of us. I couldn't believe how much more
confident he was in the water. He was kicking his
back legs and pumping his hands (all this from the kid
who on memorial day was like Velcro to anyone
holding him in the pool). He loved chasing me around
with the sea weed and pressing it onto my legs!
We also spent a lot of time digging and dumping
sand at the beach. He was content to just dig sand
at the water's edge or fill up the buckets with sand
and then dump it out. He also asked another little
boy that was playing close by to play with him.
They worked together to add more sand to the
pile and Max offered to share so many of his toys.
I was genuinely surprised! haha!
All total we probably spent about 3 hours at the beach
(during the hottest part of the day...mind you)
and Max did not want to leave.
We packed it in around 4:00 and drove back to Marge's.
Max continued to play with the same four toys over
and over (which cements in my mind that kids
don't actually need that many toys) - until dinner time.
Pop's had been preparing his famous
ribs all afternoon noon - slow roasting them
to perfection. So, while the adults were preparing
to eat a little later, we fed Max at his normal time.
Then, he enjoyed some I-pad time while we happy houred
(with my new favorite drink - a gin and tonic)
and ate. Next thing you know, he was totally passed out
on the couch. Early bedtime for the win!
As the night wore on - we socialized with Marge's
island friends....and I got everyone pumped up
for S'mores! I mean, how can you not have
smores when there is perfect fire ring and
you have the perfect roasting sticks? Exactly.
Eagle Scout Rob built a fire for us....and I
schooled everyone on how to toast a marshmallow.
People were acting like they didn't want smores
but eventually everyone came around to
this real American pastime.
On Sunday, we woke up late - Mema headed to church -
we packed up and were off island by 11:00.
It started to rain as we rode the ferry and Rob
was furiously figuring out the closest McDonald's...
and I may have fallen asleep for most of the ride home :)
All in all - it was such a delight to be together
for the second summer in a row!
p.s. at the beach I decided I needed a rainbow
beach umbrella. Found here ...just in case you're
the type that likes to start buying Christmas
presents in July ;) But seriously - someone send
me this umbrella. Pretty please!?
xoxo
