Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Day Two - Beach


We spent the night at a quaint inn outside of Michigan City.  It was an older place, but very clean and every room had a balcony with a great view - woods and a creek!  We had intended to be up early and join Brian and his in-laws at the lake house after breakfast but between sleeping in a bit, enjoying the better than average hotel breakfast, and pushing a chair out on the balcony to read a couple chapters in a novel, it was late morning before we actually arrived on the beach.

And what a beach!  This place was  incredible!  Conrad took one look and declared it the best day ever.  (and he didn't even know yet what else was coming his way, literally)  


Conrad kayaking!
  


The sand was perfect for playing in, the water was just right for swimming. I can see why Brian and Sarah spend so many weekends there.

The owners of the home we were visiting are Sarah's parents.  I hadn't seen them since Brian and Sarah's wedding. (before Conrad was born!).  Also visiting was Sarah's aunt and her grandma.  It was a lovely group to spend a day with and we enjoyed every minute.


sister-in-law Sarah, holding our very cute nephew Henry


Conrad discovers a glass bottle floating in the lake

pulls out a note...

daddy helps him untie the ribbon

reading

reading 

wow!  a note from a pirate!?!?!  A treasure hunt?1?

first clue

looking for second clue

third clue

just found a TREASURE MAP!!!

study it

digging for a treasure

a real treasure chest?  It really is the best day ever!!!

checking out the treasures with Deb and Stephanie (Sarah's aunt and mom, the sweetest pirates I've ever met)


After all that excitement we had worked up an appetite.  We went up to the house for a delicious lunch and then back to the beach.  Henry went down for his second nap so Sarah as able to join us and she helped Conrad find rocks for an afternoon project.  It wasn't long after that though when the kids started winding down.  Sarah and I watched a movie with the kids inside for some quiet time while Brian took Tim golfing. 



When the guys returned, we put together our rock faces (below)

Norrie worked on her own little project.

We stayed for dinner, another tasty meal, and then played a round of bingo (a game found in treasure chest).  Combination of another fun day and being bedtime when we left, the kids fell asleep quickly once strapped into carseats.  We drove back to Brian and Sarah's home in Lincoln Park to stay the night so our drive home would be a bit shorter on Monday morning.  

Brian and Henry