Our vacation this year was a little different. First, the house we rented in our favorite area of New Buffalo was canceled on us just a few weeks before we were set to leave. There was a lot of confusion around why and the rental agency was super hard to get a hold of, which was even more suspicious. And of course, there were NO other houses available for our large group anywhere near the lake. We ended up in Battle Creek, MI staying at an awesome house with a pool, hot tub, koi pond, hammock garden, theater room, pool table... so many fabulous things that we really never had to leave! It was a little longer of a drive, but we just really wanted to go on vacation and that is where we could find a place.
I'm super behind in the blog, but trying to catch up. Here are a bunch of pictures from our trip. Enjoy!
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| We spent a lot of time in the salt water pool |
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Hammocks were a big hit!
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Relaxin' in the pool
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How many kids can you fit in a hot tub???
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We woke up one day to find a large tree had fallen
right in the middle of the fire pit! Yikes!
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| I'm pretty sure Morgan wants a hot tub at our house now! |
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There were quite a few naps after all that swimming!
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Hunter snoozin' on the couch
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Even the big kids enjoyed the hammocks
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Super cool!
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Enjoying some "Sunday Funday" by the pool
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This is what Morgan looked like most of the trip!
Soaked and with goggles on :) |
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The backyard was beautiful!
Here's Avery on the bridge of the koi pond
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The kids fed the koi every afternoon
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Cousin fun in the pool
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The basement had a Wii, pool table, bar and theater room
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Morgan and Beckett chillin' on the couch
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| Pool time with Mommy |
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More cousin fun in the pool
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Funny story... one of the days we were there, Beckett lost a tooth... in the POOL! So, everyone was on the hunt for this tiny tooth in the pool. We pretty much thought it would be gone forever, but all of the sudden Nolan yelled "I found it!!!" We were all shocked! The tooth fairy visited Beckett at the vacation house. Nolan also got a little something for his help!
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Gotta fuel up!
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So many frogs! Morgan and Hunter love any living thing!
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Here they are by the "frog pond" at the bottom of the waterfall
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Theater room - We put the kids in here so we could eat dinner in peace!
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Zoo time!
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Avery says - take my picture with this cute animal :)
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Bears!
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Yikes!
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Mask up!
Waiting for the train to Africa
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Grayson, Avery and Calvin - waiting for the train to Africa
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Morgan, Grayson, Calvin, Avery, Hunter, Beckett and Nolan
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On the train to Africa
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We made it to Africa - which included a mile trek
(we did not know if was that long before starting off - oops!)
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Stopping for a snack in the nest
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We made it to the end and got some cute new stuffies
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One last picture for Avery with the red panda - her favorite!
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Fire pit time!
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Our fire pit expert Matt!
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Hard to tell, but the kids are wrapped up in the hammocks!
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Vacation tradition - horseshoes - courtesy of Sandi and Brett
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S'mores
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Yummy!
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Avery pushing all the kids in the hammocks
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