Down Time

Last week was our annual family summer vacation.  This is only the second year in the past 11 that we have not all been together.

Son Josh is away for field training in Alabama and could not come and daughter Amanda was working so she got to stay home with the mutt. 

Twelve years ago one of the home schooling moms sent an email saying that her parents were moving and the house she grew up in was going to become a cottage and let us know it was available for rent.

While the children have dubbed it the Ugly House for reasons unknown, it has become our haven. Fittingly, it in is Grand Haven.

To say it is a cottage is a bit of a stretch. The only thing that makes it cottage-ish is the fact that there is a beach nearby.

The “cottage” is actually a three story, 7-bedroom home with a wrap-around screened in porch on which there is a bench swing hanging from the ceiling.  It is close enough to the beach that the older kids can get there easily but far enough to keep the younger ones safely away. (Getting to be not such an issue anymore).

A short walk takes you to the top of the staircase that leads down to Lake Michigan.  It is the sunset spot. From it you can see one of the famous Lake Michigan lighthouses. 

On Sunday, after Mass,  we take the  “stair” photo and the change in the kids from year to year is so cool to see. 

Every year some things stay the same and some things change. 

This year there were  no crossword puzzles done but lots of books were read and enjoyed. 

We still had lunch with the kids and date night dinner at the Kirby Grill. 

One of our favorite activities was pottery painting. Unfortunately the Ceramic Cafe went out of business and the space is now a clothing shop.  Thankfully we have lots of pottery from previous years and all the memories.

This year there were no tears as we were packing.  But there is the promise of next year to hang onto and so the countdown to Grand Haven begins again.