Sisters Trip '09--Michigan

I was lucky enough to have another sisters trip this year. I talked my sisters into coming to see Michigan for the trip this year. I don't know how I lucked out to have such great sisters, but I must have been in the right line in heaven when they were handing out sisters! I admire so much about each one of them--they are the best! I can't leave out my mom here either, because she raised all of us into the great people we are today and that is enough said about how great she is! :)

We started out the trip with a little beauty night at the U of M clinic. We all got microderm abrasion and other various things to make us beautiful. It was so much fun! This is a shot of us pre-beauty treatments.

Cuties!

We are pretty crazy and decided to leave for Mackinac Island right after our beauty stuff. Beauty stuff went until late and Mackinac is a 4 1/2 hour drive--even with me driving! We scared ourselves on the way because we almost ran out of gas. At 2:30 in the morning. In the middle of nowhere. SCARY! We finally found a remote gas station really in the middle of NOWHERE. There were two men, by themselves in separate cars--seemingly waiting for a car full of women to attack. One of them wouldn't look at us the whole time. The other one stared at us the whole time. It totally gave us the hibbie jibbies! Then we started driving and talking about movies where scary things happened on the freeway, after stopping at gas stations in the middle of nowhere. AAAAHHH!

However, we made it safe and sound to Mackinaw City at 3:30am. After a good nights sleep (minus seagull noises) the next morning found us exiting the ferry to Mackinac Island. It was the most beautiful day ever--so perfect.

Watch out Mackinac Island! I love this picture that Jill took of these two.

My sisters and mom LOVED Mackinac Island, which I knew they would but I was still kind of relieved that they liked it so much! We rented really cool cruiser bikes with cute little baskets and rode all the way around the island. Slowly riding and stopping very often for LOTS of photos. The water was so beautiful and blue. The weather was perfect. You can't say that very often in MI! My sisters don't believe me now when I say how awful the weather is here, it was so perfect all weekend for them.

This might be my favorite picture from the whole trip! My cute mom cruising on her bike!! I LOVE IT. We got her these new sun glasses and told her she looked sassy. When I see this picture I can totally just hear her doing her breathing out thing she does when she exercises.

Me and Julie at one of our many photo ops!

Downtown drag in Mackinac. We should have taken a picture in front of the fudge shop which we visited THREE times in our short time on the island. It's just off to the right. :)

Jill and Josie trying out the bikes before our big ride.

Julie looking cute on her cruiser!

This looks so fun, I want to go back and spend a month there and do this everyday--or twice a day!

After leaving Mackinac Island we drove over the 5 mile suspension bridge so my sisters and mom could say they have been to the UP (upper peninsula) of Michigan. I don't think they will ever be back, so good thing we did it!

I am sure the highlight for all of them was seeing "The Big House" (I am being sarcastic). But really could their be a better picture??

We all have on Michigan shirts. Just don't tell my sisters husband who is an Ohio State fan through and through. I'll never tell. The best is my mom's Michigan Gymnastics shirt.
Later in the day (see pic below) we went to the cupcake station and someone asked my mom if she was on the Michigan Gymnastics team! She is in her 70's!

The tailgating here is out of control. We walked all over the place and saw a lot of FANCY tailgating. Wine and ham dinners all spread out. Here we are checking out the tailgaters.

This picture is from Mackinac Island. Here we are at the cupcake station in AA. So delicious! We walked here after eating at Pizza House, one of my favorite Ann Arbor places.

We celebrated Julie's birthday with a caramel cake! YUM!

We also walked around campus a little and saw the law quad which was beautiful. The buildings are so amazing.

More campus shots. It was a perfect day in Ann Arbor and at the Ward house. Michigan won in a close, good game against Notre Dame. I had my sisters in town. Weather was perfect.

I had so much fun and the time went WAY to fast. Can't wait for next year!

School is in session!

It has been crazy at the Ward household! Andy started high school, Abby started 7th grade, Jake started 3rd grade, and Estee started 3 year old pre-school!
It is busy, and fun to be in this stage of life. We are going through some growing pains as we all adjust to summer being over, EARLY morning seminary, high school starting, endless football practice, mom being on PTO board, endless forms to fill out, and multiple levels of homework that is getting harder!
I know from past experience, that we will eventually get into a groove. School started about a week and half ago. Since that time we have also thrown in three different curriculum nights, my sisters and mom here for a trip (so fun!), and of course Dan having to work insane hours.

Since Andy and Abby leave at the crack of dawn I haven't been able to get pictures of them leaving for school. I did get some cute ones of Jake and Estee.

Here is Jake on his first day. He LOVES his 3rd grade teacher!
Estee thinks she is just as big as Jake and is waiting in line right by him.

Jake was ready to get right down to business--he is serious about his school work. :)

Estee (and friend Noah) are so excited for school to start!

Teacher Miss Elizabeth with some of the students.

Estee LOVED her first day and can't wait to go back--she is a social little child!

I am so happy to have my four, wonderful, busy, great, kids in all their stages of life. What fun for a stay home mom! I just hope to keep it together!

Abby's blog

I noticed Abby put up something on her blog. It made me laugh.
You should check it out.
http://therockinbookfreak.blogspot.com/

oh, I like your....

This is what Estee says in her cute little voice all the time lately.

It's really cute. She tells me whenever I do my hair "mom, I like your pretty hair"

She told Dan the other day "I like your blue pants with a blue string" (he was wearing scrubs)

She told her friend "I like your little glasses"

She tells Andy "oh, I like your hootball hat" (football helmet)

MOST of the time this is really cute, but yesterday in Sam's Club we were walking down one of the isles. A bigger lady walked by us and I hear her little voice say "oh, I like your big....BODY!" I tried to pretend I didn't hear and walk faster, then Estee runs after me and says "mom, did you see her big" I grabbed her and put my hand over her mouth at that point. So embarrassing!