We spent the 4th in Manistee with my sister, Karen (#2), her husband, Mike, and their kids, Chris and Jill. We had a great time with them! Jeremy said it might have been the best time he's had up there yet! Thank you, Karen and Mike for all of your hospitality, for keeping us fed, Jacob entertained and making sure he had plenty of lollipops to last the whole weekend!
We also celebrated Jill's 21st birthday while we were there. Jill - graduates Michigan State University this next year with her 4 year degree. Then she's going on for her doctorate (I believe) in Psychology. She's doing an internship this summer with a women's resource center. I'm pretty proud of her.
Jacob enjoyed the parade with the 'piece car" and the 'big tr'. He waved to them all. Thanks Grandma Dor, we can't tell you how glad we are that you live on the parade route! Having the house right there makes having a kid in diapers so much easier.
After the parade we had the annual turkey on the grill at Karen's - delicious as always. Chris had to eat and run to be to work for a 7PM to 7AM shift with the police dept. We're hoping to make it down for an open house at his police station this fall. I know Jacob will LOVE it! Jacob had a great time following Chris (or should I say "Ris" as Jacob calls him) everywhere he went. Chris is such a kid magnet! I don't know how but little kids just seem to flock to him! They ran around the house, they played ball, and boy, did Chris laugh a lot!
We did the normal tourist things while we were there. Walked the boardwalk, fed the ducks (daddy was whistling for them), went to the popcorn wagon, the flea market, the World of Arts & Crafts, the petting zoo, and of course, Big Al's for subs that we ate at the beach. We also took a drive to check out what was left of the storm damage from a month ago. They're still cleaning it up.
We swam in the pool at our hotel...Grandma Kathy (Edna) even came to watch. I couldn't believe my mother came out to the hotel. Of course, as we're leaving, she leans over and says to this woman, "That's my daughter and that's my grandson, he looks just like them doesn't he? He's adopted." I guess there isn't any shame or secret there! I didn't say anything to her then but I think we're going to have another talk about that!
We did go to cemetery too. I hadn't been in a long time. I stood at my father's grave, holding my Jacob, and of course, I cried. Jacob waved and said "hi" to his Grandpa Web. I wished Grandpa Web was here to hear that sweet little voice talking to him. The mosquitoes were so bad - we couldn't stay any longer. We took a ride over to the Catholic cemetery and waved to my good friend Joe. They extended that cemetery since the last time I was there. I saw a lot of new names that I recognized.
We did have a great visit with everyone and I'm so happy we went. I feel a lot better than I did before we left. I seem to be on a bit of an emotional roller coaster lately. No, I'm not PG! I want so many things - not material things. I want to be closer to family - emotionally not logistically. I want Jacob to be happy, to see how much he's loved. I want to be able to open myself up to more things and not be so afraid of being hurt by people. I want to be able to show the real me, the soft mushy parts - not the shy, hardened version that I always show first. I just want to be better.
I almost forgot. Jacob got his first shiner before we left. He was at day-care. Walking along, talking to his little friend (how cute is that!?!) not paying any attention and he walked into a fully loaded swing. He's fine. His eye is fine. It's some beautiful shades of purple, yellow, and green though. The best part - Early On came Thursday AM before we left. Miss Carrie says to Jacob "oh, what happened to your eye?" and my Jacob looks at her, looks at me and says "Momma!" Thanks kid! We did get a lot of looks while we were gone. Some people asked, some just looked. The bruise is fully documented though, in every picture and video from the trip! Isn't that the way it always goes?
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