Flats 2010

This year our trip was a little different than usual - now for the first time since my brother and I were little kids there we little  kids running around the cottage which significantly changed the dynamic on the island.  Having kids there brings out the best in the place - there is so much beauty and so much life at the flats but having spent so much time there throughout my life i find that so much of it can easily be taken for granted.  Having the kids around, particularly Elizabeth who is so in tune with nature brings the mystery back and illuminates all of God's magnificent creation for us all to enjoy.  She is so inquisitive and interested in all of the new things she sees and is so excited by it all.

Having two kids there to look after really changes things in other ways too.  This year for the first time I didn't get a Michigan fishing license, not because I was willing to risk it but because we just never had much of a chance to fish.  Elizabeth did a little fishing from the dock on the island and a wonderful time catching a few perch.  I'm not sure what was more fun for her, playing with the fish or the worms?

This year Kate wanted to try to go to the Riverside every day while we were there.  Last year Kate was pregnant and was craving the pizza, "Boat Knots", and ice cream every day as well but on several occasions we were unable to make the trip due to weather conditions and the boats available to get her there.  As it turns out the best way is by jet ski, or wave runner, or personal watercraft, whatever they are calling them these days - due to the shallow cuts through the marsh which often give outboards problems, but we didn't think pregnant Kate on a jet ski was such a good idea.  We then used the second best mode of transportation, the jet boat - a slightly more seaworthy vessel - or at least the term 'boat" implies a little more safety and confidence to grandparents than "jet ski"!  This year - Kate isn't pregnant but never kicked the craving so off to riverside we went, some days twice!

Casey, Jennifer, and Abe made it down for a couple of nights with us and were there to celebrate Elizabeth's 3rd birthday.  We also had a chance for a quick waterski one evening right as the sun was setting making for some great photos.

Towards the end of our trip we decided to take Elizabeth over to Freighter Beach to play.  Freighter beach is neat little sandy beach right off of one of the main shipping channels in the Great Lakes.  Its a bit of a hike for us but it makes for a great boat ride and offers one of the few sandy beaches around and a great place for Elizabeth to play.

We got Lucky in two regards, one, we get to see a freighter and two, we had the whole place to ourselves.

We even has some foxes this year running around the island, I was fortunate to get a couple fun shots of them!

Elizabeth hasn't started sailing yet but she has already figured out that relaxing at the dock is half the fun.  It won't be long before she is out sailing with her daddy!  I can't wait!

Aunt Carla made it down for a few days and we had a great time visiting with her!

Uncle Casey had a great time playing with Andrew and Elizabeth!

We had a wonderful time once again this year and are looking forward to getting back again soon.  Each year brings a new adventure as the kids grow so much from each year to the next, I can't wait to see what next year brings!