Wonderful trip to the UP

Wenesday we woke up and were off to a great start of bagels and a road trip with Oma underway. We did of course forget things and poor Jim had to come and meet us halfway back to deliver them. I couldn't forget my fruit! The driving wasn't too bad and we passed the time when the girls were not fussing with " the lion the witch and the wardrobe" on audiobook. the girls weren't too bad and the smallest mostly slept. I had to visit her a little in the backseat though. We made evry good time and were at Mackinaw city in no time. The girls were anxious to get out of the car. When we were all settled in and Jeannie's pack and play constructed she was out like a light and Liesl had her swimsuit on. The waterpark in the hotel was awesome. It had several tube slides and all the bucket dumping we coups handle. Perfect for a little kid her age. I had to go down that slide with her so I know that she went down about 50 times or more that hour. No hesitation. The HUGE bucket on top of the structure even dumped on her full on once while we were getting ready to go down the slide and it didn't phase her. She loved it. We went back to Jeannie still asleep. She was very happy to get some restful sleep in the room. Finally aunt Barb, Kaethe and Autumn showed up and we all went to dinner at a cute little Italian restaurant. Liesl pigged out pb pizza eating every bit then ice cream and visited the outdoor mall. She did a little too much touching and mommy ended up buying something she didn't want to and I hope learned a hard lesson. Then it was back to the hotel and swimming for the rest of the night on the water slides and sleeping again for the little one in the hotel room. The next morning....more water slides for an hour and we were back on the road to the UP. We were headed up to Grand Marais to hike a bit and swim and take in some scenery. Liesl enjoyed her trip over the bridge and got to see a model of it in the welcome center which was cool. We got some hummy pasties for lunch.....best in a long time. We visited Seney National Wildlife Refuge on the way up. I have been dying to for so long. I have never been with all the times I have passed it. First we took the scenic drive. Saw a sandhill crane, deer, a beaver dam, swans with babies, loins with chicks and geese, osprey and eagles which were all a treat. The park was beautiful. The nature center was awesome but small. There was a sand table to make animal prints ob with a truckload of large rubber foot imprinted of all sorts of animals. Liesl had a ton of fun. Then there was a large loom exhibit showing loons above and below the water in thier habitat as well as wolf and coyote exhibit comparisons. We were then back on the road to Grand Marais. Aunt Barb's car had already been there for some time exploring the beach. After settling in we went to get some beers and snacks "downtown" and then took Liesl to the cute little park down at the beach and some swimming in lake Superior. Yet again the cold water doesn't phase her. Poor little Jeannie got a terrible rash ob her inner thigh and was bleeding. Don't worry it heqled by morning and is not even visible. The girls were easy to put to bed but Liesl now has a cold. The next day we woke up to Aunt Barb and Kaethe making waffles. Yum. They couldn't wait for us to get dressed so yet again we were on our own which was ok. We got a little lost going the wrong way and found a logging trail.... For the moat part..... With street signs.....lots of mud....didn't want to go offroading so turned around.....then found our way and visited pictured rocks. Started packing Sable dunes and Sable falls Liesl leading and Jeannie in the pack. Liesl took us up the dunes to see the water and then we turned around.....had to talk her into the falls by letting her have a ride in the pack while Jeannie went to the sling on Oma. liesl enjoyed herself and the pack is well made so she wasn't too much burden and it was comfortable. It was a nice hike with a long stairway going down the falls and back. We then headed to Munising for lunch at the Dogpatch after Liesl snuck in a 40 min nap. Been a long time. Jim would have liked it. On the way back visited Miner's Castle. I needed to insist. It is a must see and I let Liesl know that I would take her swimming. She got a walking stick in the gift shop and a new sticker book which she devoured in the car ride back. snuck in a little beach time, Liesl secretly likes being thrown in the water. There is a gorgeous sandy beach right outside our hotel and accross the street. Cold water but is nice in the hot weather. We met back up with the pack for dinner. Poor Jeannie doesn't get a moment to herself in that bed of hers it seems. Pizza was good and I bypassed the beer this time. I bought everyone icecreams in the gas station before we went back to the park so Oma could get tiny-might to bed. We didn't get long before it was time for us too. I couldn't keep my eyes open to finish the book but she fell asleep ok. Today we need to check out and haven't figured out what we are up to yet. I hope for another hike before heading to the cottage.