Family Weekend in Ludington

On Friday my whole family headed to Terri and Rodney's up north home just east of Ludington to enjoy a three day Labor Day weekend. This was our fourth annual event. Jessica was ill so she and her family (Doug, Shelley, and Xander) had to miss the big event.
Our first day began with lunch and then some games and fun outside.
Carl, Jackson, John and Sam, the cousins, enjoying the afternoon outdoors looking for frogs and other creepy crawly things.
Jim with Madeline and Ben. Aunt Cyndee bought all the boys some special sun glasses for fun.

Playing games.
Aunt Cyndee reads to Ben. Well, she tries to, he gets impatient since he is one year old.

We had a great steak dinner along with corn on the cob and cookies made by Grandma Dee for dessert. The evening was followed by more game playing and food prep for the next day.

A view of the activities early on Saturday morning. I am used to sleeping in on the weekend but that was not possible with lots of little feet running around and games being played at the crack of dawn. Coffee full strength was needed.
The whole gang having fun in the living room in their PJ's before breakfast.
Grandma Dee was wide awake on Saturday morning.
Terri made a great breakfast of baked french toast, one with raspberries and one with blue berries. We also had sausages, real maple syrup, coffee and orange juice. It was very filling and yummy.

Terri playing Martha Stewart as she cooks the sausage for breakfast.
Bachelor Lake at the back of the house.
A view from the deck on the back of the house.
Wendy and John having breakfast on the deck.
The deck from the other direction. Yup, they even have the DISH!!

The upper windows looking over the deck and the lake beyond.
A view to the upstairs of Terri and Rodney's house. There are two bedrooms a full bath and a loft on the second floor. The main floor has a master bedroom, full bath, laundry/storage room, kitchen, dining area and family room with a huge fireplace. The basement has a bedroom, a planned full bath, and a living area with a bar area and lots of storage. The basement also has a walkout patio and the main floor has two walkouts to the huge deck. It is a great place for the family to get together and have a great weekend. The house has a nice grassy yard area and is surrounded by acres of woods.
Sam, John, Carl and Jackson found frogs near the lake at Terri and Rodney's house before we headed to Ludington for the day at the beach.
After breakfast we prepared a picnic lunch of sandwiches, fruit, and veggies and chips and headed into Ludington. We gathered in the shady park area of the city beach for our lunch.
After lunch we gathered all out stuff and trudged through the sand to a great beach spot. John and the other boys enjoyed having sack races. I was lucky to catch this action shot.

Jackson enjoyed the sun and all the fun on the beach.
Uncle Mike, Aunt Cyndee, Carl, John, Jackson and Sam took a walk on the beach and on the pier all the way to the lighthouse. It is about a mile to and from the lighthouse. We got to see some sail boats and people fishing off of the pier. Two people dove off the pier and were reprimanded since people die each year doing the same thing. The rip tide can carry you under and it is so strong you can't save yourself. The boys were very careful and stayed in the center of the pier on the long walk.
Ben enjoys a meal at Wendy's (couldn't resist).
Our plot on the beach.
We had a great location on the sunny beach. We had umbrella's, mats, towels, a little shade tent and chairs. We also had toys galore and beverages to keep us hydrated.

Uncle Rodney carried Sam on his shoulders on the way back from a long beach walk.
Grandma Dee and Jackson take a walk in the lake. The water was cold at first but easy to get used to.
Carl, Sam in his Hugh Hefner robe, and John.
Fun in the sand.
What a strong toddler he is...... Ben.

Ben was trying to walk in the sand, but it was tough.
Wendy enjoying the "rain" on the lake.
Mike gets doused with water.
Jim and Wendy having fun in a water fight.
Rodney gets Jim.

Rodney joins the water fight and hits Jim with a full bucket.
What fun in the water!!
Jim gets Rodney.
Carl runs for the shore.
Jackson had fun digging in the sand and burying John.

Terri with Madeline and Mom enjoy the beach under the sun umbrella. The sun was very hot but the lake breeze made the day pleasant. We all wore sunscreen and hats and sunglasses to protect our skin and eyes.
Carl and Mike working on a sand project.
Jackson and Sam brought buckets of water to make a pond.
Everyone joined in the sand fun.
Wendy taking in the sun.

Ben sleeping in a water toy. Doesn't he look comfy?

After a few hours we were ready to leave the beach so we gathered our stuff and changed our clothes and cleaned up. We headed to Pizza Hut for dinner. We had some great pizza and cooling beverages and then headed back to Ludington and the lake to enjoy the park near the marina and the sunset.
Jackson posing with a statue titled, Put Me in Coach.
The boy cousins and Uncle Jim.
On the way to the House of Flavors for dessert. This has become an annual event after our day at the beach.
Aunt Cyndee, John, Uncle Mike and Uncle Rodney waiting in line at the House of Flavors. The line was quite long but we got to check out all the ice cream flavors by asking people what flavor they picked as we watched them exit the door. I got strawberry, Sam got Blue Moon, Jackson got Superman, and ...........
We all loved our ice cream cones. Sam, in front, seems to have been doing some break dancing.

The beautiful sunset.
Again.
The final sunset. This is the beautiful park near the marina in Ludington. It has a wonderful playground area and seating to enjoy the artwork and the sunset.
Rodney, Terri, Madeline and Jackson at sunset.
Jim and Wendy.

Rodney and Madeline.
Ben, Wendy and Jim.
We saw this big ship as it was coming in from Lake Michigan.
Silhouette of Jim, Wendy and boys.

We were all tired from the long day so we headed back to the house. Baths and showers were in order to wash off the sand and sweat.
Fresh out of the tub and ready for bed.

Sleepy kids headed for bed while the adults stayed up to play games and have great conversations. Some lasted to the wee hours of the morning.

On Sunday we all had a big breakfast of eggs, potatoes, bacon, pancakes, fruit and beverages. We cleaned up and packed for our trip home. But first, we had to celebrate a special birthday. Ben turned one year old on Sunday so we had cake and ice cream.
Ben and his cake.
Happy Birthday Ben.
Ben and his brothers.


We all said our goodbyes and have lots of great memories to carry us for the whole year. It is enjoyable to see the young kids bonding with one another and getting to be good friends and loving cousins. It's priceless.

Madeline and Grandma Dee.