4th of July Weekend!

 Pre 4th of July Parade decorating at Ada Park!

 Carson and Laney ride their bikes with all the other big kids to start off the parade so Everson was waiting patiently for her brother and sister!

 

 Evie was an Ada Parade fan for life as soon as they threw that first piece of candy.  They even threw popsicles!  If you even mention the word "parade" Evie perks up and says, "candy!".

 Felt like 105 degrees but that didn't stop us from enjoying the festivities!  Well, kind of enjoying, with sweat dripping off us everywhere and all.

 Our neighbors put on quite the fireworks show for us which was so nice because we didn't have to leave and drive anywhere!  Evie stayed up until 10:30 clapping and cheering for every firework!  I really thought she'd be scared because she doesn't like loud noises but boy was I wrong!  The kids enjoyed sparklers and pop-its too.

 The Friday after the 4th I met Grandma Brang half way and gave Carson and Laney to her for the night.  They had a countdown on the kitchen wall for 14 days for this sleepover! First, they went to a beach and splash pad where they found their Aunt Beth and cousins Eliana and Addie waiting for them!  They were super excited to spend the afternoon with them!

 What a fun day!

That night Laney hung out with Grandma doing crafts and watching a movie while Grandpa took Carson to the drive-in movie theater to see Incredibles 2.  I guess the movie didn't even start until 10:10 pm and ended at 12:30am.  Carson stayed up for the whole thing, Grandpa, mmmm maybe not so much :-)  What I know is that these kids were spoiled rotten with treats, fun times, and lots of love and they can't wait to do it again someday! 

On Saturday we took Everson with us to pick the kids up and stayed to hang out for a while.  Aunt Sarah brought Ollie and Nicky over to see us too!  

I just can't!

That takes us to Sunday of 4th of July weekend.  When the kids woke up we told them to just throw on their swimsuits and hop in the car.  We were headed to a new beach that we've been wanting to visit, Ludington!  I've heard so many good things about Ludington and none of it did that adorable town justice.  It is AWESOME.  We had the nicest family day.

 We started off at the beach...look at that sand could it get any whiter?!

 Nap for Dad.

 The kids just couldn't get enough of the sand!  I was even laying in it.  It was the most beautiful beach!

After a while we went for a walk down the beach and through some sand dunes and found this little cove where the Lake Michigan connects to a river that leads to Hamlin Lake.   Hamlin Lake access is also in the same park so everybody tubes from one to the other!  The kids are begging to do that next time.

Carson and Laney swam across the river to the other side.  This was the coolest spot!

No one wanted to leave.  We were there all day we had no idea everyone would last that long.  

 After the beach we drove to downtown Ludington to check out the town.  It's so much bigger than I thought it would be, and everything is old and cute.  There was an art festival going on, bands playing, it's right on the water...it was just adorable.  We ate this fantastic dinner at Jamesport Brewing.  It was the best time we've had out to eat with our kids.  Everyone talked, laughed, BEHAVED (what?!), no electronics and lots of smiles.  We played "Highs and Lows" like we do most nights at the table and today all of us said there was  no low.  The waitress gave us a great tip on the best ice cream spot and wow was she right on.  It's called "House of Flavors" and you can see them making the ice cream in the back room.  The line was out the door when we walked up and the person ahead of us in line said it was actually really short and that it was normally all the way down the street.  This ice cream was quite possibly the best I've ever had.  So good.  So full.  So happy.  Time to head home just in time for a bath and bed.  It was so fun not to have any plans, just one of those days that turns out amazing without ever expecting anything.

 Ludington, you have our hearts for sure!  You've been voted our favorite beach town in Michigan by all 5 of us, even Everson.  We will be back for more!