Silver Lake 2009

Grandma Cindy and her family rented a beautiful house in Silver Lake for a week the first week of August. We were happy to go up for a day and visit them. We did the dune ride and then took a pontoon boat over to swim, sunbathe and climb the dunes. Papa Terry taught the boys how to kayak and they loved it! It was a wonderful day topped off by a delicious dinner.

Great Grandma comes to visit

We had dinner in Grand Rapids with my grandmother who was in visiting from Florida. She is 92 yrs old and really wanted to have dinner alone with us and the boys because she said when we have large family groups the kids don't talk to her much and are busy and she wants the boys to know who she is. We had a lovely visit and spent some time visiting with my aunt, uncle and cousin at their house afterwards. The boys love to run my uncle's trains so they had a great time.

Tennis lessons anyone?

Highland Park has it's own courts and a resident who is a pro who teaches lessons for all ages and cardio tennis as well. The cousins and some friends took a few lessons and the boys will continue with lessons through August and maybe a few in the fall too while the weather is nice.

Dedication of the little store

There is a little building in the park across from the cottage, originally the association caretaker kept keys to the cottages and other things there and used it as an office. When I was a child it was used for the park caretaker to store mowers and equipment but a few years ago it was renovated and cleaned up and a little store opened for people to come buy candy, newspapers, donuts, have coffee and buy or trade in a book. It did so well that a deck was added on so people could visit and enjoy the morning or come see the sunset.

This weekend it was dedicated to Anne McGrail, or Grandma McGrail as lots of us called her. She was a driving force, not only in her large and loving family but in running the store. A plaque was added to the building in her memory and her son Tom gave a lovely speech.

It makes me happy knowing that the little store will keep running on the weekends and kids will still come for penny candy and maybe a donut. And the little store is right next to the sidewalk that leads to the water fountain with a plaque in memory of my grandparents. I like to think that Grandma McGrail, my grandparents and the Johnsons, among others are enjoying being together still while their families continue the friendships built many summers ago on the beach and in the cottages along the lake. A little slice of heaven for sure.

While we were visiting after the store dedication the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinac left the channel. We went up the hill to watch that too and snap a few pictures.

Coast Guard Festival 2009

The boys were ready for the big festival and decorated our driveway when I put the flag out for the week of celebration.





We saw the Scottville Clown Band with Grandma Kris at Waterfront Stadium and what a fun show that is. Those crazy clowns!








The boys, dad and Kris and Mark hit the kids parade the first Saturday. They saw their high school mentor Alicia and gathered tons of candy in their hats.






We went with the Kelley family and the Newmans made it into town for the big parade on the first of August. Gotta love a parade. We also saw Stanley Cup winning coach Dan Bylsma who is from Grand Haven in the parade. Matthew was thrilled, the crowd welcomed him but there were also a lot of Red Wings chants going.