Go Jump in the Lake!

We sang a rousing rendition of the Johnny Appleseed song.

Wednesday was one of the most relaxing days of the trip.  We loaded up all the girls (including Nancy) in our car and Arthur, Pastor and Ryan took the other and we drove up to Michigan to their family's lake cottage on Pleasant Lake.  We stopped briefly at Johnny Appleseed's grave on the way out of town.  Humorously, their minor league baseball team is called the Tincaps after his unique headware, of course they were promptly rechristened the Potheads by the local fans.

Say, "Apples!"

Really Mom? Another picture?

The lake was about an hour away and it was so nice to have a long chat with a good friend on the way.  The girls nodded off and miles just flew by.  When we got there, Nancy immediately whipped up a batch of brownies (yes, we have been very spoiled on this trip) and Pastor handed me some reading material. One of the best parts of seeing the Springers again was beefing up my reading list.  Pastor feeds me all the meaty theological stuff and Nancy gives me great fiction recommendations and parenting books.

Grace didn't use a pole, just the net. Then
she dropped it in.

Jane has wanted to go fishing ever since we read about Laura Ingalls Wilder fishing in the creek.  Even though it wasn't the right time of day and the water was a little choppy, Pastor helped her bait her hook with hotdogs and took her down to the pier.  They had a great time.  Got one bite, but he got away.

Got her life jacket on.

Just fishin'

Two of the boats were in the shop, but the sailboat was there and so Ryan and Arthur took it out for a spin around the lake.  They did pretty good finding the wind and were really flying.

While the girls put their feet in, Nancy and Rosalie and I relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine.  After a while, I put my suit on and took the girls swimming. The lake was warm and the breeze was blowing--so relaxing! We paddled out to the raft and watched as Ryan tried to surf on the raft. Luckily, my girls are total chickens and so didn't get any big ideas for crazy water stunts.

Pushing Grace on the raft.

What a view!

We also learned how to play "Corn Hole" which is basically just a beanbag toss. It's pretty tricky when the wind is blowing, but the girls had fun.  Jane did better than I did--she got one on the board!

Finally, sadly, it was time to pack it in.  Jane had been a little lethargic all day.  We had planned to eat at Cracker Barrel on the way home, but she wasn't feeling that well.  So, Nancy and I got our food to go and the rest of them stayed and ate.  Poor Jane was running a fever, but we dosed her with Tylenol and cooled her down.  When we called the nurse advice line in the morning, they said it sounded like she got dehydrated.  We've been giving her water and juice and she is much better.

All and all, a wonderful day with good friends.

P. S. I am writing this in a McDonald's parking lot in St. Louis on Friday (hurray for free wi-fi). I'll have to catch up the last two days later.  I'll probably be back online on Sunday night.