The Davis Family: 4th of July Vacation

We recently returned from our 4th of July vacation home to Michigan. Jay and I both agreed that it was one of our worst vacations because the weather was so incredibly crummy. We love to be in northern Michigan this time of year camping with my family and boating/enjoying the nice weather. This year, for the first time, we rented our own camping trailer for a whole week to accommodate our expanding family. Although it was very nice to have our own space it ended up being Emma's napping grounds the entire week because there wasn't much else to do.

The very first day was our one very nice weather day and Jay's brother Seth and his wife Jenny and Kole came up to visit along with Jay's parents. We hung out at the campsite and went for a little swim in Mullett. Emma didn't so much like the cold water as she clung on to me for dear life. Her cousin Kole was much more adventurous and liked the water. He enjoyed Emma's little starfish floatie - at least someone got some use out of it! They left early the next day because it was cold.

Our friends Aimee and Phil also came to visit with their baby Benjamin. We had a nice visit with them - and as always it was much too short. Our plan was to have Ben sleep in our trailer and Emma in my parents motorhome. Since it was so cold out we decided to see if we could get them sleeping in the same trailer so that we could play cards in the other one. Ben fell asleep first and when we went to lay Emma down (in a pack n play right next to him) he woke up. We decided to leave anyway and just see what would happen. When Aimee went back to check on them 10 minutes later Ben was up crying and Emma was sound asleep!! I couldn't believe she fell asleep with her buddy crying right next to her - what a good little girl. Aimee fed Ben and he fell right asleep and they slept all night long. It was a miracle.

The weather after that was high 50's and low 60's all week and very windy. It left for not much to do. We did go on a road trip to the upper peninsula to Sault Ste Marie to see the Soo locks. They accommodate 1000 foot boats and are quite amazing. We even left up north early to go back to Jay's parents since the weather was so cold. We enjoyed going for a long Bay City bike ride and seeing the fireworks a couple nights there. We also got to see Ryan, Becky, and the girls once more which was nice. Emma also got to spend some time with 3 of her great grandparents.

She is almost 14 months and STILL not walking. She will literally run across the living room floor with her car walker. She can also put it in reverse and walk backwards and walk around all sorts of obstacles but refuses to let go and try alone. Oh well - she will when she is ready. She did get two more teeth for a total of four. She has her front two top and bottom now. Jay and I are happy to be back home and in the swing of things. It is exhausting to fly with the little munchkin. She won't sleep on a plane and although she stays very happy she wants to crawl all over. She likes to feel the persons hair in front of us and smile and wave at everyone behind us. She was so exhausted the day after the flight that she took a 3 1/2 hr morning nap and a 1 1/2 hr afternoon nap.

Here are a bunch of pictures and a video of Emma crossing the Mackinaw Bridge. It is kind of boring but we had to have it as it was her first time to visit Michigans UP.

This pic is for Judy Rice. See - I gave her a blanket for the first time and as I predicted it wouldn't last 5 minutes

In the airport on the way to Michigan. She finally crashed after Jay walked her around the Detroit airport forever.

Where are we going mom?

This is fun!!

Crawling through her cousin Koles tube

Kole

Aunt Jenny and Emma

Emma and her cousin Kennedy

Jay and his brother Seth with Kole and Emma

Their matching Life is Good sweatshirts - our adorable little tiger and love bug

Nana and Papa with their grandbabies

Emma with Benjamin

Aimee and I

Grandpa Big John hanging out with Emma

The camping crew

Emma pushing the 62 year old walker that my grandma kept in her attic from her kids!! She then proceeded to get it out of the attic and clean it up for Emma to use. Emma loved it.