Quote OTM: That pleasure
which is at once the most
pure, the most elevating and
the most intense, is derived,
I maintain, from the
contemplation of the
beautiful. - Edgar Allan Poe
Movie OTM: The Bucket List
Song OTM: Dawn Of The
Dead - Does It Offend You,
Yeah?
which is at once the most
pure, the most elevating and
the most intense, is derived,
I maintain, from the
contemplation of the
beautiful. - Edgar Allan Poe
Movie OTM: The Bucket List
Song OTM: Dawn Of The
Dead - Does It Offend You,
Yeah?
We found this German Resturant in downtown Sanford that is absolutely amazing. It's called Hollerbach's Willow Tree
Cafe. We are so in love with this place that we have eaten there almost every weekend for the last 5 weeks. We hope to
become regulars that they know by name. Downtown Sanford is about 10 miles from our property in Geneva so we'll
probably be hanging out here a lot. We came to the Memorial Day parade and it was stellar. Very 'hometown America'
which we love of course. We are looking forward to an awesome summer with a couple of trips coming up. The girls are
ready to party all summer long.
Cafe. We are so in love with this place that we have eaten there almost every weekend for the last 5 weeks. We hope to
become regulars that they know by name. Downtown Sanford is about 10 miles from our property in Geneva so we'll
probably be hanging out here a lot. We came to the Memorial Day parade and it was stellar. Very 'hometown America'
which we love of course. We are looking forward to an awesome summer with a couple of trips coming up. The girls are
ready to party all summer long.
Mackinac Island has become like a second home to us. We long for it's familiar sights, sounds, smells and places like
we long to revisit our favorite childhood memories. The excitement that fills all of us upon first seeing the 'Mighty Mac' in
the distance is audible. Squeals of joy come from Melanie and the girls as they clap their hands in anticipation of
pasties, the ferry ride, the first glimpse of the Gallery cottage and the horse drawn taxi ride up the west bluff in front of the
Grand Hotel to Hubbard's Annex. I get the same feeling now that I did when I was 10 years old and heading to Soddy
Daisy, Tennessee to visit with my cousins at Mamaw and Papaw's house. Mackinaw Island will always be a part of our
lives and will be woven into the childhood stories of my children. That is an awesome thought. Melanie and I hope that
as we get closer to retirement (which is a whole heck of a long way off), we will be able to spend big chunks of it right
here on this enchanted rock in between the Michigan and Huron lakes.
we long to revisit our favorite childhood memories. The excitement that fills all of us upon first seeing the 'Mighty Mac' in
the distance is audible. Squeals of joy come from Melanie and the girls as they clap their hands in anticipation of
pasties, the ferry ride, the first glimpse of the Gallery cottage and the horse drawn taxi ride up the west bluff in front of the
Grand Hotel to Hubbard's Annex. I get the same feeling now that I did when I was 10 years old and heading to Soddy
Daisy, Tennessee to visit with my cousins at Mamaw and Papaw's house. Mackinaw Island will always be a part of our
lives and will be woven into the childhood stories of my children. That is an awesome thought. Melanie and I hope that
as we get closer to retirement (which is a whole heck of a long way off), we will be able to spend big chunks of it right
here on this enchanted rock in between the Michigan and Huron lakes.
One of our annual places to visit on the island is the butterfly house. It's one of the girls favorite spots. We went again
this year and while Amarige was chasing one of the butterflies, she tripped and landed face first into a rock sitting wall.
Her teeth went through her chin and the side of her lip was gashed pretty deeply. Amarige was very shaken and upset,
obviously, but her sisters were even more upset. Alaila was beside herself. We biked her up to the Mackinac Island
hospital and they got us right in to see a doctor. The entire staff was amazing. They looked at her and got her all fixed up
with glue instead of stitches. It turns out that Dr Brad who treated Amarige knew Melanie's family in Manchester through
a very close personal friend. All the girls got popsicles and we met a crying Mimi V in the waiting room and let her know
that everything was alright. Amarige was a trooper and her lips looked like Angelina Jolie's for a few days. It was a scary
accident that turned into a memorable adventure.
this year and while Amarige was chasing one of the butterflies, she tripped and landed face first into a rock sitting wall.
Her teeth went through her chin and the side of her lip was gashed pretty deeply. Amarige was very shaken and upset,
obviously, but her sisters were even more upset. Alaila was beside herself. We biked her up to the Mackinac Island
hospital and they got us right in to see a doctor. The entire staff was amazing. They looked at her and got her all fixed up
with glue instead of stitches. It turns out that Dr Brad who treated Amarige knew Melanie's family in Manchester through
a very close personal friend. All the girls got popsicles and we met a crying Mimi V in the waiting room and let her know
that everything was alright. Amarige was a trooper and her lips looked like Angelina Jolie's for a few days. It was a scary
accident that turned into a memorable adventure.
Today was Aviles' birthday. She has finally hit double digits. She's 10 and proud to be. She got roller blades for her
birthday so we biked down to a trail and she tried them out. She's a natural. Her cousins Emma and Jake showed up
on the Island to hang with us and Uncle Rob and I decided to take anyone who would go to the Orpheum Haunted
Theatre. Aviles and Jake were the only one that were able to get up enough nerve. It was super dark and old-fashioned
scary. We loved it! I was also a great mile marker in Aviles' journey into adolescence. I have to play the Uber-Proud
Parent right now and say how blessed I am to have the most awesome girls in the world. Each one of them has carved
out a personal nitch in my heart. I can not imagine what life would be like without them.
birthday so we biked down to a trail and she tried them out. She's a natural. Her cousins Emma and Jake showed up
on the Island to hang with us and Uncle Rob and I decided to take anyone who would go to the Orpheum Haunted
Theatre. Aviles and Jake were the only one that were able to get up enough nerve. It was super dark and old-fashioned
scary. We loved it! I was also a great mile marker in Aviles' journey into adolescence. I have to play the Uber-Proud
Parent right now and say how blessed I am to have the most awesome girls in the world. Each one of them has carved
out a personal nitch in my heart. I can not imagine what life would be like without them.