on vacation….you can do whatever you want.
i picked up my camera and walked through the house at 3:55 to see what everyone was doing.
the house was quiet and everyone was happy.
11 people together…not wanting to be any where else (except maybe a certain teenager…)
our schedule was very laid back.
breakfast and cartoons till the dads came home
or breakfast cooked by the dads while the moms slept in.
then the beach.
then back up the stair master for lunch and resting/chilling/drawing/texting/reading/building legos.
then back to to the beach.
then the moms cook dinner.
then a fire with s'mores.
then the kids go to bed, lauren watches a movie, the grown ups played sequence with margaritas.
not the routine every day but many of the days.
i could very easily become a "summer home" kind of girl.
the beach and i are bff's.
the stairs and i ……not so much.
Category Archives: travels
and my calves were on fire! Hey there! I found your blog a long time ago. It’s funny because you live near my old hometown, (Wichita) and I’m in Chicago (where you lived for a while, right?). I noticed on your post about Chicago Jen that you went to a church in Glenview, which is also a small world because my husband is from Glenview and his parents still live there (he’s a football coach at GBS). ANYWAY, we are trying to plan a vacation to Stevensville with my sister and we wondered where you found your rental! Any info would be great! Thanks! i am curious as to what is the perfect smore? maybe lauren could “guest” blog! your pictures are beautiful. michigan totally rocks. I just found your blog and had to comment as soon as I saw the heart rock. My mom collects them and found a couple recently in Michigan. She has a TON of them. Glad you had a nice vacation, but those stairs!? I don’t think so, unless there was a chair lift! How beautiful! I would have never known that there are beaches like that in Mich. I guess that I always think of it being freezing and snowy there 🙂 Oh I LOVE alone beaches. I was just in Washington and made my way to La Push Beach – um, yeah, was not alone… surrounded by crazed twilight fans with cameras in hand – CA-RAAAAZY!!! Looks like great fun and wonderful memories. Lauren should be a model. Seriously. I’m with you on the bedtime with kiddos thing. They resist…I get irritable. Yowza, looks like so much fun! looks fun. i am in major need of a vacay. love your pics as always. 🙂 You captured Michigan. Your pictures remind me so much of my childhood vacations and the ones we have taken with our girls! Michigan truly is a paradise in the summer. I am not such a fan of the winter. (Beautiful from inside looking out). Glad you all had a great time. Hi Meg! Thanks for the comment on my blog! Now I am not just your blog stalker anymore. Now we’re friends. 🙂 It looks like yall had alot of fun! I was wondering how many hotel rooms yall have to get when you go places,lol. I am thinking we may need at least 2 since there are 6 of us now! Want an awesome smore? Try using a peanut butter cup instead of plain ol’ chocolate! looks like a fabulous rest of the trip – just relaxing. did you guys drink margaritas while the men were putting the kids to bed? We were in Michigan last weekend too! We went to South Haven for the day, my Sister lives in Kalamazoo. I LOVE Michigan beaches. It’s only a 4 hour drive for me, but I hope to move close to my Sissy someday(if I can find a job….in Michigan…blah). Love your pictures! SMAAAART Women – the bedtime vs golf deal was a good one. I would much rather sit back with a beer and relax while the hubbies put down the kids too! Congrats on a great trip. I mean where IN michigan…I know where it is…lol where is Michigan were you? my Grandfather has a cottage on Lake Huron with a similar amount stairs! Last time i was there i was about 10 so the stairs were easier to do. I live in upstate NY and my kids are suddenly begging to go to Michigan! We have been bombarded with Michigan commercials this summer (probably on HGTV)!! It does look beautiful! Oh so fun. Nothing beats smores, and on a beach…cool!!! What fun memories for the kiddos..all sleeping in one room. They’ll always remember that. it’s so beautiful there. that is one great deal- Where in Michigan is this? We go to Holland and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! Great family spot! We lived in Grand Rapids for 10 years. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it and I miss it terribly. We camped at Lake Michigan once–that was all the camping I could handle–but it was fun! Was the water cold??? Early summer on Lake Michigan can be chilly! Looks amazing! Where in Michigan were you? My brother and his family live in Traverse City and it’s gorgeous up there! Michigan vacation ads all over the TV over here in NH. Your blog posts beat the TV ads bigtime : ) WOW your vacations have changed in 10 years! Remember when we went to “Up North” in Wisconsin and we all were at a cabin and you were shocked that I brought food to cook while we were there? I still remember you saying, “When we go on vacation I don’t cook.” as you all were heading out the door to go to the pizza place. I’m glad to see you had a great time enjoying each other — that’s a great vacation. “Alone” w/ 10 favorite people looks vastly different than the days before in Chicago. Your big city photos made me hyperventilate (all those people, fast city)…stressful just to view them and I live in a city! Michigan looks more my speed. I am also lucky enough to live on a lake in Michigan. It gets such a bad rap sometimes but it is seriously the Best place to vacation if your going “lake style” Thanks Meg for capturing our beautiful summer’s here! Glad you had a great vacation. Wow! That looks like the perfect family vacation spot! I would LOVE the isolation. A hate crowds, esp. crowded beaches. I totally “get” the bedtime deal you made! That really made your week a vacation!!!!!! we live on Lake Ontario – with the same pretty rocks. I’m lucky enough to live a couple miles from Lake Michigan. I never get tired of it. It is so beautiful. And the water is really warm this year (for Lake Michigan). Did you notice that? So glad you had a good vacation. (And thanks for spending it in Michigan! This state needs tourists.) I grew up in Michigan and can say with complete certainty that it’s the BEST place to vacation. We go every other year and I wish I still lived there. It’s amazing how much I took that gorgeous beach for granted growing up. What a beautiful spot there in Michigan… that beach looks awesome and all that green all around. Here in northern California everything has already turned brown from the heat and wind…. it would be awesome to spend some time at that lake…. What a beautiful spot there in Michigan… that beach looks awesome and all that green all around. Here in northern California everything has already turned brown from the heat and wind…. it would be awesome to spend some time at that lake…. Looks like there was a ton of fun had by all! I’ve never thought about going to Michigan to the beach – LOL Love the deals you struck with the hubbys – too funny – will have to remember that one! LOL Though, my kiddos are 17 so I guess they don’t really need to be “put to bed” – HA! :o) Thanks for sharing, Meg! Can’t wait to see more! 1. Yes, there are minor and major heart attacks 😉 now that’s heaven! We went to Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota, this last weekend. Best getaway ever! Oh the joy of hearing another mom speak the truth about bedtime…”and little kids” – very liberating! Thanks! thanks for the LOVE meg …. your photos are awesome – love the 223 steps …. I am so jealous of this trip – it looks wonderful. I am living vicariously through you from my office desk. How wonderful…I always look for and find a heart shaped rock…hart is part of our last name and long ago I fell in love with heart rocks. Curious what the perfect way to cook a marshmallow is? :o) Megan, Yummy S’mores! It sounds like a happy place : ) There is nothing better than vacation nights, just sitting around being together – especially when it ends with someone else doing the bedtime thing! Glad you had a great trip. S’mores! Makes me happy. Beautiful place, great job! Looks like a very relaxing, fun time! It looks like the ideal holiday location… ♥ Looks like the perfect vacation! And I’m glad to know I’m not the only mom who doesn’t like bedtime! 🙂 What a beautiful place!! Sounds so fun, and I’m totally jealous and in awe that you got the beach to yourself…that would make it perfect!
and i have nothing to show for it. seriously. BUT i did grow up with transformers so i recognized the name optimus prime. oh SHiAAAA!!! (i can't say his name without thinking of this clip…)
St. Joe…..love it there!! Did you guys go to the fountains??? How about Kilwins?? I can’t believe you were right by where I live….I was waiting to see if you would say where in Michigan:) Looks like you guys had a blast! we were just in Chicago this weekend also! LOVE your pictures… I’m now kicking myself for missed picture opportunities… but have some great ideas for ‘next time’ Hope you had a great time! Enjoy Michigan! I would love to know where you stayed at too. Please?! My hubby wants to vacay to MI but we have never been to that area. Great pics and I love your blog. It’s so nice to hear people say such wonderful things about Michigan. Locals have been doing a lot of bashing these days, but I keep my eyes on the prize. I love lake Michigan. We camp at state parks along the lake. They are absoluely beautiful. I’m like you … I’ve *heard* of optimis prime. ha! still cool. Love your jewelry-you guys look terrific and I can’t wait to see your pictures. Looks like a blast! I took my kids to Michigan so that my oldest could swim at the camp at the University of Michigan for a week. I want to move there. really. i would move there tomorrow. I want to go to Chicago now! It looks like a lot of fun for a mini break : ) Meg, that looks amazing! I’m so happy for you! OMG…not only do I LOVE St. Joseph area…Silver Beach ROCKS!!! I MUST show my son your blog in the morning because he will go NUTS with your photo of the beat up road for the filming of Transformers. We’re told they will be filming in the Detroit area and I would LOVE to be able to take my son to see that…he’d go CRAZY with excitement as Bumblebee the Camaro is his favorite car in the world! Great pics and it’s cool to see so many Michigan readers on here…woot woot! I’m from Michigan and then lived in Chicago and these pics make me miss them both SO much!! Love these! Awesome pics.. im a blog stalker but just had to comment. i must have just missed you! i was in chicago last week for our pampered chef conferece. this year we were at the hyatt on wacker. they did a lot of ariel shooting for transformers while we were there. it was pretty neat!! the embassy in chicago is the best! who can beat that AWESOME FREE breakfast and free happy hour!!! I HAD to show my son and husband your transformer movie shots. We saw Optimus Prime and Ratchet (I barely know what I’m talking about either!) a few weeks ago- they stopped for the night in a hotel in our teeny little town on the way east. My kids were out of their heads excited. 😀 you are so cute. love your hair, shirt & necklace! such cute pics & i am dying to go to ANYWHERE on lake michigan. [we were super close to going to mackinac island this weekend!] LOVE that you got to spend 7 days with your best family friends. 🙂 awesome. That’s exactly how I feel when I leave the city too… a weight lifting! Cool to see the movie set. I’m kind of impressed by things like that. While in Michigan, you were really close to where I live! 🙂 We love the beach up here. Just like the ocean but without seashells. Darn it. 🙂 Your trip sounds like so much fun with your friends. I know what you mean about a trip to Chicago with kids. Very stressful. So much could happen to them and when you are from a small town like I am, they are just not exposed to all that wackiness. 🙂 Hi Meg! My name is Genn and I’ve been reading your blog for a while now. Sorry I don’t usually comment! I am a little intimidated sometimes I guess to comment on “big blogs” like yours. You seem to get so many comments, sometimes I wonder how do you possible have time to read them all? Would love to know if that was a cute camera bag that was hanging from you…or what you use for a camera bag during a trip? Great photos. Our son and family live right downtown and our daughter lived there for 5 years. We have visited many of the same sights. One of our first trips there, I, too, thought I would buy something at Burberry….not! We love to visit but certainly appreciate our small town when we get home. we live close to st joe and head up there all the time. your pictures are fabulous as usual! I always feel so guilty when I don’t wait in lines for everything with my children who are just dying to ride that ride or go to an opening night movie…so glad to hear you didn’t wait in line for Sears (Willis??) Tower—makes me feel a little better. I just loved the hello Michigan photo. Absolutely gorgeous. love all your adventures! i know what you’re saying about kids in the city versus being there alone…we still love to do it but it is clearly very different! oh Meg…I just love going on vacation with you… So glad that you got to see some MI sunsets. They are the best! We recently went to the east coast. Our kiddos have been spoiled by the freshwater of Lake Michigan that is so big it looks like an ocean! They didn’t care much for salt water… St. Joseph is a wonderful town. We live not far away. Love the pics. Thanks for sharing! Ohhh Chicago, my kids and I just came back from our first trip there!!!! We LOVED it there and how crazy we stayed in the same exact hotel……we were there the first weekend they started filming Transformers 3 and the picture policy didn’t allow us to take any pics. I looked through all of yours from the city and it was like I was right there again!!!! Thanks for sharing :o) I love how PROUD he looks over getting to pick out the Legos!!! (Love following along on your trip too!) I grew up on Lake Michigan. In a little town called New Buffalo. It’s quite built up and touristy now. Enjoy your time. we live in michigan, the ann arbor area. i just dragged my hubs and two of my kids to lake michigan a week ago for a day trip to st. joseph! where was the rental home? would LOVE to check it out for a possible stay! michigan is lovely, isn’t it? Funny. My husband and I just got back from a weekend there just for us. We were at that same Lego store and Hello Kitty store getting toys for the kids. And, our hotel was right on the street where they were still filming Transformers. Great city! Im loving looking at all the photos. There is something about seeing a place on the other side of the world through the eyes of someone else. Perhaps one day we will travel and see some of these sights too. Silver Beach!!! We are close to St. Joe and we love that whole area. Can I just say that if I had happened upon all of you that I quite possibly would have accosted you in some fashion? It would have been a friendly accosting, but an accosting, nonetheless. Oh, I also would have fainted dead away. Chicago might have been stressful, but you look fabulous. Pregnant? I think not. OH Megan, what wonderful trip…love seeing it through your eyes/lens…your hair looks so darling, I really love it, all the pics of you are coming out great…can’t wait to see more! Ahhhh 😉 Beeyouteeful!! Never been to Meeechigan…gonna put that on my list 🙂 Glad you had such an awesome time! I live about 30 minutes from St. Joe and love going to Silver Beach. You are right Michigan does have the best sunsets and beaches. Sometime you should visit South Haven they also have beautiful beaches. Love reading your blog:) Thanks for sharing your photos. Not sure if you and your family are popcorn fans, but Garrett’s Popcorn shop on Michigan Ave is WONDERFUL!!!! They always have a long line, but it goes fast and is totally worth it. I used to live in that area and GP, Portillo’s (which I see you found already), Giordano’s and the Hancock tower are just a few of the attractions I suggest to friends. Thanks for sharing. Oh Meg I just took six of my kids to Chicago by myself for two days. I was soooo stressed that I would lose a little one. The place is sooo busy and crazy but my kids loved it. We to went to Lego land and I posted pictures on face book of Lego Woody to:) Glad you have a great time. I agree. I love Chicago to visit once in a while but it’s almost overload with all the hustle and bustle. Beautiful sunset picture! this will be my only trip to chicago & michgan i’am enjoying it. the photos are awesome(: So I see that you are using your camera without a strap? I find that my strap gets in my way more than it helps… Great pics. I love the lego Woody. Looks like it is a great trip!!! Meg, Would you share where you rented or some recommendations? St. Joseph is not too far from here and we need a mini-vacay before summer is over. Thanks! Lindsay So glad to hear that I’m not the only “high alert” mom. I like that name…sounds much better than neurotic. 😉 Love the pictures. Looks like you are having some wonderful family time. I don’t know if you have any Ross stores where you live. But I saw a shirt there that looks almost exactly like the dress you wanted a Lucky but it was only 14.99. Just wanted to share. Ah, Legos! My sister had our boys this weekend and took them to Legoland in Schaumburg…they are still talking about it!!! What a nice vacation! Enjoyed seeing your pictures and reading about your trip. My boys would love to go to the Lego store for their b-day ~ totally cool boy b-day!!! My family is from Michigan. Not me, but my mom and nana. I lived there for a couple of years in my early twenties. We would drive from NY to MI just about every summer when I was a kid. I LOVED it! Its such a relaxing place and I love that the sun sets so late there (so close to the edge of the time zone). We’ve never been to this part of the country…your pics make me want to head that way! Oh, and btw,I soooo love your hair!! Okay now I am really upset..woman, I live so close to St. Jo. (creepy stalker alert) Bummer 🙁 Hope you guys had a good time!! Please tell me you made it to Silver Beach Pizza at least once!! Lucky Girl- love Lake Michigan. St. Joe is a lovely place. I love Lake Michigan!! We are on the other side of the state. My daughter goes to college in Grand Rapids. It is so nice there. I love all of the pictures. How wonderful to spend a week with friends. I feel the same about cities. They are great to visit, just way too busy for me!! Thanks for sharing your trip! great pictures!!!! thanks for sharing! I hear what you’re saying about Chi-town being stressful with the kiddos – not the same when you’re there alone as a couple! Glad you had a good time on vacation – Michigan looks fantasic! Ohhhh i really want to goto America again. Such gorgeous pictures,you’ve got me wanting to visit Chicago now! And I totally agree on the Sears Tower thing 😐 i know i said we went to michigan…but first we went to chicago for a day. but back to the trip.
i can tell you which one i liked better….. then we walked over to play in the fountain.
i had to log out between every picture uploading?!!! We almost crossed paths while in Chicago(we were there the 7th through the 12th), we stayed at that same hotel and I have to agree with ya it was the funniest pool and wasn’t it hot in there. We got to see some of the Transformers 3 filming as well but the picture police kept yelling “No pictures” I did manage to get a few not so good ones with my phone. This was my first time in Chicago and we LOVED it!!! Hopefully we will make it back soon. Love the pics, thanks for sharing I just wanted to say how much I love your blog. Your blog has inspired me to start my own and take more interesting pictures, so thanks. Also great pictures from Chicago. Oh, my. I miss my Chicago. New Jersey just isn’t the same. Thanks for the lovely pics. Hope you had a great time. I’ve never been to Chicago. Looks amazing! I’m new to your blog. This is such a fun post. Our fam just got back from Chicago. We saw a Cubs game at Wrigley. My little boys are 1 and 3 1/2 and they loved “the bean”. Thanks for sharing these photos. I liked seeing Chicago from someone else’s perspective. You have such a cute family! we have pictures booked with bluelily in August! I am so excited. and having a very hard time figuring out what we should all wear! Not sure why but I haven’t been able to comment…it’s been killing me. I’ve been back here 5 times now! Anyway…we’ve never been to the Bean. I don’t know how that’s possible since I’ve been to Chicago many times. Look like a great place to snap some awesome pics. The pink rompers are just too much. I’ve seen more of them this summer than I ever wanted to see. Usually on body types that shouldn’t even being thinking about it! Thanks for the laugh! i read your blog all the time but i don’t think i’ve ever commented. just wanted to say that my favorite thing about that post was the picture of everyone jumping off the bench because lauren was jumping too. 🙂 i was so proud of her for not being “too cool” to do it. I LOVE CHICAGO! My hubby and I were there 3 weeks ago for our 10th anniversary and we stayed at the Embassy Suites too. Loved it! Looks like you had a great time! Lauren’s dress is so pretty! Looks like you had fun…you are all so brown. 🙂 It’ll be fun to see your fam pics. I’m married to a family guy too ~ they are the greatest! And one reason I had five kids with him. Most guys I wouldn’t have had one with! Chicago looks amazing!! i bet a certain doodle was very happy to see you when you got home…chicago pics are awesome! GASP! Blue Lily?!!! So jealous. Megan, cool water shots and its great to see Lauren in lots of pictures 🙂 Great pictures, Meg! We love Chicago – my husband is originally from there and a lot of his family still live there. We are HUGE Chicago Cubs fans! ;o) I had to LOL about Annie bopping some boy on the head to leave her alone and about the 2 different women in the same pink romper at the same place, and same time- ha! Can’t wait to see the family pictures! xoxoxx I love Chicago. It is, hands down, my favorite US city. Lucky duck! it looks like fun! We have been talking about a trip to Chicago. We havent been before. I wonder how our four would do?…hmmmmmm….. I HEART Chicago!! Looks like ya’ll had a blast! blue lily?! completely jealous. love them. We stayed at that same Embassy Suites on our visit to check out Chicago before our move. We faced the river instead of the lake though. That pool is awesomely tiny and oh so echo-y. Yay for Giordano’s and the Bean. Looks like fun! Craig gets “Dad of the Year” for cleaning up the puke in the car, you are lucky! In my house, I would be the one cleaning up the puke while my husband dry heaves at the slightest smell of it. But anyway, I loved the pictures of your day in Chicago. I don’t mean to ask a bizarre question, but what is the Bean made of? I am wondering how it stays so clean when it seems like everyone is touching it. Odd question, but it crossed my mind…. Looks like a lovely trip so far….can’t wait to see the rest! Meg, that is some dedication to us because whoa, that’s a lot of logging in and out. Loved the re-cap and can’t wait for more! Never a dull moment at Millennium Park. It makes me miss living there! Is a pink romper on your next shopping list? No? I thought you said you liked pink! we are going to Chicago this summer. Loved seeing your pics. Looks like you guys had a great holiday. I love the piggy back cuddles. I love Chicago! I’ve never been in the summer though. Ahhh Giordanno’s. My fave. Rompers are not for grown-ups! My upstairs neighbor may have been one of those hot pink romper people. She was wearing on the other day. Lauren on the other hand looks beautiful! Great dress! Glad you had a great time! Kelly For the most part, it sounds (and looks) like fun!! I love the water coming out of the mouth- Cute pictures!! That bean thing looks like so much fun : ) sadly the bright pink romper was the first thing i noticed in each of those photos. it was like a blinding light that i couldn’t ignore. What great memories for the kids! My kids love hotels – even the cheap ones. Looks amazing. Ahhh…nothin like puke in the car on a road trip. Your oldest seems to have been bitten by the photog bug too I see? 🙂 That is one of our favorite BIG cities…and Giordianos pizza is amazing. We have had it shipped to us over night….best 16th birthday party ever. I can’t wait to see your family pics!! Embassy Suites Rock!! Hot made to order breakfast, free happy hour, beautiful lobby!! I always look for their hotels first when planning a trip!! I love chicago! What hotel did you stay at? we've been on vacation. doing lots of this… it was fantastic. Chicago Jen is Hot! Your pictures make me giddy. And hooray for Sequence! It’s one of my favorite games. Oh…welcome to Michigan! I haven’t taken my annual trip to one of the great Lakes yet this summer…Lake Michigan is my favorite for the beaches there. I LOVE your photos, as usual! Glad you had a nice vacation! what the heck? seems like the entire united states have been to michigan this summer, except for me! boo-hoo, my home state, where the summers are divine. i live in washington and have come across SEVERAL people who have vacationed in michigan this year. btw meg, you’re looking very tan and slim in your michigan picture:-) can’t wait…. hurry up! Look forward to hearing all about this fun trip….dread the laundry though…wish u luck in that. Love it. Love vacations. Beaches in places you don’t expect them, like Michigan…and sand castles. 🙂 oh my gosh, how funnny….we just got back at 3am from MI!!! My family lives there. Went to my 20 yr reunion, cousin’s wedding and spent some time up in Mackinaw. Good times 🙂 Hope you had fun!! How fun!! Can’t wait to see even more pics! Glad you guys had a good vacation! Looking forward to hearing all about it!! : ) Whoa…you were in Michigan..how cool is THAT cause I LIVE in Michigan (just about 30 minutes outside of Detroit)!! I think you were along Lake Michigan somewhere…it’s just gorgeous isn’t it?? It truly is my FAVORITE lake in this state by far!!! Looks like you had so much fun, thanks for the tourism cause I’ve been out of a job since May and I am grateful people still like to visit our state and help our economy…it’s awful! Can’t wait to hear more! You ARE tan….and you look relaxed and happy! can’t wait to hear where in MI you were?! You all look so tanned and relaxed in your family pic. Looks like lots of fun! We were in UP Michigan in June. Up by Pictured Rocks on the Lake Superior side. Whereabouts were you? We loved it! Great family photo! All of the pics are good and the beach looks divine. I’m glad you had a wonderful time and I know you can knock out that laundry quickly. 🙂 wow – that looks like the Atlantic..except for the sunset. love Sequence… love sandy life on the lake… love the pics! Can’t wait to hear all about it! Gorgeous family photo!! I would never have guessed Michigan would have such beautiful water, and beaches! I’ve only ever been to East Coast beaches. Looks like it was a great vacation, looking forward to pictures. guess this is the only way i’ll going to michigan(: wow hope i liked it……….blessings and have a safe trip home. Looks like South Haven sunset to me. I love Lake Michigan! Looks like your trip was fabulous and your pictures are GREAT….Love your blog…Happy Sunday…..Giveaway late tonight.. love sequence! I forgot about your trip! Who knew Michigan was so pretty! 😀 What a fabulous family shot. Enjoy. so fun! we went on a vaca without me telling on my blog too. I mean who wants people to feel free to break in and steal your stuff while you’re away? 🙂 Kelly We are about 15 minutes from Lake Michigan, we were just there last weekend. Great family pic of all of you. You look relaxed, tan and happy. Can’t wait to see all the pics:) Love Michigan! It’s just a hop skip and a jump from our house so we go often. Can’t wait to hear about your trip Meg! Love the peek of your vacation! Love the family picture!!! I love Lake Michigan. We were at silver lake this week. My kids just loved the water. Dear Meg, Megan, sounds like a fun vacation! Cant wait to hear about it! Hurray for Michigan! We’re on the beach in Grand Haven and it looks a whole lot like wherever you were!!! I live in Michigan closer to Indiana! But still by the Lake…oh I love that lake! I am in Michigan, too. That water looks familiar. 🙂 Can’t wait to hear where you were!! Off to Michigan this coming Sunday…back home… We are spending a week on Lake Huron. By the pictures of those waves, I would say you were on the Traverse Side of MI. Michigan vacations are the best. I just took one and I’ll be taking another in a few weeks! 🙂 i live in Michigan on this very same shore! 🙂 always fun to be had! I love sneaky vacations! Looks amazing. Happy, happy faces in that cute family picture. Welcome back. Survive the laundry. my friend turned 40.
it was fun. Looks like you had a great time! Gotta love Girls’ Weekends (they need capital letters, those words IMO) ;p how fun! love the walgreens shot. that is so cute! What a fun trip! Meg, you are beautiful, inside and out! 🙂 You are BEAUTIFUL! And I love your hair!! I sooooo need a change! I’m a hot roller, big hair girl. I need to break away! Thanks for posting about your fun weekend, it looked divine! 🙂 I was scrolling down the photos, and when I saw that first portrait of you I thought “wow… that woman is so beautiful.” I love your outings. So fun! And ha ha ha… I just bought grown up moisturizer for the first time too and I am 37… eek. I am so envious. I envision girl’s trips like that in my future. They make life happier. meg, what hotel did you stay at? i’m planning a long weekend get away in chicago with the hubs and that room looks gorgeous! so fun. i miss chicago! and i love that you said your cup is full! how great for you and how inspiring to both make it happen AND recognize when it does! xo Waouhhhhhhh , comment ne pas rêver des Etats unis avec un tel reportage photos!!! That is the hairstyle for you! Now, can you find mine? I need something that makes me look 10 yrs younger? Or is it the combonation of the hair and the running? Would walking on a treadmill work?:) I am so proud of you! You inspire me. I am glad you and your girls had a great trip. I so need one!!!!!! I can’t wait to get my “4” shirt. My baby is turning 4????? Where did the time go? Oh this looks like so much fun. I can’t wait till I can escape for a weekend with friends like this! Its def necessary! How wonderful! Chicago is SO MUCH FUN!!! I never thought turning 40 could be so fun!!! This looks like a blast! I turn 30 this year. I wonder if I could talk my girls into going with me 😀 We just got back from a weekend away with our new “teenagers”… We took our daughters to this amazing resort in Washington state (Alderbrook Resort). We will be blogging about it later this week on http://www.liveitupalittle.blogspot.com (and my own personal blog http://www.lifeisjustplainfun.blogspot.com). After reading your story I am inspired to grab the older girls (us… 40’s) and get away… especially to a hotel with beds with crisp white linens and soft white towels and robes…. and a good burger joint next door! We should have just joined you guys!!! 🙂 Thanks for reminding me to make myself a priority once in awhile. Tracy (www.tfisherart.com) Im all for girl get a ways! Have one coming up next week! It was the best. Looks like you had perfect weather! What fun! And the pictures of you were gorgeous. 🙂 You look beautiful, happy and relaxed! What a great birthday (and Mother’s Day) gift! just sounds like so much fun. And Meg, you just look beautiful. I think I commented before on your new haircut but again, it looks fabulous!! Looks like a lot of fun! The pics of you are great! You look recharged and beautiful! meg you look so pretty! Oh wow! I LOVE Chicago – where my BFF lived until just recently. Great city! Looks like fun! And those tulips are amazing. . . . GOOD FOR YOU! You all look so cute – love, LOVE your hair! I am so jealous . . . I’m in need of that exact trip!!! So glad you had a smashing good time!!!!!! ooh … what a great girl trip! Great photos! You made me miss Chicago so much (used to live near there and go all the time). I love how they have flowers right in the middle of the big city! Glad you had a great time with your friends, they are so important. Looks like so much fun. We were in Chicago two weeks ago, and I was so impressed with the flowers. You’re right: they were everywhere. you are beautiful Your new hair looks so chic and you just look so fresh!!! oh, i’m happy for you guys. i don’t know what i would do without my yearly girl weekend full of all this goodness. Wow looks like so much fun! I’ve never done anything like that. You are lucky to have such fun friends! Your pictures are awesome. Makes me feel like I came along! Your new “do” is so adorable. Thanks for sharing. Looks like you had an AMAZING time! A girly weekend sounds wonderful…the pictures of you are beautiful btw : ) What a great time! I just had a similar trip…and now the reality is sinking back in. I have a hard time adjusting back to regular life! Someday my feet will walk the streets of Chicago…looks like a perfect weekend. Great shot of you… Megan, you are (still) so beautiful!! my word you packed some things in to that trip!! what a great time. girls weekends seem a distant memory – i should organise one! what a fun trip and great pictures…it makes me miss chicago and my dear friend who lives there…hoping to make a visit this fall. FABULOUS PHOTOS! I fondly recall MY (hometown) Chicago girls weekend 7 (gasp) years ago! We laughed so hard. It was in the fall and we all bought boots after we saw everyone downtown in stylish leather boots. Still have ’em. Deep sigh…you’re a happy looking bunch and so blessed to be able to getaway together. Enjoy! Looks like a perfect girly weekend! I had one with my mom and sis a couple of weekends ago. So refreshing. Sounds like you had a great trip. Beautiful pictures too. I was just in the city a week ago! Took some of the same pics as you…tulips and by the river…glad to see you enjoyed it! Looks like a great trip! Love the pizza & moscato shot! Good times! And a great photo of you! looks sooo fun! i LOVE chicago! that looks like so much fun! This looks like SO MUCH FUN! I totally want to do this with my girlfriends. That picture of you is so cute! What a fun weekend, I am so jealous, I need a weekend like that in a big way…right now I’d be happy for even an evening out w/ my two besties. I forgot to let you know I linked to your blog…it’s very positive, hope it’s ok 🙂 Awww… this post made me cry! (In a good way… kind of….) You are so lucky to have such great girlfriends and to do things like that with them. I know you know that. I’ve always wanted girlfriends to do that kind of stuff with. And I LOVE your hair! And your pictures are fabulous. What a great time. I knew it. Great pictures of you. LOVE your hair! Looks like a fun time with your friends. Good idea for my 40th (coming soon). What fun! I love Origins Cheeks and Balances; I bet you will too. And your eyes are amazing. I can see a bit of you in each of your children (some more than others). Loved every picture. I almost feel like I got to go along. Can’t wait to hear more stories from your time away. This made me want a girl’s weekend in the worst way. Two years ago i went to Vegas for shopping and more shopping, but your weekend looked a bit less glitzy and more relaxing. LOVE YOUR HAIR!!!! so fun!!! you girls r beautiful! 🙂 That looks like the perfect break. Ok, as i look at pics of you, Meg, (which i don’t get to see very often)i swear you have hardly aged since high school….beautiful! Side note…..i’m not much of a wine drinker, wish i was, just have never really loved the taste….until one evening at Olive Garden when we tried a Moscato…..i’m a true lover! This summer with the other Josts, let’s add that to the fun!:) You look beautiful. I know it’s been a bit since you got the haircut, but I tend to get feeling like when someone gets so many comments they all blend in so why bother. But I guess I am bothering today. To tell you you look really lovely and looks like you had a great time. What an awesome time! Looks & sounds like everyone enjoyed themselves. I was in Chicago on a Girls Weekend last weekend too. how funny. I’m so jealous 🙂 I need a Girl’s Weekend very sooon!!! My hubby has been gone since last Thursday…gets home tonight…and I will be a super happy girl 🙂 It’s always so good to get away and JUST TALK GIRL TALK!!!!! Especially when the getaway is in Chicago 🙂 I’m glad you are rejuvenated! That pic of you is just beautiful 😉 You look SO good in those pictures! glad you had a wonderful trip. although i live just outside chicago and it always feels like a vacation when i make that 1/2 drive! Looks like fun and I want to let you know that I love your new haircut! I know you called it a mom-cut, but I think it makes you look younger! 🙂 Looks like a blast—love the new do!!! I think we stayed at the same hotel last fall when we had a girl’s weekend! Love the flowers–crate and barrel is awesome (did you go into CB2?) oh my word, i love this!!! and…tiramisu??? my favorite. what a great weekend. Looks like so much fun! The pics of you are adorable. Sounds like an amazing weekend!!! Looks like so much fun!! Best city in the world! 🙂 Moscato is my favorite wine, so sweet and yummy ♥ awww, so fun!! 🙂 Love it! Every time I read about one of your girls’ weekends I get so jealous and intend to plan one for myself…but I never do! Maybe this time I will follow through! 🙂 I haven’t been able to go to Chicago for years now that I live a little farther away- I miss it! My mom and I used to go in once a year for make overs just so we’d have an excuse to buy new make up! no way is Jana 40!!! Hmmm, so 2011 is the year for turning 30 (for some of us) – maybe we should take a Chicago trip! Looks like TONS of fun! You and your sassy new cut…lookin’ spiffy:) Love all the pics. The one of all of you on the surveilance video cracked me up! what a fun thing to do. I love Chicago. i promise this is the last california set. you guys are troopers.
you have made it through…you deserve a starbucks.
after the hike through the trees and climbing through the goonies cave…
we went to a waterfall.
lauren said "i'm tired i am staying in the car."
we said "fine."
got out of the car not expecting too much.
then about 15 steps later….
 we see this.
and this is only the bottom half of it.
i went back to get lauren.
it was a sight that had to be seen.
 more climbing…
  we call her "california grace"
   hey look! we are all in the same frame!
very cool.
after the falls we drove back to reedley.
tonya's parents watched all the kids for us to go out for dinner without kids.
how awesome is that?! a date on vacation?!
we left the next morning to head back to LA.
the kids were sad to say goodbye.
we were sad too.
  we went to hollywood.
not nearly as cool as they make it look in the movies….
  julio iglesias is as interesting as anyone else.
we went to the beach again for the rest of the day.
then dinner…
 our first time at in-n-out burger.
talby had her first hamburger…she was finally brave enough…she liked it.
annie wouldn't do it or lauren either.
they are missing out…but they will have to figure that out on their own.
 then starbucks…
and swimming at the hotel…one room again. :)
we were up at 5 AM for our flight home.
  more UNO.
it was a great trip.
a tiring trip.
it was a trip we will never forget.
Love all the California pics and stories. these just made me smile today. i’m so glad to see YOU in some of these…i love the pony tails. you look adorable, yasmine. 😉 You saw Hollywood, the Redwoods, the coast, etc. etc….but so glad you didn’t miss the true California landmark of In-n-Out!! It doesn’t disappoint! 🙂 I have loved all of your California posts, almost feels like I was there. Thank you for taking us “with” you. I didn’t have many family vacations growing up and it’s fun seeing all the memories you are making with your children. I’ve always wanted a BIG family and your family makes me want it even more. I think it’s the only child in me 🙂 I love how lauren is totally voguing in that picture. That is a really great family photo of your whole clan…I imagine Lauren gets a bit annoyed at times when people confuse you for her sister! I have LOVED everyone of your California posts! (actually I love all your posts in generally, but anyway…) I miss CA so much and the places you went, Reedley, In & Out, Sequoia, the beach!, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and L.A., they are HOME to me. Thank you for giving me the little trips down memory lane, while enjoying getting to enjoy your family’s photos & memories. 🙂 Has anyone ever told you you look like Yasmine Bleeth? I am so sorry that your fabulous fabulous California holiday is over. A couple of years ago we were traveling in the UK and friends booked us into a self-catering park called California Park… They thought we would much prefer (five kids at the time) a self-catering than a hotel room… Well we nearly died it never got more than 4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit) in the middle of summer… The prefab shack we were in was so freezing and damp, when you walked across the carpets the water squelched into your socks – euch! We had to get up every two hours and feed the heater 50p coins ( worse than an infant) just to survive!!! For us Capetonians from sunny South Africa it was a rude awakening to dying of exposure!!! Frankly your California looks nothing but divine and a place we would love to visit. California Park, UK , we will gladly miss!!! Thanks for sharing your holiday with us it was just lovely. waterfall is amazing! Meg, what a great vacation and you captured it with awesome pictures (eye candy, yes!). I am partial to the “where’s the teenager” pics because I have two of my own so I chuckle. Voted for the eye candy nom. Your pictures of your home are thoroughly drooled over! LOVE In-N-Out! We’re trying to hit as many as we can while we’re here in California this week. I had one protein style and it was still delicious. 🙂 Fab photos as always Megan. oh my word that waterfall is beautiful! and hollywood IS not as glamorous as everyone thinks- it’s dirty and crowded! haha and your in & out pics made me want some- yummy! do your kids not eat burgers??? Thanks for sharing your vacation with us! I have loved your pictures! Looks like a great vacation I’m so glad Lauren got out to experience the waterfall…and seemed to enjoy it. Looks like a great trip – you and Craig are amazing parents! OH, I can’t wait! Your trip report has made me even more excited for ours. We are treking cross country for Walley World. I cannot wait. Good for you for all you did….it was one to remember! Hi Meg! What an amazing adventure! I enjoyed all the pictures thoroughly. They will remember this for a life time with the pictures you’ve taken. Kids grow up way to fast not to take pictures every day! Wowie that is some waterfall and the rest of the scenery too. We stayed in Beverly Hills last summer for a few days when Ellie shot the St. Jude commercial with Jennifer Aniston. I had been to LA before but the whole Beverly Hills thing was surreal. Our 12 year old Emma absolutely loved the whole scene but I had to rain on her parade and let her know this is not reality for 99% of the world. We also stayed a day in Malibu and feel in love with it. The surfers, Pacific Coast Highway, the huge beach houses, sea lions… all of it. Thanks for taking us back! 1st in n out?! no way! 🙂 I loved every minute of seeing your vacation! But…I did treat myself to a Starbucks….it’s Saturday after all. I’ve voted for you! Congratulations on the nomination Megan! I was looking at this and I found myself showing my husband: I loved seeing your trip . . .I didn’t tire of it one bit, and looked forward to the next installment. I’m sorry it’s over! But I’ll take a starbucks anyway 🙂 Congrats on the blogluxe nominee. You were the only one I nominated on that entire thing 😉 Because anyone who is anyonw knows that your blog IS the best when it comes to eye candy. I can not wait to tell my kids that your kids passed on an IN N OUT burger! They won’t believe me!
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Niki - Looks wonderful! Don’t you love those friends that are like family?! It is great just to BE with them not necessarily have to DO, DO, DO!!! Glad you got a break!
Laura Phelps - can we join you next summer?
I’ll bring the beer if you make the margaritas
Dana @ Bungalow 56 - Megan,
I am Jealous with a capital J. Loved the walk through. Felt like I was watching a spy cam with the family dog. Many of the pictures were from that height : )
Dana
Staci Danford - Sounds simply devine..
Staci
Lorilee - Sounds great! We are kinda just being lazy at home while my hubby is off!
Blessings,
Lorilee
Carrie K - sounds dreamy! lucky kids 🙂
great pictures!!
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - just as it should be…vacay at it’s finest!
Georgia - The beach is my favourite place to be, i feel so relaxed and peaceful there. I could just sit there all day and soak up the Smells, sounds, etc
Luckily for me, im 40 minutes away from the beach, and im going there in a weeks time… YAY
Kat - Looks and sound blissful!
How nice to have everyone so quiet at that time of day.
jennibell - What a neat way to journal a page out of vacation! Will have to try that sometime 🙂
Kimberlee J. - Funny how 3:55 pm can be one of the most stressful times of the day when one is not on vacation, but when that vacation flag is waving it’s certainly one of the best!
Courtney Walsh - Just read more and now see that you were near St. Joseph…which is the exact town I patterned my “Sweethaven” after! I cannot believe what a small world. Isn’t it beautiful there?? 🙂
Courtney Walsh - Meg, the beach in Michigan and a fictional cottage town based on a real place are the setting for my novel for Guideposts. I see you found the same charm there that I did when I visited. It’s so calm and quiet and empty. I loved it. I hope you are recharging! 🙂
tasha roe - your vacation sounds PERFECT!!!!
n - sounds like fun – look at it this way: the stairs help you “earn” those margaritas! 🙂
Gemma @ Musings of a gem - It sounds great Meg! It is nice just to relax when on holiday rather than having a schedule and trying to cram every little bit in every day.
Gemma X
Kacey - Sounds like a perfect vacation to me!
Holly - I am jealous! I think we are going to try for a road trip with the kids during spring break……maybe St Louis then Chicago…..or the other way around!
Staci - Sounds PERFECT!!!!!
Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Meg, that sounds amazing. So happy for you!
Krista - All the lounging makes me sleepy, looks like it was a very relaxing vacation! You really captured the peacefulness in your photos.