"UP" Upper Penninsula

Since we were already close we decided to take a little drive to the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. In order to do this we have to cross a 5 mile bridge! This is not a bridge for the weak...it seemed to go forever.



View of the bridge as we went over.




Lake Huron side of the bridge.



View from the Upper Penninsula side and Lake Michigan.




I believe that the bridge is in the middle of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan...I could be wrong, but on the map they are on opposite sides so this is just my assumption. Also in the UP of Michigan where it meets up with Canada there are the locks. We got to watch a tour boat go through the locks and see how they work. It was cool and we decided it wasn't worth waiting 3 hours for the next ship to come through. There are no pictures of this because our camera ran out just after we crossed the bridge. Terrible, I know...better some pictures than none though.

Mackinac Island

We were camping only about 10 minutes away from the ferry that takes you out to Mackinac(pronounced Makinaw) Island. This island doesn't have any cars, only bikes and horse and buggies. So, lots of people bring their bikes over and right off the docks you can rent bikes too. This is a view from the ferry...it is very pretty!



My rented beach cruiser to ride around the island. Matt wanted an "action shot". :)



We hiked up this trail along the island where we could see this hole in the rock from where the water once came up and broke the rock through the center.



The island use to be a "fort" for war used by the British so this is looking out to Lake Huron from the fort.



Eating lunch on the water after our fun bike ride. It only took us about an hour and a half to go all the way around it and we took our time.



Another look at Lake Huron and a lighthouse to the left edge on the water.

Camping Vacation

Last week Matt had some time off of work and I managed to work a long weekend off so we went up to the northern part of Michigan to camp. Matt found an awesome campground right on Lake Michigan that had real bathrooms and showers...this is my kind of camping! (I love camping, but want to feel clean to sleep especially when we are going for 4 nights.) Anyways, we have some great pictures that we managed to get with our disposable camera...yes, another one bites the dust for our long collection of cameras that we have gone through lately. We just need to break down and save up for a nice one.



Behind us in these pictures is the beautiful Lake Michigan. I am still in such awe of the great lakes. It is very deceiving to not see the other side of the lake and remember that it isn't the ocean. I can't get enough of it!



Matt took me on this hike where I swear we got lost, but he told me later that on his bike he figured out that we really were on the right path...sure thing dear:)

Tiger's Game

This week Matt and I got to go to the baseball game. (No, it wasn't the famous game...that was the next night.) The seats were just 23 rows up from the Tiger's dugout, which is in between 3rd base and home. It was so much fun to be that close and much easier to stay focused on the game. They lost, but we had fun just being there and it was a beautiful night! Because our seats were in the lower level the camera caught us and we got to be on the jumbo-tron...a first time experience. Sadly, I didn't check the batteries on the camera before we left and when we pulled it out they were dead, so no pictures!
Also, we noticed that outside of the stadium is quite a carnival. There are people singing, playing the trumpet, playing the drums, making up raps, handing out flags, or just begging for change. There is one famous guy that stands with a huge hand that holds a cup that he shakes and chants, "Eat em up Tigers, eat em up!" Apparently he goes to all of the Detroit sports games and just changes up his chant...Red Wings, Pistons, Lions...I heard on the radio that he even has a facebook page that someone made for him.

New Job

I started a second job this week at an optician's office. It is nice to have full time work and keeps me much busier. Matt is finishing his 2nd year of residency and continues to learn a ton. We love our ward, making new friends, and are extremely happy to be staying put for a couple more years. Mostly I am just ecstatic not to be looking for a new job, apartment, and packing all at once yet again.

Spring

Matt got me this orchid a couple of months ago and it is still doing great!



I love this time of the year and that we can open our windows as you can see here. My family will be so jealous of this...they already have the air conditioning on.



The blooms in the backyard. I know, they are weeds but still blooming.

Matt's beard or lack thereof

Remember Febstashuary? Well, these are the final pictures we took after the month was over. Matt ended up with quite a beard for only a month of growth. We shaved it off in steps and took some pictures. I am posting these pictures mostly for my brothers to see, but also for rememberance sake.



The Wolverine look with no mustache.



Chops.



My favorite look...clean and smooth.