Days with the Dorans

I feel like this may have been the longest we have spent in Elk Rapids but it went by so fast. On one hand it was nice not having to worry at all about the dogs. I know my folks don't like watching them and although Garrett is awesome, it is nice to have them staying with family. On the other hand I hate that we didn't even have ONE day where all six of us overlapped and I'm hopeful that next year will be the year when we ALL are in our happy place! On our last night we hit the beach with guitars which is always a favorite for me. Z has recently started playing bass which is fun. I think that Sean needs to figure out a string instrument to play so he can join the males in this family. Playing music at sunset is always a favorite way we love to spend the time. The weather overall wasn't super hot (which I LOVED) but it meant not a lot of swimming and no pool time. I remember when the kids were little, that's all they did was SWIM! It was great having Ali up even if i...

  On Saturday, I was still a bit sore from my kayak adventure, but I got my miles in while Ali ran and the boys did disc golf. After we were all home and showered it was time to hit the Wineries. We decided to do a similar thing like we did when we went snowshoeing in February but Jeff would drive since it was a bit hot. We hit two wineries we had before and then one new one. The first one we went to was Bowers Harbor. I love the way they serve their flights and it is such a cool place. There is a lot of outdoor seating (which we also took advantage of in the winter). It was so cool to see it all greened up! Of all the places, this one is my favorite. We got a flight of red, a flight of sweets and a flight of ciders. While the wine was pretty much mine and Ali's thing, Joe will have an occasional glass (more than Jeff's once a year wine when the kids decorate the tree) and he really does prefer ciders to beer so he liked it took. Sean got a lemonade (which is usually his drink ...

  So if you are reading this in order, you know that on Thursday we did one of our "Adventure Dates" and went kayaking which was a ton of fun. After that we decided we would go to a Pit Spitters Game. We went last year with the boys and it was such a fun day at the park. Forgot to add this "Group Shot" to our Kayaking adventure. As I mentioned my arms had started hurting a bit on our way to the game. They just felt achy. The game was OK. There was a Bronco on the team and we loved watching the fun things they do in between innings. We had beer and a pretzel, Joe got dinner and Sean opted for popcorn. As the innings went on though, my arms REALLY started to hurt and so we left in the 6th inning. The boys didn't mind because they also wanted to get home to watch the World Cup. But on the way, Jeff stopped to get me Tylenol and Icy Hot. I popped that Tylenol in my mouth as soon as I could and lathered up my arms but it didn't seem to help one iota! That night I...

  We took our scratch tickets with us up north and found two nearby that both had to do with kayaking. Since we had our own kayaks, we had Z bring them up when he came on Tuesday so that we could used those to avoid a rental fee. Of the two we decided to do Bellaire because it was close and just really entailed kayaking and checking out a food barge on torch lake. We decided to go after Joey got to down so the four of us (Z had to go back home to work plus he spent most of his time with Kat), the boys had a kayak and Jeff and I had a kayak. We blew them up in the parking lot and were on our way. I was a bit nervous about parking but it actually wasn't a big deal. I was nervous for a bit since we went so far we could no longer really see what was happening on that shore. Jeff and I defintely went faster than the boys but it was fun to watch them having fun and catching up. We did an out and back since Torch lake it big and according to my watch, we did about 3 miles. The food barge ...

Elk Rapids has been our happy place for as long as I can remember. I know my parents got it right after I left for college but I feel like every summer we have been lucky enough to take our kids and enjoy Lake Michigan. It feels even more special now that Z goes to school so close and knows Traverse City (20 minutes south of us) so well. Because of work schedules, there wasn't a day when all of us were together which was a bummer. The good news (I guess) is that we didn't have to have anyone watch our zoo. Still I wish that we could have ALL been together. Those times feel so precious to me. So it started out with just Jeff, me and Sean. I walked every morning (5 miles) and Sean even joined me once and we walked to a beach about a mile away that I hadn't been to. Thankfully Jeff picked us up after his disc golf because it got buggy. Speaking of disc golf, I joined a few times (to walk the course and listen to my book). Sean is not a disc golfer so he caddied for Jeff since ...

Joey and friends at South Haven I don't get the pictures I used to of the kids since (to be honest), I'm not around them as much as when they were little so when I get a picture with them, it makes me happy! Joey sent me the picture above the other day and I got pictures of Z and Sean from their friends' moms! I love my boys! And since I don't always get pictures of them, when I do, I'm dropping them here! Scott and Zach at Top Golf Sean and friends at Keith's birthday  

  It's amazing how fast time goes now! This group was a bit worried that I would not be here when they graduate from high school and it dawned on me that I may not be... 38 years is a long time to teach but time will tell! So many great kids in this group and a few I had for two years! I keep pictures of all the classes I've taught up on my wall now and I wrote the year, how many kids, and their high school graduating year to make it easier for me to spot. At the end of each year, I always get a picture with my kids before they leave me! This group was my first group back after Covid. What a crazy year that was! All my pictures with them I photoshopped to put us close together! And of course there was our final staff picture! Kelly, Chrissy, and Stoits all had their last- last day and it's wild to think about! Chrissy and I taught 3rd together and were really close for a while. It's going to be weird not seeing her. Lynne also is officially retiring but we're hoping...

  I am always excited when it's time to do "Camp" because it means that the finish line is in sight. I always do it the last full week of school. I named it "Camp Ashley" after Jennie passed away in honor of her. I told her I was going to do that before she died and I've felt close to her the two times (now) I've set this up in her memory/honor. Of course I don't set it up alone... It was field day (and on top of that I am SICK), but Sean and Zach were up shortly after school got out and were putting up the trees and lights with me! It's such a job. Later, Ali and Jeff joined us and they helped with the tablecloths and tents. We started just after 4:00 and were done a bit after 7:00 so I was proud of how fast we worked and I know the kids will be SO excited come Monday! And I was right of course... HERE is a video from Camp Ashley before and after and HERE is a video of what Camp Ashley looked like all week. It was exhausting but I wouldn't...