Amyblog

HANGING ON TO SUMMER

Every year, Summer seems to fly by. This year, especially, the feeling of Fall comes way too soon. Normally, we are just getting into a heat wave in September. But this year, we're already feeling the evening chill! But I am still hoping for one or two more heat waves before I'm willing to pull out my sweaters.

Before leaving my favorite season, I also want to share some pictures of our trip to Iowa and Michigan. This year, my In Laws moved from Mr. BAW's childhood home in Rochester Hills Michigan to Iowa to be closer to my BIL. It's a bitter sweet moment because we've come to love our annual visits to Michigan and will definitely miss going to some of our favorite restaurants, museums, and towns. But it's also a wonderful thing that one visit to Iowa we can see everyone together.

This year is a special year not just because of my In Law's move to Iowa, it also happens to be a huge family reunion year for my MIL's mother's side of the family in Traverse City Michigan. This special event only happens once every five or more years. So we decided to split our trip into two parts, Iowa first, then drive up to Traverse City Michigan for the large family reunion. It's simply amazing for me to meet these people whom we can trace all the way back to a farm in Norway and know that they are related to my kids! One branch of the kids' ancesters immigrated from a farm in Norway and settled in Northern Michigan (Traverse City) to start another farm. Another set of great grandparents were Germans already there running a milll. You can see a picture of the German ancesters (my MIL's maternal great grandparents). Again, crazy to see that these people are related to my kids! There is a picture of me standing in front of their old milll which has now been converted into a beautiful breakfast cafe! The family reunion was huge, close to 100 peole attended. Again, all children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren of the people who first immigrated from Norway to the US back in the 1800's. I only wish I can trace back this far on my own heritage in China. I learned so much from this reunion. The kids weren't terribly impressed, but I know one day they'll appreciate knowing about this part of their heritage. We even have information about the farm in Norway if we ever want to visit it someday!

Apart from the family reunion at the Olsen Farm, we had time to play in Lake Michigan, shopped at Sutton's Bay, hiked up Sleeping Bear Dunes, and enjoyed cider and wine tasting! Yes, we packed a lot into our four day trip to Travese City.

In Iowa, we got to see my In Law's new home and visited their senior community center. We also had a wonderful time double dating with my BIL and SIL. They took us out to a fancy dinner and then we grabbed drinks at a roof top bar in Downtown Davenport. The views of the Mississippi was pretty amazing. We also visited the Mississippi River Aquarium where our nephew was working as a summer intern. They had two adorable otters and Ahgoo caught a great picture of one! Oh, and amazingly, everyone except for me, my In Laws, and our older nephew (who had to work the next day) went camping at Lake McBride! I enjoyed a peaceful evening with my In Laws at their lovely new house. We really did pack a lot into our one week trip!! Enjoy all of my pictures, starting with Iowa and then Michigan!

Haning out on Lake McBride