packing

I love vacation... I hate packing.

I think I have pulled out every bag we own in order to figure out what's going to work best for our upcoming travels. We're in that weird in between that's too much for certain bags but can't fill up others. To add to the challenge, we need nicer/fancier clothes for some nice dinners (I don't have many of those and I certainly don't travel with them) but we're making it happen and totally excited!


Besides our cruise in Alaska we're also packing for a day in Detroit and a couple days in Seattle. I'm adding a week in Idaho on top of that! It's going to be a crazy month!

bothers

A couple things that have been bother me (because of course, you want to know):


1. Fireworks

Now, not the festive ones that are set off by the city to the tunes of patriotic music that takes me back to my 5th grade class on the actual holiday for which they were intended. Those are beautiful and festive and fun and have my full support. No, the ones I'm getting quite sick of are the ones that my neighbors have been setting off in the parking lot for the past month at the most random times. Sometimes it's not even dark outside! What is the appeal of a firework if you can't even see it!? If they just want to set $20 on fire, I could take it off their hands (that's my inner cheapskate coming out). They will never stop startling me and I hate it!! It was the same way in Pocatello. I guess I never knew to be grateful that this wasn't allowed and/or as readily available in Riverside! 


2. "Practically Engaged"


We have a friend (who I really like by the way) who continually describes himself as "practically engaged" and this is just ridiculous to me. Being practically engaged is called dating/in a serious relationship!! The only time you may be practically engaged is if you are sitting at a restaurant with a ring in your pocket waiting for dessert to propose; other than that you are either engaged or you are not. Now, there's no shame in not being engaged but please, own it!!


Phew! I feel better now!

Independence Day

For Independence Day this year we went to the Ingham County parade in Mason, MI. There were lots of people and lots of tractors. 

We sat on the grass in front of the Ingham County Court House (below) and watched the parade. This courthouse has actually been the site of a movie shoot-- I'm not sure what it is but Hugh Jackman is in it!

They also had this cool war memorial honoring all the Ingham county residents who have lost their lives in various wars (WWII in the middle and Vietnam and Korea on the sides)...

Here are some of the parade members...

And the grand finale (if you can call it that)... Yes it says the Real Housewives of Ingham County...

After the parade, we were going to go to the fairgrounds for the fireworks but we decided to go to a friend Mike's house and sit around his fire pit in the backyard. No crowds, good friends and fireworks... can't complain!

it's almost july?!?!

I cannot believe how fast the summer is going! Luckily, the first half of the summer is the busy/teaching part and the second half is the fun/vacation part. Mikel will be working throughout (with time off obviously for vacations.  


Thursday is my last day of summer school and I have to say I'm excited! It's been a great summer with two good classes but no work is always better than work! During summer school there's always more of a mix of students (not all kinesiology majors) in classes which makes it interesting at times. Different departments definitely have different cultures/expectations/levels of proficiency expected. It is a shock to some. The good news is that I get paid all summer even though my appointment ends on the first so I'll be collecting paychecks on vacation-- just how I like it! I actually do have some of my own school work to do the second half of the summer but at least now I'll have some time to myself to think straight and I won't have to deal with students. 


It is shaping up to look like we are going to have a busy July. First, a couple days in Seattle before an Alaskan cruise with the Bushman clan. Then, Mikel will head home as I do a couple volleyball camps in Idaho before we both head to Georgia so I can work another volleyball camp and we can do a lot of exploring! August should be fairly calm and then school starts on September 1st! 


Right now, thinking about planning and packing and we're excited about our upcoming adventures!

We love our dads!! Happy father's day!

And our grandpas!!

We wish we could visit more often but we're thankful for the time we do have!