Mackinac Island 2011

Sorry for the posting hiatus.  Things have been a little a lot crazy.  If it weren't for that dang work thing, we'd be able to post so much more often (at least until the cable company turns off the Internet).

We just got back from our annual trip to Mackinac Island.   It was a great time, as usual.  We celebrated Uncle Mike's birthday, got wet in the rain, ran in the race, got wet in the rain, ate lots of fudge and even played some ball in the park (when it wasn't raining!).  It always seems to rain while we're there and this year was no exception.  The worst of it happened before and during the race, so needless to say, we were all pretty drenched.  Luckily, it let up for a few minutes just in time for Tess' race, though we told her she still had to wear her rain boots since it was so wet and muddy.  She wasn't happy about that as she was nervous she wouldn't be fast enough.  We convinced her that she'd be even faster since all of the other kids would surely have wet feet.  Guess what?  Tess was right, but we'll show you down below how she fixed that problem...

Happy Birthday, Uncle Michael!

Fun on the ferry

People watching on the hotel porch

Ice cream break with Papa

Race Day (or Rain Day)

Here are the runners getting their instructions.  And yes, Tess is easy to spot.
Just look for the boots.

You can't see them in this picture, but there are orange cones at the end of the field that the kids are supposed to run AROUND and then circle back to the starting line.

Somewhere in here, Tess realizes that we fed her a bunch of horse crap with the whole "boots will help you run faster" explanation...

Here is where her brain kicks in... as you can see, all of the other kids are on the outside of the cones, but not Tess.  Oh no.  She cut the route and is running down the middle of the field, and in effect, passing about 20 kids.  And yes, the man in the orange coat is laughing.  He later came and found her at the finish line to give her a hug.

 Look at that kid in the background actually following the rules... sucker.  

Boots rule.

 

All the runners + tired Nora

Yes, the lilacs were in bloom

Being silly with Dad

All business

 

Working on throws with Papa

Learning to step when we throw

Fun with Meena

Dancing with the Bootscooters

Draped in beads from the Bootscooters

Getting ready to head home!  Of course, you can see there are no clouds in the sky now.

See ya next year, Mackinac!