Summer FLEW by, and tonight I am taking a rare opportunity to post, something that has not happened in a while. I loaded the pictures chronologically, which means blogger put them in backwards, naturally. I am not taking the time to fix that since this is a mega photo post. So let's take a look at summer v 2.0 and family in rewind. To start, a random picture that I nearly forgot about from spring of Alena in her wagon. The pose was brought on by the pacifier in the photographer assistant's hand. But it still looks cool.
Close up of the joy on Alena's face swinging at the park on our last free family day of summer.
Saying "cheese" while holding a flower.
more swing.
Alright, the anniversary trip to Manistee River trail loop (MRT and North Country Trail). Great trip. Not enough time. More miles per day than we would prefer on a nice anniversary trip, but great place with nice views, especially the non-NCT side. We were very worried about predicted rain, but it ended up just being a lot the first night and nothing while we hiked which was great. I loved walking through the different habitats and checking out the flora as we hiked. Rachel enjoyed resting and some nice views. The first picture is us tired after 21-ish miles of hiking in less than 48 hours.
Little Mac, the cool suspension bridge just for hikers which connects the two trails to complete the loop.
a scenic creek
overlooking a major bend in the river
Yes, I realize it is the same cheesy pose, but I like it and I think Rachel does too, or at least she puts up with it.
Morning coffee day two: Hand ground coffee and Jet Boil french press. Hard to beat that on the trail.
A great sunset. Had a sweet view of the sunset on the river bank, but no pictures captured both the sky and landscape effectively. ooh, side note: The thunder the first night rumbled and echoed and echoed and echoed in the many winding valleys. Very cool sound.
sunset after dinner. remember we're in rewind
The must have dessert: Mountain House raspberry crumble.
Another cool bridge over a creek
Rach at the trail head, showing the sign, we did the NCT side first
Both of us ready to begin.
Alright, Ludington. A great annual camping trip with good friends. Love that place. We stayed a whole week this year, which means we did get some rain. An entire week with no rain might be high expectations. Alena and her two accomplices were a handful, but a lot of fun. A good time was had by all. Below, Alena found her way into the driver's seat while we were loading the car to leave. She looks like she knows what she's doing.
Jadyn and Alena playing in the beach kiddie-lake.
Jadyn, Sophie and Alena running around the campsite.
The 3 again making a good mess.
The guys taking off on their awesome kayaking manventure which including dune running, rope swinging, paddling the river out to lake MI, portaging the dam, sledding a dune with a Kayak (almost succcessful) and snorkeling.
Alena likes slides.
Ready to go.
climbing up again. She became quite attached to the slide. It was hard to get her to leave later.
Alena and Rachel swinging
Alena and Sophie learned how fun a screen tent zipper can be.
Alena and Rachel playing around in Downtown Ludington after ice cream.
Awww...
Ice cream at House of Flavors. Ok, despite the picture, Alena really likes ice cream. She was probably upset we made her stop for a picture.
Lunch at the beach
I put this picture and the next one in order. It's kinda funny and random.
Poke.
Alena loved the floaty thing. Thanks to Jack and his parents for sharing.
Playing at the beach.
Ok, another sequential before and after. Early on the lost lake trail hike, Alena is having a good time, but...
...it was just too much.
More floating fun.
We had some ambitious goals for me to finish a paper for my class and still heading out before Alena's nap so she could sleep in the car. Well it didn't work. Alena didn't even make it through lunch and we put her down for a few while we finished packing.
More Camping. We are transitioning to Gun Lake camping with the Gunninks.
I'm not sure what the excitement is, but it was good.
More beachin'.
Touring the damage from the massive rain the night before.
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! What's this? That is not Sportel camping. Far too much luxury.
In the middle of the summer I had a class about plants. We did some "research" on plants in Yankee Springs, and I couldn't help myself when I saw this massive maple
It was about 3 of my wingspans around the trunk. The branches looked like individual trees. No, I'm not hugging the tree, it's for perspective. Ok, a little arboreal embrace. 
The next too are some random summer shots trying to beat the heat in July
It was just too hot to eat with a shirt on.
No summer is complete without a trip to the zoo. Here is our venture to John Ball for the first time for Alena and the first in a long time for Rach and I.
Ooohh, a bear.
Alena was taking a "look, but don't touch" approach. The petting zoo did not catch on.
Monkeys.
Sea manemome... amemmome... amomonemone... whatever
Alena checking out the tortoises on her own
This one is for Ben.
Prior to the zoo, we stopped for coffee at our favorite place, Madcap. Below, Alena is contemplating the complex aroma, unusual berry flavors, and nutty finish of her espresso macchiato. It must be genetic.
Alright, P.J. Hoffmaster, Sportel edition. What a good Weekend. The cousins were having a good time running around the sites.
The originals at breakfast.
Hanging out.
Grandma and Alena.
Grandpa and Jack.
More good meal time.
Playing at the beach.
should've wore the suit.
Of course, there was the great Father's day present, U2 in Lansing.
YAY!!
Before vacation officially began, we were at Hoffmaster with some friends to kick off the season.
Hanging at the beach, again.
Alena discovered she likes slides on this trip
As well as fire
And sand
Camp chairs
Alena and Rachel getting some relief at Sam and Katie's poolside. That was a nice retreat this summer.
One thing is missing. Sam and I did a lot of painting, but we didn't take any picture of our masterpiece.
