The Surprise Birthday Party my Daughter planned for Herself

We drove downstate last night and returned today with my sister! This picture cracks me up... My girls stopped holding up their figures so she looks a little silly :)


Crossing the Mackinac Bridge:














We arrived just in time for her surprise party- she was delighted! It was adorable!


Auntie gave her a bouquet of flowers:


And made her chocolate cupcakes with homemade strawberry frosting:


Somebody's 5!


My word... I'm not a big cake person, but the strawberry cupcakes were scrumptious (and pinkalicious)


Happy birthday to you!





Little sister loves frosting:


Smiling birthday girl!


Ice cream with strawberries!


Thank you Gramma!


New headband:


Such a good girl!


Little sister may have put her face in the cake...


Sunset over Lake Huron:











Tossing rocks in the lake with cousins! A fun way to end the day:

Up the East Bluff in Snow & Sleet

I'm working part-time now, and a friend in the village watched the girls today. Living at Mission Point, this means a trek up the east bluff. Today, we had snow and sleet. So glad it wasn't any colder- getting the burley & girls up an icy hill would be really hard.





Poor chilly flowers! (All the daffodils at Mission Point were bowing their heads sadly today)


Views from the east bluff:





Does this look like April?








We passed a pair of mallard ducks. I love how thoroughly together they are.





Such a sweet pair!


I shouldn't try to take pictures while biking uphill with the girls.


An east bluff yard with snow:

















Approaching the fort:








The Fort is still closed:


The woods are beautiful!





My precious cargo! We all were decked out in full raingear! Our poor burley received its first duct tape patch this week.


Snowy hair:





Bike tracks and tire tracks. Tire tracks on Mackinac Island? Yup. Probably a police vehicle passed through earlier.





Heading back down, past the Grand:


The Little Stone Church: