Let it snow. . . and it did all week for us! We spent last Monday through Friday playing in the snow at Camp AuSable in Grayling, Michigan with Ryan, Carrie, Anne (Randy's sister),
Jessica, Heather and Jake.
A gorgeous blue sky day at Camp AuSable when Ryan was out x country skiing
"Catch a falling flake and put it down your gullet"
One of my favorite pictures of the week - Ryan's self-portrait taken on our first walk around Lake Shellenbarger
Carrie found a "padded" seat.
Nice pose, Carrie! Witness her first time on cross country skis before our trip to
Hartwick Pines State Park on Monday afternoon.
Randy and Ryan struck out on their own to our guide's dismay, when we were standing around waiting for the stragglers to catch up.
Ready to get on the bus to go back to camp after our x country skiing/"standing" experience
Some very suspicious looking snowmobilers. . .
Heather ready for her first snowmobile ride
Well disguised, but I think it's Carrie and Ryan. This picture could make you think SHE got to drive. Not so - campers all go as passengers. However, another year they might be wise to consider letting
us drive since 2 of their drivers this year head mishaps and put their machines out of commission before the week was over.
There they go!
Ryan riding the sled and wishing he had his snowboard along
Jessica taking a break from climbing the sledding hill
Randy and Heather on their way!
Mary Jane, Heather and Jake attack the hill
Carrie and Ryan on board
Pow wow time on the ice - Carrie, Anne and Heather skated. Ryan would have but couldn't find any skates that fit him.
We had an Olympic skater show us her stuff!
Heather and Jake especially enjoyed the Nature Center
Wednesday night a bus load of us went tubing at Hansen Hills - a very memorable experience! This is MJ zipping along at break-neck speed at the bottom of the hill.
We rode on our tubes hooked to a rope tow to get up the hill.
Dare devil Heather loved the tubing, and using my goggles.
Jake and Anne enjoying Foosball
Carrie brought her new Apples to Apples game that we all enjoyed together.
Have no fear - Settlers was here. It was the craziest game I've ever played with more attempted trading of left-over sack lunch components than game resources.
Anne and Jake RUNNING across the swinging bridge with great glee
We hiked around the lake and Ryan caught up to us on x country skis after Thursday afternoon at Hansen Hills where Carrie learned to snowboard.
The white lights along the road leading to the lodge look so nice and were new to us.
Pastor Quinten Purvis had very inspiring worships for us
Jake crashed during worship after a very full day of playing in the snow! He caught his second wind so was ready to see the new year in later that night.
The wagon ride around the camp before the New Year's Eve party began at Cedar Lodge
Mexican Train in Cedar Lodge on New Year's Eve
Toasts at midnight on New Year's Eve
Happy New Year!
New Year's Eve ping pong tournament in Cedar Lodge
Taken after breakfast Friday morning - the week went by too fast!
Jake outside their cabin
Outside Deer Lodge where we stayed
Cedar Village cabins
Parting picture at the entrance. Carrie has Ralph, the teddy bear she was given by her parents at AuSable on her first Christmas.
We headed for Mom's in Florida Jan. 15 after school to celebrate her 84th birthday a few days late while Ruthie was there. We can't get enough of that special family time together anymore with all the miles between us.
Saturday night at the computer - signing Mom up for Facebook. And they got their first memory stick and learned how to use it.
It was nice to see Auntie Cork and her new lovely residence at West Winds, too.
Sunday we went to Madeira Beach. The shops in John's Pass are fun to browse in. Mom and Coleman found an old friend as soon as we arrived.
The pelicans appeared to be rather relaxed. . . We saw dolphins in the channel as usual, and as usual didn't get any pictures of them playing. They're not quite as willing to stay still for pictures as the pelicans.
The sunshine state didn't let us down - it was a sunny and warm day. Just the week before they'd had their week-long deep freeze weather that took its toll on the citrus crop.
