Rough start has a smooth finish

Ben with cousin, Meg.

Neil with Grandma.

Ben with Mandi, Grandma, Great-Grandma, and Sue.

So our trip to Michigan started with some unfortunate news. We got a call from our storage place early Thursday afternoon informing us that our RV had been broken into. After some scrambling on Brian's part we were able to fix the window and the screen so we could continue with our plans for the weekend. Friday morning we headed to Hillsdale, MI to enjoy family and BBQ. Donna & Dan really out did themselves with an abundance of great food. The boys also had a chance to show off their swimming skills with the help of a great new duck flotation device for Ben. Luckily, Busia brought Ben some new outfits since the one he was wearing got a little wet. The dogs even had a good time since they were lavished with attention from Kate, Meg & Paige. So I thought the boys would handle all of the driving better if they weren't forced to be in the RV two days in a row. The plan was to head to Norm & Joan's that evening after their bedtime so they could sleep peacefully as we drove. Our conclusion: It is best to drive in the morning and early afternoon. Saturday we were able to borrow Joan's car in order to visit Great-Grandma's new condo for the first time and to celebrate her 77th birthday. We had a great time visiting with Grandma, Aunt Mandi, Mr. T, Sue Basta, and of course Great-Grandma. Here new home is really lovely. It is so satisfying to see how much pride she has in her home. Her surrounding community and neighbors seem to suit her well. Sunday we made our way home and it was a very easy drive since the boys traveled well.