Warren Dunes and St Joseph Michigan!

Another attempt at a Michigan weekend! Note the sweater in July, it was in the 50's that morning! We climbed to the top of the big hill (once!), and met "Randy" and his kids from Canada! The kids spent the next hour trying to bury him!


In downtown St Joseph, Michigan, they have all these animal statues everywhere. They're very appealing to the kids, and make for great photo op's! Wondering about Matthew and the pig? The Lein's now have another eating tradition (like we need one!). There is an ice cream shop in New Buffalo, Michigan named "Oink's". Not only incredible ice cream, but you could spend hours looking at all of the ice cream paraphernalia in the store!

They're all engineers!!

Ahhh, the hours of entertainment spent constructing new "Geotrax" configurations... it's quite the process! It's always a group effort, with Sarah and Matthew (and Daddy) cooperating very nicely with one another. Kudo's to the engineers!

Oma's house!

What's better than a trip to Oma's house? Not much, in my kids opinion! Mom and Dad tend not to sleep very well, but it was a wonderful visit other than being a bit tired! Sarah and Oma finally made it to "tea" at Miss Molly's Tea Room! Oma always goes way above and beyond to spoil us while we're there! I'm very thankful that we have Oma in our lives and that my children get to share so much with her!

Indiana Dunes, July 4th, 2009

Wow, was that a hike! See those two teeny tiny specks...that's Sarah and Matthew at the bottom of the hill! Our favorite part was sunset on Mount Baldy, even with the mosquitos!









We can't go north without a stop at the BEST hamburger joint in the world!! First it was a Tim tradition, then it became a Tim and Jodi tradition, now it's a Lein family tradition!!
















It was a great to see the kids experience the pure joy of running top speed down the big dune!

Going to the lodge...

Road Trip!! We went to see Oma, but on the way stopped at the Great Wolf Lodge for some waterpark fun! Sarah and Matthew were very brave that day! Sarah took me on the "Hydro-plunge", where I laughed maniacally the entire trip down! Matthew rode on the BIG Canyon River ride and took a big dunk like a trooper!

Gone are the days of the license plate game, bring on the videos!

Sarah likes to leave notes in the hotel rooms where we stay! I love it!

Twenty years from now.....

You never know, we could hear wedding bells! This is Matthew's friend Ariana, aren't they too cute together!

Father's Day '09

If you had not been the father you are, I would not be the daughter I am or the woman I’ve become... Because of you I know myself, and I couldn't be more grateful! I love you, Dad!