Michigan 4th of July Trip

Well, we are back from our Michigan trip to see the Hoffman clan. We enjoyed a cool, albeit sometimes drizzly couple of weeks with just enough sunshiny days to enjoy some swimming. The festivities started off the first night we arrived with an impromptu party. Iris must have been holding back just for this occasion as she burst out with a litany of new words within our first few hours of arrival just to impress everyone. Her new vocabulary included flower (usually with two extra ow syllables in the middle), paper, kiwi (she says wiwi), lemon and lime. I wish we had the video camera going that first night as she was quite a ham; by performing, clapping, getting everyone else to clap, then repeating.

Iris would greet Grandma Hoffman with a hug every morning and started saying the word Grandma too. I believe Iris has been in withdrawl from all the attention since we left. So have we. We miss you all already and can't wait for our next trip!

Iris with her captive audience on opening night at Grandma's house:

This sun tent, a gift from Martha & Kathy, provided oodles of entertainment (and still does in our living room)

Peek-a-boo

Uber dinosaur pop-up book!

More books with Pam:

Here's a little movie of Iris' first plunge in Higgins Lake. It was actually much warmer than normal. After the camera stopped rolling, we ditched the lifevest which was pushing her cheeks up to her forehead and inhibiting her enjoyment. Uncle Mitch had vowed to be her guardian in the water. I could think of no one better.

Chilling on the boat after Iris' first Higgins Lake dip:

Impromptu skinny-dipping from the shore - a Hoffman rite of passage - or so I'm told:

Blowing bubbles (hey, we did learn something besides splashing in those swim lessons after all)

The gallery:

The protest after being plucked, shivering from the lake:

A little girl time:














Playing with Aunt Martha:

A windy walk to the Cut River:

Double event 4th of July Day - sandcastles on the beach with Aunt Doff at the country club after a dip in the pool:

4th of July Party #2 at Bill's lakehouse. Unbelievable light at sunset - absolutely gorgeous! I would have camped out at the hammock if it weren't for all the sloped terrain leading down to the lake.

Oh, so that's why they call it Child's Pose!

Reading with Grandma Hoffman










Swing time at the park in Birmingham. When's the last time you were this happy?:

One last little movie the night before we left of Christina and Allison taking Iris for a walk or vice versa: