Stefani's Parents August 2011 Visit

Stefani's parents came for a visit/vacation. We were quite the Michigan explorers while they were here. 

The Monday of their visit everyone minus Joshua headed to Petoskey. We ate lunch at Grand Traverse Pie Company, picked up some wine at the Mackinaw Trail Winery store, bought T-shirts at the Life is Good store, and hung out at Bayfront Park. Joshua was then able to meet up with us and we headed to the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula. We had tastings at Peninsula Cellars and Chateau Grand Traverse. The tastings were free and the wine was quite good. When we were finished tasting we had dinner at our favorite Traverse City restaurant, Mackinaw Brewing Company. On the way back to Onaway we found the Largest Cherry Pie Plate in World.

Tasting wine at the Peninsula Cellars.

The crazy yummy apple wine we bought. 

The gorgeous view of the vineyard at Chateau Grand Traverse. 

This is in the book Weird Michigan. We had to find it!


Tuesday we headed to the Upper Peninsula (the U.P.) of Michigan. It was Stefani's parents first time crossing the Mackinac Bridge and going to the U.P.. We went to the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie. The boat tour of the locks was at the top of our "to do" list. When we finished will the tour we ate at Antlers. Antlers has gotten recommendations from people we know and various books. The food was quite good and the atmosphere was fun. 

We are on a boat!


Wednesday we headed back to the U.P.. We went to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, MI. The museum was pretty interesting. The Great Lakes has a long shipping history and with that comes some crazy wrecks. While we were there we had the opportunity to stick our toes in Lake Superior. Stefani has a life goal of dipping her toes in each of the five Great Lakes. So far she is three for five. We also had pastys in the U.P.. They are the insides of a pot pie with the outside of a calzone. (Click on the word "pastys" to find out more information.) After we explored the shipwreck museum we headed to Tahquamenon Falls. Seeing the falls has been something we have wanted to do for a while. We were happy to get the chance. 

Stefani's feet in Lake Superior.

Joshua's feet in Lake Superior.

The lighthouse at the shipwreck museum complex.

 Stefani eating her first pasty.

Joshua eating his first pasty.

Stefani's parents, Kelly and Ted, with Lake Superior in the background. It was super windy that day.

Stefani and Joshua with Lake Superior in the background. 

Tahquamenon Falls, these are the upper falls. Simply beautiful!

It was great visit. We really enjoyed the down time and getting to explore more of Michigan. Thanks Mom/Kelly and Dad/Ted!


God's Blessings,


Joshua and Stefani

St. Louis Visit July 2011

Stefani went to St. Louis for a week in July to celebrate births. She arrived in time to see her mom on her birthday. They went out for a nice dinner and enjoyed spending time together.

Stefani's cousin, Mandi, had a beautiful baby girl, Sophia Emma, about two weeks before Stefani's visit. 

Stefani and Sophia. She is precious!

While in the area waiting to visit Mandi and Sophia, Stefani and her parents went to the South County Antique Mall. We were in need of end tables and had success there when we lived in Webster Groves. Stefani found two end tables and a coffee table. She was able to fit them all in the Pathfinder to take them back to Onaway. 

End table number one.

The coffee table.

End table number two.


The main event for the week was Noah's 2nd birthday. Noah is Stefani's best friend's son. He had a Cars theme party. He is really into playing with cars and watching the movie, Cars. 

Noah blowing out his candles. 

Noah and his cool new bike from his parents. 

Stefani and her friend, Christine at the party.

Stefani and Christine's daughter, Alyssa. 

Stefani and Carolyn, Noah's mom and soon-to-be Nora's mom. 

It was an awesome visit with family and friends. Stefani can't wait to visit again when she will get to meet Nora. 

God's Blessings,


Joshua and Stefani

Circuit Meeting and Soo Locks

There was a circuit meeting in Kinross, which is about 15 minutes from the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie. Stefani decided to join Joshua at the circuit meeting and then go check out the Locks. The weather was gorgeous up until the end of our time at the Locks. We saw two boats go through. One was one of the tour boats.

 Being Welcomed. Although, if we went under the sign we would be on our way to Canada.

The Locks from one end to the other.


The next pictures show a tour boat that goes through the locks. Watch as the boat rises....

Bye tourists!

Next time we go we will be on a tour boat. 


God's Blessings,


Joshua and Stefani