Vacation 2011

We took a vacation last week.  

Saturday morning we loaded the car and drove to Union Pier, MI.  The 'Cernech Family' rented a great big house for the week to celebrate Grandpa's 60th Birthday.  

We kicked off festivities with a Luau Birthday Party.

Elisabeth made the cake.

 Hannah did the decorations.

 Alex & Zoi provided the entertainment.

 Instead of traditional presents, we put together a photo book of 'Rick through the years'.  I think we all enjoyed creating the book as much as he did to receive it.

Abby helped blow out the candles.

Everyone enjoyed the pool because it was pretty hot outside.

We also ate some watermelon.

A few of us were brave enough to go kayaking, which was very relaxing and pleasant.  Except when Abby, who was sitting in the middle of my legs, announced 10 minutes into the 2 hour trip that she needed to go potty.  Thankfully Grandma was navigating our kayak... she found a place where Abby could hop out and I didn't! 

We visited the local splash park.  This was George's favorite part of the vacation.  He was free to run and climb and not be in trouble.  This picture of him shows him running with a smile on his face, which is what he did the entire time we were there!

We went to the beach on Lake Michigan.

And we took some group pictures to capture our week.

 Abby announced at the end of the our trip that Hannah was her Best-Friend.  We also did a little shopping and we let the girls pick out an outfit...

Here is a group shot of everyone!

 We had to get a picture of Grandma and Grandpa with their 6 grandchildren.  George is screaming... which is what he did anytime I wasn't holding him... so this picture captures George very well ;-)

Before I sign off, I need to thank the rest of my family for taking pictures... Tommy and I always bring our camera but it somehow doesn't make it out of the case!?!  So, thank you Grandma, Rich, Elisabeth and anyone else who took the above pictures.

I am glad we were able to spend a week with family.  Grandpa's actual birthday is not for another week or two, and I hope he is able to spend part of his birthday going through the pictures and feeling the love of this past week!

Until next time,

~ The Ascencio's ~

PS - I almost forgot to mention the funny things that happened to the Ascencio clan in Union Pier...

The Jeep wouldn't start one day and we had to have it towed, turned out it was a loose wire and a quick fix.

Abby was bit by a bug near her eye, causing it to swell large enough we took her to the doctor.

George fell in the pool head first.  I immediately grabbed his ankle to pull him out and Daddy was somehow out of the house and there to catch him.  It was several minutes before my knees stopped shaking, but George seemed unphased.