Vacation part 1

So we just got back from a wonderful and much needed vacation. We spent a week in Michigan and a week in Colorado. Today you get to hear about the week in Michigan.

view from the back porch

I love this place. Michael's uncle owns a cottage on the beach of lake Michigan that we go and stay at when we visit his extended family (yes, its a real beach with sand and everything- but better than other beaches b/c there is no salt water!!). Usually the weather is low 80s during the day and 60s at night, but there was a crazy heat wave the week we were there. The good news is that a heat wave in Michigan is still much much cooler than Austin. I think the highest it got was about 92 degrees, and that just made the water warmer for swimming and jet-skiing.

Highlights of the week: eating delicious meals every night for the low cost of  washing dishes all week, playing with baby Kelly Hope (the happiest baby you have ever met), eating Miss Lisa's ice cream every night after dinner, falling asleep listening to the waves, picking (and eating) michigan blueberries straight off the bush, and the dogs completely wearing themselves out every day chasing tennis balls and swimming. 

Not a bad week of vacation if I do say so myself. 

Kelly Hope!

*Our cousin Erin took some great pictures of the pups playing their hearts out!

Puppy Love

For your viewing enjoyment :)

Happy 4th of July!

This weekend, my parents, sister, and their dog (Alex), drove down from Dallas. Both of my brothers are living in Austin right now, so we all got to spend some quality family time together. :)


One of the funnest parts of the weekend was the monopoly game played by me, mom, dad, Phillip, and his girlfriend Loren. My dad owned 2 properties, boardwalk and park place (well actually they were called apple studios and abbey road studios since the version we played was Beatles themed), he put hotels on them, and ended up BANKRUPTING US ALL. I have never seen those 2 properties landed on that many times in one game. As with any game played with the Verheyden's, there was much playful arguing, rule changing and extreme competitiveness.  

(this picture was taken before the bankrupting began)

We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs on Sunday evening with our awesome new $10 weber grill that we found at a garage sale. It is probably over 10 years old, but works just like new, and we love it! Phillip brought all his hungry roommates, my mom's friend Linda came, and an aunt and uncle were in town to join the fun. Sadly, I was so busy eating good food that I only took one picture:

Flag Fruit Tart!

I will now leave you with some pics of the fam and the dogs. Hope everyone has had a great weekend!