Stop 8: Kalamazoo

James actually flew into Detroit the weekend I was in Chicago. He had to be in Battle Creek for work the following week, so he spent a night with his parents and headed to the Creek. It worked out well for us since we were planning on being in the Kalamazoo area at some point in the trip anyway. It was also nice because it broke up the trip from Chicago to Detroit and we just stayed in James' hotel room for two nights while we visited with my friend, Shelby, and her kids.

From Chicago, we went directly to Shelby's mom and stepdad's house on Gull Lake. The lake is so pretty...too bad we'll never be able to afford a house on it! I may be more excited about moving back there if we could!

Nolan's ready for the water

So are Lydia and Riley

Shelby's stepdad took the kids out, two at a time, on the

jetski and then Shelby and I got to take it out

Lincoln and Nolan

Lydia and Ethan

Before dinner we went out for a boat tour of the lake

Ethan and Lydia at the park in Kalamazoo

Lydia on the carousel at Crossroads Mall

Nolan on a slide at Jungle Joe's

Lincoln

Lydia didn't get enough sleep in the hotel

room the night before!

Ethan on the big tiger slide

Riley making friends with the tiger

We got a sitter in the hotel room (poor Lindsey!) and

went out to dinner with Shelby. It was so nice to spend

a couple of days with her...it had been too long!