More Fun in the Sun

So camping is fun, but it isn't my favorite thing. I like to go because I loved camping when I was a kid and I want my kids to have that experience. Well, camping with babies isn't fun. We have two. (Ok, so Lucy really isn't a baby anymore, but it is still two sets of diapers, two cribs, two high chairs, you get the point...) Well, camping it the rain REALLY isn't fun. It rained both nights we camped. So you would think we would have had a horrible, nightmare of an experience. Oddly enough, it was quite the opposite. We had a blast! I think there were a few things to our advantage: friends, the beach, and twin 12 year old girls! We met up with our long lost Ann Arbor friends and it was so great to catch up. Max and his bestest buddy of 3 years didn't just gel right away after the year hiatus, UNTIL they remembered their common passion : Computer Games! They sat like this for 45 minutes straight, totally captivated in conversation, it was a riot! I basically didn't hold Sam for two days straight because he was passed from one set of eager hands to the next. Lucy thus had more Mommy AND Daddy time than she has had in a long time so she was super happy. We camped at Warren Dunes off the "coast" of Lake Michigan. Basically Lake Michigan beaches RULE!! The sand is finer than California sand, the waves not quite as big but big enough to play in and not feel like you are going to get dragged out to sea. The greatest bonus is the FRESH WATER! You can actually clean off from the beach and get clean! It totally feels like you are at the ocean, but it is fresh lake water, AMAZING. Plus there are incredible sand dunes close by that are super fun to climb up and jump or run down. The boys loved hiking and exploring, just couldn't get enough. We all had a ball and decided we definitely have to go back before the summer is over. There are more friends going in August and we are thrilled because we realized that we DON'T have to go have another camping experience to enjoy the beach. I mean, why press our luck? Camping with babies and rain and mosquitos was great and all, ONCE, but who are we kidding? It couldn't be so great the next time, especially without the twins! We think we are the smartest people in just planning a day trip, and we can't wait for another day at the beach!