michigan winter

i love the beach in winter.

Caught It

First catch, Bass Lake, Michigan.

Toss the Baby

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area, by Lake Michigan

(I believe I can fly.
I believe I can touch the sky.
Think about it every night and day.
Spread my wings and fly awaayyyy...)

[Michigan Awesome]

In honor of this year's family stay-cation (about to begin), I send you some love from Michigan. Awesome.

[Michigan Awesome]: a celebration of hometown love disguised as a shirt company
Want more Michigan? (Who doesn't?) Check out TheMittenState.com too.

Labor Day Hike

Every year the Klooster family goes on a long walk down a stretch of Lake Michigan beach. It's called the Labor Day Hike. We walk out to the pier and back, it takes maybe an hour each way, and it is lovely. (Yes, that is Jude's chubby, sandy foot.)

The Hike started hundreds of years ago (or maybe 40) with Jono's grandma Leona and her sister Elsie. They are both feisty and smart, and were found bickering over who had the cutest great grandchild. They have one each now: Jude, 9 months, and Elijah, 2 months. (Apparently when Jude exited the car following a lengthy debate between the two of them, Leona said, "Now Elsie, isn't that the cutest child you've ever seen?" Elsie replied simply, "No.")

Anyway, the tradition spread to extended family and now the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren come along too. We always have a potluck afterward and know about half of the people there on any given year. But it's fun to see strangers that are somehow related to us, and to catch up with the people we do know.

Here are some pics. This is probably the first time Jude actually dipped his toes into Lake Michigan. He had "discovered" sand before, but back then the water was too cold.

Can anyone guess what Jude wants in that second shot?
He is a subtle child ;)

Jude Discovers Sand

(at Lake Michigan, of course)

Spring II

I'm posting even more pics of Ty's visit because they turned out so dang lovely.

We went out to the lake for sunset one night, then went home and ate chocolate cake to celebrate both of our birthdays (tyler: march 31; me: april 11). I spent the next day hanging out with my parents in Holland.

(Yes Grandpa K, there are shots of Jude in there too :)

A Slice of His Future Life

Jude is going to spend lots of time on the beaches of Lake Michigan, so his very first visit to The Big Lake was significant for us. Not that he was really awake for it. Here he is, and he's in a great mood.

Plus a little family shot (which we don't have very many of, actually):

We also got the beginning of his "too cool for school" phase captured on film (my mom insisted on this):

Winter Camping

I consider myself fairly outdoorsy, but I draw the line at Winter camping. Jono's blood runs much warmer than mine, and he goes every year -- usually with friends Jan and Johan. Johan is teaching in Korea, so this year it was Jono, Jan and Jan's dog Haylee. (Mona didn't go because she has the unfortunate habit of taking off without telling anyone where she's going.) They had to dig out a campsite in about two feet of snow, but they had fun.

Nice.

The campsite.

Waves breaking in frozen Lake Michigan

Jono squinting because it's bright and windy

Jan and Haylee