Last weekend, my husband and I somehow got rid of both of our kids for the whole day. What did we decide to do with our special (and rare) time together? Take the Nemesis on a date, of course.
He had never been to the “big beach” as we call it, so it was pretty fun watching him go nuts with excitement. And by nuts with excitement, I mean run 15 feet, stop to make sure we’re behind him, and repeat.
My brother has lived on California for 20 years, and when he came to visit us a couple summers ago, he kept saying, “I can’t get over how it looks just like the ocean.”
Since my husband is deathly afraid of sharks (It is at this point that he would quickly correct me and say I’m over-exaggerating), it’s nice that we have such a large body of water to swim in without him crying like a little girl if he goes out too far.
The best part about where we live? Exactly 38.2 minutes later, and we were here. This nature preserve/hiking trail is right down the road from us.
We took another rare (and awkward) opportunity to take some pictures of each other. If you squint your eyes and blur out the big girl in the middle, you’ll be able to appreciate the colors!
Of course, my idea of taking pictures, and my husband’s idea tend to vary quite a bit. Here’s his version of some nice pictures.
His senior picture pose. Oh, come onnnnnn…you know the one!
After several takes and a LOT of laughing, we got one of us together. I think the last time this happened, Seinfeld was the #1 show on television.
A big tree. 53 seconds later, my husband was climbing it, hitting his head on a branch, and getting his foot stuck in a hole. 67 seconds later I was peeing my pants from laughter.
Okay. So it’s a lot of pictures. But in a couple of months, we’ll be buried in some really cold white stuff.
Hopefully, these will serve as a reminder of why I love living in this state! I’ll let you know if it works.
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wow! gorgeous pictures!
This is why we stay here in Michigan during Jan, Feb & March!
I also live in Michigan and wouldn't want to live anywhere else! There is nothing like the 4 seasons here!
You look adorable! Love all the pictures and it does look like the beach. I let you have it though because I couldn't do the winters up there.
Were you in Muskegon? My daughter lives on Beach Street and it's just a short walk to the beach. It's nice because they have a part of the beach just for dogs. They would like to move back closer to home and while that would be great I keep telling her I'm not sure I want to give up our summer home!
Beautiful! I've only ever been to Michigan in January when it's frigid. It looks beautiful. And congrats on your cute photo, my husband ALWAYS has to pull a dumb face!
It looks like you guys had a wonderful time!! I love all of the pictures!!! You are absolutely beautiful, and the two of you are adorable!! Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures!!!
I love all your photos. Isn't Autumn a wonderful time of year?
Those pics are why we love Michigan too! It's funny what you said about the lake looking like the ocean, a couple of years ago we went to the East coast and I was so excited to show our kids the ocean and you know what? They were not impressed! They kinda looked at me like… yeah we see that every summer! I love Lake Mi. and our favorite place to hang out. It looks like you guys had a great time! great pics! Theresa xoxo
It looks like a lovely date (well possibly without the nemesis). I did a double take at the size of the branch your husband took down
haha.
1) Beautiful pictures.
2) I love your blog.
3) Don't call yourself a big girl – you're a lovely woman.
That looks like the PERFECT date! Matt & I love to go hiking (especially without children which hasn't happened since we HAD children). Glad you two got out and laughed together for awhile. Gorgeous pics. Makes me miss living on Lake Michigan!
I've been in Michigan for almost 3 years, and we only discovered Lake Michigan last summer. So awesome! Who needs California, when there's such an awesome beach an hour away!
I love your pictures. I wish I could get my hubby to smile and do pictures. Lucky girl.
Thanks for sharing your photos…fall scenes are my favorite!!
Looks like a great day, such wonderful pictures. We love living in West Michigan.
It is beautiful. And it really does look like the ocean! No need for your hubby to risk the sharks.
you are really funny! I love the pics and its true that Lake Michigan is like having a calm ocean without the creapy life that lives in there. I grew up on the southern shores in Indiana and now live in Chicago (waving "hi" across the way). I can't imaging living anywhere away from it!
Love the pictures!!! I just moved to PA from NC and I am really enjoying fall, but yalls fall looks amazing!! Your husbands poses look just like what my husband would do lol!! =)
Gorgeous photos honey! You both you so adorable! Kori xoxo
Fall is my favorite season, but it doesn't last very long in Alabama! We seem to jump straight from Summer to Winter most years. Michigan looks BEAUTIFUL! And you two are adorable.
Cute pictures, beautiful colors and a fun outing. Good for you!
Melinda
That is exactly why I continue to live in Buffalo, NY. The lake during the summer, beautiful trees in the fall and great skiing in winter! I've lived in 5 other(warmer) states and I chose to move back home to NY. Can't beat the 4 seasons!
Awww.It'll work. Trust me…It'll work! You both are as gorgeous as lake michigan itself…in the fall…not so much the winter.
I've seen the frozen craggy B!#@h in the winter. kinda scary.
I just came back from a MI visit in early October and loved the scenery. Beautiful. Sure is fun exploring!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!! My hubby is a HUGE Wolverine's fan, and I can't wait until I can save up enough to take him to the Big House. Looks like football season is the time to visit!
Ahhh Michigan, it is beautiful. I always try to remember this in February when I'm cursing Michigan. haha. I love the season changes. You took some gorgeous pictures. You and your husband make me giggle. You're so cute.
Michigan is my first state (Idaho is my home) and I still love it there. It's a beautiful state. I was there last month right when the trees were almost ready to turn and I wished I had wait to go visit so I could see the colors. Your pictures are a great second though.
GO BLUE!
cute! I love your personal insights, you are such a cute just a girl! I feel the same about Utah. It's snowing right now and I feel like crying, knowing that it's going to be 6 months of cold before I can play outside in green grass and sunshine with my boys again! I love your fall colors, Michigan is lovely!
Those are gorgeous pics! I live in Wisconsin very close to Lake Michigan and it is so amazing there!
Oh your husband is a hoot! Looks so beautiful there! Thanks for sharing your day with us!
I cannot believe that's not the ocean! Amazing!
Beautiful pictures (& my husband is the SAME exact way, except he usually throws his arms out wide instead of doing the chin thing).
Have a great day!
Sounds like a wonderful day – you guys look great!
My husband and I grew up in Michigan and although we don't miss the winters…we truly miss the Fall. The colors of the leaves are gorgeous and more vibrant than we have here and I miss the Cider Mills and donuts!! Great photos!
What a fantastic date! I didn't realize that Lake Michigan was that large and that's definitely a bonus without the large scary sea life.
I moved from New Hampshire to FL so although I love the ocean I so miss the fall and all the colors. These are absolutely beautiful photos. Thanks so much for sharing! =)
what a fantastic place to live … i envy you! lake michigan is one of my favorite places in the world. i grew up camping every summer in grand haven, or weekend jaunts to saugatuck, and spent a summer as a camp counselor near ludington, with weekends spent in traverse city or sutton's bay or charlevoix. if i could, i would live there forever. we've finally managed to introduce our kids to the area, too, and now they are just as in love and wish we could go there more often. you are so, so, lucky!! and what a fun date day!
Gorgeous! See, here in Texas…there is no such thing as fall. We have no pretty changing of the leaves, cooler weather before the cold, just good old fashioned heat! Yes, it's less than a week away from November and are trees are still green, and it's in the high 80's. LOL! So I loved this post! I always dream of living somewhere where there are actual seasons, but I'm a Texas girl. And the pics of y;all are great, especially the one of both of you! That one deserves a frame!
Thanks for sharing some pictures of home.
We are from Michigan but got transferred to the Chicago area 6 years ago and now we live in Indiana. (That, by the way, is what we tell people when they innocently ask where we are from.)
We love Michigan and would jump at an opportunity to move back.
Again, thanks for the beautiful pictures.
Michigan is beautiful!!! You and your hubby took some wonderful pictures, the one of the two of you together would be a great addition to your fall mantel.
Hi! I live in the Midwest, and don't get my ocean fix as much as I need. I would love to be able to drive somewhere that would fill the gap! Can you share where in Michigan this beach is??? I am starting to plan our trip for next Sept, and I want this on the list!
That's awesome! Tell me, if you don't mind, where in Michigan do I need to go to find this stuff? We are planning a trip for next summer and trying to decide the best places to stay. I am all about the "lake that looks like an ocean" thing….
Oh, how you make me miss Michigan in the fall! I remember as a kid, mom would take me and my friend Chrissy to the Metroparks near our home in Melvindale (Detroit area). The crisp air and the gorgeous trees… those trips are some of my fondest memories from my childhood.
absolutly breathtaking! I LOVE living in this state. Worth it if only for this time of year!
1. Where are these pictures taken (besides Michigan) I NEED to move there. I LOVE the colors, i'd take all the white stuff mother nature wants to give as long as I get these colors in the autumn.
2. The picture of you and your husband is so sweet, love it!
Glad I found your blog….it's great! And the pictures of Michigan are gorgeous. I've never been there but usually think of snow….so great to see some really pretty (and funny pics!) of your beautiful state! Happy Fall Ya'll from Houston, TX
WOW! Those pictures are amazing! Thanks for sharing!
-Stephanie
Beautiful! I'm a transplant to California from Pennsylvania, and THIS is what I miss! Thanks for the memories of fall! Christine M.
Truly stunning photos! So beautiful! That water looks amazing!
Great pictures! It's beautiful there. Still waiting for Fall to arrive in Texas.
Wow! A bull mastiff – hmmm… We have a Neopolitan mastiff – she's a beast. It's nice to know that we aren't the only people with a personal drool machine. I just got home from an emergency vet visit. She was stung by a bee and her whole face swole up – 5x the drool as normal – ugh! Because you call him the nemisis, I'm assuming he's not your favorite. I can totally relate!
I wouldn't live anywhere else – rule of thumb when my husband says he is job searching (part of being a school administrator we have moved a couple of times) we must be on the great west coast!! I am listening to Lake Michigan roar as I type – this wind is amazing! Love reading your blog – wish I had the guts to keep mine updated, or the time I guess.
I do not miss Michigan winters. But oh my word, I DO miss Michigan autumns. And Michigan summers.
It's funny–when we lived in Michigan, I hated the weather January through April; the other eight months of the year were great. Now that we live in North Carolina, I hate the weather June-September; the other eight months of the year are fine. It's the same sentiment, just applied to different seasons.
You know what I miss most about Michigan autumns? The county fair. Hillsdale is a little town–8,000 people–but it's the county seat, and the site of county fair. Our house was two blocks from the fairgrounds. It was so much fun!
You are so funny – always have me a-laughing. You two are so cute. It looks beautiful there. I'm stuck in Arizona missing the beautiful fall colors.
I find it funny that your husband can rappel from buildings and climb 20 foot trees but he is afraid of sharks! The photo of you two together is adorable!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the pics. I also love that your hubby is spontaneous and a bit crazy. LOL!
You're right! Michigan is beautiful in the Fall. Heck! It's beautiful any time of the year. We vacation in Harbor Springs every year and LOVE it!
Hi Chris~
Those are such amazing pictures! And I am so glad you and your husband were able to have some time with just the two of you!
I hope you are having a wonderful week!
Blessings,
Jenni
{Beautiful Nest}
I love those days alone with the two of us. It looks like you two had such a great time together. Love the fall shots of all the colored leaves. Ours are all off the trees already here in central Wisconsin.
Ok, I know that this post was about something and had some really cool pictures, but I am taken aback at your super terrific eyebrows.
I proudly live in Michigan, too! I love it and wouldn't live anywhere else! Great pictures!! If you check out my blog we spent the summer going to a bunch of different state parks!
You had me laughing about the sharks and screaming like a little girl!
Beautiful family! xoxo michele
Nossa q lugar lindo!!!Very,very,beautiful!!!!
YAY for MICHIGAN!!! I have traveled the world then came back home to MI to marry and raise my family! where are these photos taken? We are from the shores of Lake Superior and we soooo love it here and would never want to raise our family any where else.
Michigan! Holla!!
It was at Lake Michigan (Muskegon/Grand Haven area). I’m with you. You couldn’t pay me enough money to raise my family elsewhere (well…I guess if it was a LOT of money). Thanks so much for stopping by, Gwen!
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