Monday Roadtrip

Last Tuesday was the first time since March that our family has had the ENTIRE day off to spend together.
When I realized this, it made me a little sad and a whole lot anxious-especially since Hollis starts school again in a month.
 This time it's the real thing.
No more rest times with a bed loaded down with books. No more PB&J's. No more picnics at our favorite park.
She is gone till 3:30 everyday.

Our family just functions so much better when we spend good quality uninterrupted time together.
Last Tuesday we loaded the car with towels and a cooler and drove North for 3 hours.

And of course this trip had to be centered around food.

Redamaks in New Buffalo, Michigan

This is one of Jason's happy places.

I think he loves the atmosphere most of all.

The best way to describe it is "summer camp meets route 66"

Knotty pine all around.

Long wrap around porch out front.

Slammin' screen door.

Vintage neon signs.

Lots of flipflops and sunscreen.

Plus, they make a pretty mean hamburger.

We got there around 2 and had to wait twenty minutes!!

It was PACKED.

He is not going to like that I put this picture on my blog.
But we DID drive 6 hours roundtrip to eat at this place.
So this picture is going on my blog.

Moving on...
New Buffalo is a sweet little lake town.
It has antique and art stores dotted all up and down the main Red Arrow Highway-tucked among the sweeping spruce pines.
If you blink you might miss something really fun to explore.

You also might miss it if you have a 6 year old complaining that her Barbie DVD is stuck for the 239th time,

your senile senior dog is barking nonstop at an invisible cat

and your 7 month old is screaming at the top of her lungs because she is being trampled by the senile dog barking at the invisible cat.

Just a hypothetical situation, of course.

Another warning for  you...

The fine people of New Buffalo love their pets.

They so not look too fondly on people who leave their animals in the cars for 10 minutes with the windows down in 75 degree weather.

They will come pluck you from your shopping experience and  deliver you a speech on car safety/pets as you hang your head in shame.

Jason made the mistake of promising Hollis a swim earlier in the week.
She did not let him forget his promise.
He was reminded several hundred times on our journey.
I sat in the car with the oldest member of our family and the youngest member of our family while they took their dip.

If Jason ever has any questions about what the buttons is his car do, he should ask Collins.

She pushed every single one.

We left New Buffalo a little sandy, a little sunburned, but very very happy.

Ah yes, this is the good life.