Happy Birthday, America!

This post contains lots of pictures!

Sunday was a crazy long day filled with friends and family. Church then golf with the Cooks. We hit a bucket of balls at the driving range then played the 3 practice holes. Having never played, it was harder than it looks!

Mom O-C making a putt while Tyler and I look on

Then we went to a birthday party for kids of a small group family and ate lunch. We chatted and sat in the sun, okay, I chatted in the sun while Zach played Setter's of Catan with the other husbands. Then we sped back to Cook's just in time for Tyler's last dinner before leaving for Kansas. We had steak and potatoes, Tyler's favorite, and a delicious fruity dessert. By this point I was stuffed and we had one more party to go.... The last stop on Sunday was the Yonker's farm. We missed all the food, but we didn't care because we were so full from dinner. We played a fun game of volleyball in the yard then sat around the campfire making s'mores. I made a s'more with one of those GIANT marshmallows and it was HUGE! I had to use a whole graham cracker on each side and a whole bar of chocolate! Good thing my mom volunteered to help me eat it! We stayed there until late into the night. Kids were running around with sparklers and glow sticks and it was a good time.

Using my skills from Wolf Lake last year!

For the first time in three years, we did not spend the holiday weekend at Wolf Lake with our dear friends, the Windemullers. :( Sad for us, but exciting for them because they are living in New Zealand for a year. Lord willing our tradition will continue next year! Instead of going to Wolf Lake for pontoon boat rides, a boat parade, hobo pies, and campfires - the whole Thorne family went to Ludington. My family actually used to do this every summer since I was a kid but in more recent years we've all done our own thing. It's hard to get everyone together when my sisters are all in college and my brothers are in high school and usually want to hang out with friends. It was such a blessing to have EVERYONE together to spend the day and evening to watch the fireworks. We packed up all things beachy and drove the hour to the beach. We set up camp with quilts, sheets, and towels and then the fun began! Seriously, when you go the beach with the Thornes there is no sitting on a blanket, napping or relaxing (except Amy, she still can't do much still). Footballs, frisbees, paddle ball, swimming, sand castle building, and not to mention a SWEET volleyball game with the Angell family on the beach volleyball court.

Dad & Mikey throwing the football

Katie playing a version of paddle ball with Kyle and Rachel tossing a football with Jared

Katie & Kyle

After an hour of sweaty, sandy volleyball it was time to hit the waves! However, everyone put on the brakes and stared when we got to the water's edge because the shore was covered with little dead fish! Lots of them!

It was gross but we waded past them into the deeper water to play a massive game of boys vs. girls keep away. It was SO FUN because there were SO MANY people involved, and most of us came from two big families! Their 7 kids plus Thorne's 7 kids, 1 spouse, 2 boyfriends, and the parents. Some people decided to throw dead fish instead of the football and that was disgusting but we carried on and caused a big ruckus.

Dinner was hot dogs on the grill, pasta salad made by my mom, fresh watermelon full of seeds for spitting, chips galore, and sangria! For the adults of course. This was my first attempt at making sangria and based on the compliments I received, it turned out well!

Amy and Dad

Travis' big new smile

Justin, Rachel, Jared, Katie, Kyle

My husband, the grill master :)

After dinner, some of us walked out onto the pier to the lighthouse.



Then it was time to dig out a trench for watching the fireworks back by our beach spot. The best way to watch the fireworks is to dig a trench with a spot for your behind and then pile the sand up for a nice backrest. Rachel, Justin, and Mom dug most of it (we had to fit 12 people for crying out loud!) then covered the sand with blankets and towels.

Rachel & Justin digging out sand chairs --oh, and Mikey trying to un-bury himself...

Ready & waiting for fireworks!

The coolest part of the whole night was during the fireworks when this guy walked by and looking at our long line of people all snuggled in he said, "Awwww! That right there is way better than those fireworks!" And I agree. Wrapped up in a blanket with Zach, with sisters on each side and the rest of the family farther down the line, watching the fireworks explode and light up the sky to celebrate America's independence, it was a very content moment.

My Family

BEST. DAY. EVER!

Love,
Sarah