Christmas morning

Lincoln opening his Thomas airport

Spencer opening his Thomas lighthouse

Black Friday

Lighthouse Bridge with Bulstrode

Just when it was looking like there would be no lighthouse news for a while, Black Friday came. My parents, sister and brother-in-law spent Thanksgiving weekend at our house.  Friday morning we didn't get up crazy early, but with three little kids we're always up pretty early anyway.  So, my mom and I decided to brave it and head out.  We ran into a few stores and I think we hit them at the perfect times. The super early people seemed to be done already and the later people didn't start yet.  We didn't stand in any long lines at all.  I was already done with most of my shopping, but I still wanted to pick up a few things.  The boys LOVE Thomas the Tank Engine.  I found the perfect gifts for them at a local toy store.  Their three favorite things all combined - trains, lighthouses and airplanes!  When we came back Aunt Kristen and the boys were making crafts and already had a lot of my Christmas decorating done for me. This was a GREAT Black Friday!

Thomas and the Jet Story Pack 

Robert H. Manning Memorial Light

location-Empire, MI

built-1990

active beacon-yes

stamp-no

players-Jen, John, Lincoln, Spencer, Jackson, Lucky, Manya, Grandpa, Hershe, Monkey Michael and Chloe

This day was so action packed that it is going to have to be split into two posts.  It included two lighthouses, two restaurants, a playground, a museum, a scenic color tour, sand dunes and Halloween games.  Whew.  It was a lot, but the kids did great and had a ton of fun.  They keep asking, "when can we go there again, Mommy?".  Jackson took a couple car seat naps and the big boys slept great that night.  

We started out trying to go to our favorite Traverse City breakfast spot, The Omelette Shoppe. Apparently, it's everyone else's favorite also, because it was an hour wait.  So, we did the only sane thing we could do and went to Jimmy John's in the same parking lot.  They just opened and we were the first and only one's there.

 

Next stop, Robert H. Manning Memorial Light.  This lighthouse is the second newest in Michigan.  It was built and named for Robert H. Manning by his family soon after his death in 1989.  He loved to fish on Lake Michigan and often said how helpful it would be to have a lighthouse to aid him at night.  It is located in Empire along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Village Park and has been added to the United States Coast Guards nautical charts.  The park has a really nice playground and a beautiful sandy beach.

horse play

  

Stewarts minus Jackson

guys with pink dogs

big brother Lincoln checking on sleeping baby

boys having fun

then it got kicked up a couple notches

who's having more fun?

today's players minus Jax

Jackson slept through this one

Next, we headed up the Leelanau Peninsula to The Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum.

 

Spenc, Linc and Manya

Spencer concluded the museum with a parking lot wipe out

good thing Mommy always travels with a first aid kit!