fall making way for winter

Yesterday was the first day that felt like fall was coming to an end. It was gray and chilly, and Dan swears he saw a flake of snow. Funny thing is, we're totally okay with that! It's been so long since we've been part of the winter season. I know I'll be singing a different tune in February, but I am seriously excited for the snow! I'm honestly more excited for Jack's first winter. Bundling up for sledding and snowmen, and warm hot cocoa when we come in from the cold. Catching snowflakes on our tongues and the crunch of fresh snow under your boots. Seeing your breath in the air and writing on the windows of the car. Winter from a kid's perspective is pretty amazing and I'm so excited to see it with fresh eyes.

Jack's first fall in Michigan was truly amazing! I imagine bounding through piles of snow will be just as fun as those leaves!

everything is piling up

I've been absent. Everything is piling up. I am making Halloween costumes and decorations, planning a mini trip to Chicago and a trip to Italy/France, trying to keep up on house stuff - all in the midst of entertaining an ever-adventurous and curious little fellow. Oh, and I've had that seasonal "sickness" that I've forgetten existed, having spent the last three years in the same spring-ish/fall-ish season of San Francisco.

I really can't wait to share the costumes I've been working on. I'll share a few little decorations I've been working on though...

Note: They're not perfect, as I did them without a pattern as I watched several episodes of 'Dexter'. That show is amazing and we're almost caught up!





I love me some plaid!

escape to Whitefish Point

One morning while we were camping and I was getting things together to whip up breakfast, it started raining. Keeping a 13-month-old cooped up in a tent for an indefinite amount of time was not something we wanted to experiment with. We figured it was a great time to head to the Shipwreck Museum in Whitefish Point. That was Dan's one request for the whole trip, and I must admit I wasn't too excited to go there. I'm glad to say that I was proven wrong, and it was so worth it! It was chilly and sunny, and we got there before the crowd. It was beautiful. We captured it all with the camera on Dan's new iPhone. Very impressed with that camera, indeed.



Jack and I in front of the Lighthouse operator's home. It's now a museum now you can tour, complete with creepy life-sized replicas of the family that lived there.


Memorials on the beach for men that lost their lives on the Edmund Fitzgerald


The beach of Lake Superior














the trail that led to another part of the beach


I am a sucker for gift stores! Seriously cannot avoid them! I must say this was one of my favorite gift shop finds. Looking forward to painting it and hanging it in Jack's room! I fell in love with the box, and will definitely be keeping it for some unknown future use.





This was one of my favorite mornings ever.

Camping with a Toddler

After our fun weekend on Mackinac Island, we headed north. I had wanted to camp near the Tahquamenon Falls for such a long time, and I even posted about it not so long ago. So, north we went. The leaves were just starting to turn, so driving through the U.P. was exceptionally beautiful.



Have you ever driven across the Mackinaw Bridge? It's Michigan's treasure for bridge lovers everywhere.


As far as camping with a 13-month-old little guy, I initially felt pretty confident it would work out just fine. This confidence ebbed and flowed in waves, as mothers and friends would say things like, "Oooh, you're brave," or "Like... camping?... in a tent?...with Jack?" They would try and mask looks of disbelief and/or uncertainty in our camping endeavor, which in turn made me question what we were setting out to do. I mean it's not like we were touring the world in a sailboat, or were planning on backpacking through the jungle! It was a simple 2 day/night trip in a tent at a state campground with the most amazing bathrooms (and showers!) I have ever seen in the wilderness. It was a perfect 1st-camping-trip-with-a-kid destination! I highly recommend!

I can see how it could have headed south quickly. We had a backup plan of a motel in our back pocket if we needed it. A crying baby through the night could make for some very unhappy neighbors. A baby jumping in the fire could be quite traumatic. We had none of that. The craziest thing was when Jack fell out of his little chair and bumped his little noggin. A few tears, but some sticks and dirt made for an instant return to happiness. It really did turn out amazing, fun and quite the little get-away for us Kastners. We had fun with the campfire, getting dirty and exploring the woods and waterfalls, and snuggling up in our sleeping bags that zip up together. We are already planning our spring trip!

Camping involved...

The cutest camper in the world!




New socks from Paradise, Michigan


I'm pointing at our tent! Can you see it?


planning our hike from the Lower Falls to the Upper Falls




the Lower Falls




the Upper Falls



Yes! Michigan! More to come later, along with some Halloween fun! It is OCTOBER!

IMMA BACK!

Hello faithful friends! I'm back! Our little family has been on quite the whirlwind tour of Michigan over the past month! This has meant very little access to the Internet, which was nice to have a break from, quite honestly. It does feel good to be back though! I will be posting nearly every day recapping our trip (too much for just one post!), with fun things I'm doing for Halloween, personal projects I'm working on, Christmas preparations (yes, already!) and more...

So...where have we been? It all started with a 5 1/2 hour drive north to Mackinac Island. My dad runs the annual 8-mile race around the island, and this year Dan joined him for the run. For those of you not familiar with Mackinac Island, it lies between the Lower and Upper Peninsula, there are no cars or motorized vehicles on the island, you take a beautiful ferry ride over, and if you detest fudge and/or horses you should stay away.

packed in like sardines


greeted by Auntie and Nana


on the Ferry


that's the Mackinac Bridge


not a real horse


the Grand Hotel is truly grand (we didn't stay there)


and just in case you don't get your fill while you're on the island...



Tomorrow - Camping with a Toddler for Dummies and Adventures in the U.P. Part 1

pure michigan

After spending the last three falls in the one-season wonder of San Francisco, I am very much looking forward to Michigan's fall! Don't get me wrong, I love the fog and chill of SF, but there is something about the change of seasons that is great to be a part of. I've loved all these gorgeous warm (and hot!) summer days, but I am already looking forward to the wind blowing a bit chillier, wearing pants again (oh, how I miss pants!), and watching the leaves turn colors! Who else is stoked for fall around here???

We would watch the Pure Michigan ads in California, and yearn for fall! I love that Tim Allen does the voice-overs, although I find myself waiting at the end for him to do his manly grunt thing from Home Improvement...


In September we are heading up to Mackinac Island with my family where my dad, Dan and I are going to to run the 8-mile race around the island. Perhaps that way I won't feel so bad for eating so much fudge! And since we'll be up that way, I'm thinking we'll do an extended trip to Tahquamenon Falls. I've been to the western part of the upper peninsula, but have never really spent time near the eastern side. I mean, Sufjan Stevens wrote a song about this place, so I am thinking we need to go there!

Won't it be so beautiful in the fall?! We'll camp there! Oh, I am excited!