Boyne Trip

Before we can even TRY to describe any part of this trip a HUGE no...MASSIVE THANK YOU MUST go out to Mom and Dad Doctor!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! This trip ranks right up there with Disney!!! I'm getting ahead of myself but ANYONE who has kids, or anyone at all, HAS to PROMISE me that you will take your family to the dinner theater at Boyne Highlands.

The Young American's put on the show and it's IMPOSSIBLE to describe the energy in the room. It's as if every single Young American is giving their last performance on earth and they are giving EVERY BIT THEY HAVE! UNREAL!!!! PLEASE call NOW for reservations next summer...you will be THANKING US...I PROMISE!!!!





It all started with the ferry trip over to Muskegon on the Lake Express. Another MUST DO. It cuts the trip down to two hours and it's so smooth! It was a vacation all on it's own. We arrived about 10:30pm into the Muskegon Lake channel to Mom, Dad, and Uncle Dan waving frantically and yelling I love you's from the pier. The kids felt so important to be arriving on the big boat and seeing mom, dad, and Dan made it even more special!







The next day was spent with our family out at Wiseman's. G-pa George and Gram had decided we should take a tractor ride and what was originally going to be just G-pa and the kids taking turns on the tractor quickly turned into a full blown tractor ride with a trailer and a ton of people. Just our style. Gi Gi had a wonderful spread after the ride up on the patio. Coffee and munchies....thanks Gi Gi! Our kids went CRAZY when their cousins showed up! It had been a while since they had seen Ben, Drew, and Ella. Sam and Zach stayed home this time but will be at the next one for sure. We got to meet BABY WILL!!! Welcome William Harrison Mallon...we love you! Thank you Gram and G-pa George for organizing such a fun day!


Tuesday night mom and dad had a party at their house so we could see everyone while in town. This night was extra special to me cause my very best friend in the world, Mandi, had found out the day before that she was pregnant and JUST THAT DAY had it confirmed at the doctor! I got to be there within 4 hours of her confirmation from the doctor to share in the excitement. And as you all know...I LOVE babies! She didn't want everyone to know yet, being they weren't telling their families till the next night but Mandi and Dan snuck out front with Mom, Dad, and Dan to tell JUST THEM. Those are the reaction pictures. For the few of you that might not know, Mandi and I have been best friends since 3rd GRADE so Mandi is like another daughter to my parents. My Dad told her later, that was only the 3rd time he had ever cried upon hearing that someone was expecting. SO SWEET! CONGRATULATIONS TO MANDI AND DAN!!!!!!



~author switch: Corey
The next day we arrived at Boyne Highlands. We had been before when brother/Uncle Dan was a member of the summer tour at Boyne and had it built up in our minds to be the ultimate place for a relaxing and intimate family vacation. I can't imagine any list of superlatives could convey the magic in this place. From the get-go, every one of us had a "whatever works" attitude for activities or lack of activities, as long as we were making memories. We had a few drinks, a bunch of laughs, went for a swim and talked into the evening.



Early, and I mean early the next morning was a boys breakfast in preparation for CJ's first time on the golf course. He was excited to show off his golfing attire and presented it with the announcement "Tigah, Tigah Woods ya'll" followed by a deep giggle. We played The Heather for a full "man's round of golf" as Bumpa put it, noting CJ's constant delight in what most 6 year old's would lose interest in after a hour. His attitude was understandable given his uncanny ability to connect with and get under a ball. Whatever form he lacked in his backswing was balanced by his hand eye coordination as he neared contact. Pride....a little jealousy but mostly pride. He hit a couple each hole, took and executed instruction extremely well, partook in some hot dogs at the turn and drove the cart a bit (by himself even!) . Dad, Uncle Dan and I figured we had shaped our new prodigy enough for him to play the last hole beginning to end. We all teed off and CJ hit a straight 40-50 yarder right down the fairway. Nice. His next shot, also right down the fairway. The adults gave up the rest of our hole in our excitement to watch him navigate a massive water hazard, no LAKE on this 451 yard par 4 (340 from the Whites but lets go with the version that will become legend). He nonchalantly pegged each shot straight and stayed dry not yet affected by the over thinking that comes with age. He popped it on fringe in 9 and 3 putted his way to a LEGITIMATE 12!! No do-overs, no mulligans, no uncounted shots. Our cheers echoed over the lake and returned with hoots from the two ladies behind us. They drove up and fawned over the boy enough for him to report to mommy later that he was happy he had two fans. We retold the highlights to the rest of the crew upon returning and meeting them at the pool and we all assured him he had many more than just two fans.

"....It was the greatest 12 of all time. No one's going to remember the Open 10 years from now, who won...but they'll remember your 12! My, God, Roy, it was...Well, it's immortal! I am so proud of you!" ~ Dr. Molly Griswold/Rene Russo TIN CUP (1996)

After the swim, we cleaned ourselves up and headed up the chairlift for a view from the top. Laughs from all three chairs as the kids enjoyed some undivided attention from people who love them a lot. What a view!



"....................." This show will leave you speechless. I don't know of many forms of entertainment that can take you through this range of emotions or level of connection while turned up to 10 the ENTIRE TIME! You look around the table and the room and see how much everyone is just transformed into the most carefree, uninhibited version of themselves. We decided we will never let a year pass without seeing this show. It is simply phenomenal. If you check out the entire album, you might just find a little surprise. Somebody in our family was lucky enough to be part of the show. If you care to check out this unforgettable experience you can find more info at http://www.boyne.com/Summer/Young_Americans.html and http://www.youngamericans.org/




After our LATE night we gave CJ every opportunity to skip out on golfing the next morning. He would have none of it. This kid is a DEEP sleeper but he literally sprung out of bed with my slightest whisper announcing our tee time. He enjoyed a little more freedom on the cart (shhhh!) and continued smacking the ball. We closed down the pool (which was actually a huge hot tub) as we watched the stars pop up in the sky. The kids were convinced that mommy and daddy either forgot about bedtime or simply didn't notice how dark it was getting so they were on their absolute best behavior to not draw attention to this oversight. We had some great conversations reflecting on similar memories growing up while watching ear to ear grins swim around in the glowing water.



Uncle Dan made a specific point to take individual time with each of his nieces and nephew to hang out and spoil them absolutely rotten. Our kids are INSANELY in love with their uncle so check out the pure delight on their faces. Good job bro!

We sailed away on the ferry with a farewell befitting royalty. Over a dozen of our family members perched on the farthest reaches of the channel wall to see us off. We were barely "in town" so we never got a chance to actually hang out with most of them but WOW was that incredible. Thanks everyone.

So, here were are months later reflecting back on the trip and the indelible memories it created. It was absolutely magical. I cannot recommend the destination or the entertainment enough, they were indeed a huge factor on how much fun we had. The one part that may be a little harder to replicate was our extraordinary fellow vacationers. Some of my/our absolute favorite people on the planet. Mom, Dad, Uncle Dan....love you guys. Thank you so much, it was simply spectacular.






Click on the pictures for the fullscreen slideshow.