Van Wesep Ventures

June 5 - 9, 2009
Channel Park - Muskegon

We have been to Channel Park several times in past years, as well as earlier in the 2009 season. In talking about our experiences, Grandma and Grandpa had expressed interest in camping there with us so we chose this weekend to take them up on it. We had a great time and really enjoy being near the water and the boats.

Muskegon Channel

Seeing as the cost of getting ice cream at the Ruth-Ann's is getting more and more expensive we have started bringing our own ice cream - this weekend's special treat was Drumstick cones.

One of the things we have grown to like about camping at some of the Michigan State Parks in the summer is their Young Explorer Program. They have a DNR Ranger designated to teach the kids about different things at the park. On Saturday, the Young Explorer program offered a hike around "Lost Lake". It was quite the hike, so just Paul and Nicholas went. Nicholas is definately our little hiker and enjoyed every minute. They saw many interesting plants and insects that the ranger was able to point out.

This was also a momentous morning for Gabrielle. While Nicholas and Paul were on their Young Explorer hike - Grandma and I took the other kids for a walk. Gabrielle kept commenting to us that more and more often she wasn't hearing her training wheels touching the ground. When we returned to the campsite we asked her if she wanted to try taking her training wheels off. She agreed, excitedly, and so we obliged. We figured it would be a while of trying and that by the time Paul returned she might be getting close. What we didn't expect was for her to just take right off. I think I held onto her bike for about 3-4 steps, then she took off and continued all the way around the block. She had an incredible surprise for Papa when he returned from their hike. I think she probably rode around that block 100 more times throughout the weekend.

Given that it was a cooler weekend and we weren't putting in beach time or anything, we decided to take the kids mini golfing.

Nicholas got 3-4 hole in ones through the afternoon.

and Allison got 2-3 hole in ones herself.

While on one of our many walks - Sam decided he really enjoyed Grandma's tea.

Allison carried Grandma's camping lantern around with her almost non stop all weekend. She thought it was just the coolest thing.

After a couple of year hiatus - we took a drive down to 'The Block House' - the kids always seem to like running around, chasing each other and looking out the windows.

Although it wasn't beach weather this weekend - we had to check out the beach anyway. As usual the kids seem to have the most fun at the beach when they aren't "supposed" to get wet. What is it about getting your clothes wet that is so much fun? Is it that they feel they are getting away with something? One of the funniest things was that the kids (but especially Sam) continued to run around trying to hold their pants up even after they were already soaking wet.

I think Allison is in her glory when she is laying on her belly in the sand and water.

Last walk together before Grandma and Grandpa went home a day earlier than we did.

What's a camping trip without more ice-cream. We had noticed earlier that the nearby corner store offered specialized flavors of soft-serve ice-cream. So, while Grandpa finished getting the trailer ready to go home we headed out try it out. They had so many flavors to pick from and you could have it mixed with either vanilla or chocolate. The kids loved it.

After Grandma and Grandpa left, we headed out to a bike trail that runs along the causeway and the other side of Muskegon Lake and continues down near Heritage Landing. We had wanted to try it for quite some time. It was a nice ride with the kids, we stopped for a snack and playground break at Heritage Landing. We would have like to go further and see where the rest of the trail went but the kids were getting tired and it looked like it might rain.