I had an incredible two days with Karly on Mackinac Island and in Mackinaw City this week for her school's 3rd grade field trip!  It was PERFECT weather and there were GORGEOUS views!!!!  When we walked down to where they were taking us for the Ferry, the pirate ship was docked there...haha....we thought maybe we were taking that across....we were a little giddy :P

Karly and her good friends, Sam and Anna...

She was amazed by the Grand Hotel and LOVED the lunch buffet....she is Karly the Carnivore, you know....so we went up to the buffet a few times to try many kinds of foods/meats.

This was the end of the day as we waited for our Ferry to take us back :)  I love that Karly is still a cuddle-bug.  When she is tired or sick, she still likes to cuddle and she likes to hold hands when we walk places together.  And she likes to give kisses often.  I know she is my baby, but I enjoy that she is still so giving in this way and it is not embarrassing (YET) for her...haha!

The morning of the second day....on our way to tour the Mill...

For the learning experience of the whole trip, I LOVE THE MILL!  It is so cool to see how it works and to watch the presenters demonstrate it all....this man was in his "wheelhouse" and was a great presenter :)  

Karly's genius idea....a fidget spinner, when not in use, can be stored in the seat belt holder on the bus.   Yep, lots of fidget spinners were falling on the floor of the bus, but not Karly's.  To pass the time, the kids were cracking me up making videos about fidget spinners.  You know they can add so many graphic elements to videos now, so they filmed Anna and Karly like they were having a fidget spinner duel and they added cowboy hats and beards to them to give the video a Wild West feel.....then they had a bunch of kids act like fish with their spinners and there was a fidget spinner shark attack....then they did one where everyone's fidget spinner was being stolen and they were trying to find the thief....I love the creativity!

She was super tired when we got home which was perfect because her new sleeping bag had arrived!

Yesterday was the last day of school for the girls and celebrated Danielle's graduation from 5th grade!  I teared up when she gave a speech with her friend and presented her teacher with some flowers.  When we adopted Danielle she was in 1st grade and she was super shy.  She didn't really talk much or project her voice and especially didn't like talking in front of people.  We practiced some things at home and gave her "opportunities" to get over her fears....we made videos of the girls doing reports on vacations, encouraged her to try out of plays and musicals, she participated on the News Team at school and now she feels comfortable with speaking in front of an auditorium of people....I can't even sense any nervousness in her voice now.  It is such a dramatic difference....I wanted to jump up and down "YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!" she is becoming a confident young lady.  She still has shy feelings, but that doesn't define her, you know!  I am praising GOD for the way He helps all of us overcome our fears!

She is loving learning the flute and just recently acquired a harmonica :)  Watch out world!

Forever Young

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K5mOu3pZpU