In Which the Family go to Michigan

We went to Michigan the first week of August so that Josh and Lila could finally, finally meet Great Grandma S. Smartly, Popsie had rounded up as many relatives as he could, and he and Nana Ann planned a little party at Grandma's assisted living community.

First and foremost, Lila got to meet Great Grandma S:

(If anyone happens to know how many great grandchildren Great Grandma S. has, please be sure to post below.)

Among the family in attendance:
- Popsie and Nana Ann from Rhode Island
- Uncle Bill and Aunt Carol from Torch Lake
- Cousin Steve and wife Denise from the Detroit suburbs with Douglas, Brandon and Julia
- Uncle Jack and Aunt Gail from Jackson
- Cousin-in-law Becky from Troy with 3 of her six kids: JJ, Camille and Christian (Cousin Jason and kids Olivia and Ben were vounteering on an Indian reservation in South Dakota; daughter Rachel was volunteering in Mexico)
- Cousin John and wife Lee, with their kids Sam, Jack and Casey
- Cousin Dina and husband Chris, with their kids Chris, Brooke and Luke
- Uncle Rick and Aunt Karen from Novi with kids Valerie and Nick


(JOHN AND CHRIS, PROBABLY IN THE MIDST OF MAKING CYNICAL OR SARCASTIC OBSERVATIONS...JUST LIKE THEY USED TO DO IN THE LATE 80'S WHEN JOHN WAS AT BROWN AND CHRIS WAS UNDER THE DUBIOUS ASSUMPTION THAT HE WAS COOL)


(CHRIS, LILA, LUKE AND DINA...LUKE IS HALF LILA'S AGE (5 MONTHS TO HER 10 MONTHS) BUT THEY ARE NEARLY THE SAME SIZE)

We don't have documentation, but POPSIE raved about the dessert - one scoop of vanilla ice cream and one scoop of orange sherbert. "It's just like a creamsicle!" he was heard to exclaim more than once. His desert roots do run deep in Jackson...he was, afterall, a beloved employee of the local Dairy Queen.