Brogan Lee: Roadtrip to Mqt to visit Dad!

I am very fortunate to only have in-seat classes on Monday and Tuesday nights so I was able to take almost a week and go visit Buddy in Marquette! It was so much nicer than driving up Friday and leaving on Sunday. I actually had the opportunity to see everyone that I wanted to and even relax a little bit!

Brogan spent most of the trip sleeping like in the picture here. He still takes 2 naps a day, and so we left around 10 am when he takes his first nap and he slept almost until the bridge. We stopped in Gaylord to run around and take a break from driving to stretch his legs. Although I bet he was more comfortable than me riding in that easy chair of a car seat... complete with cup holder and memory foam pillow.... What they don't think of these days....

We had GORGEOUS driving weather which was a concern, especially with how cold and yucky the weather has been this year. And its usually the norm to hit at least a little bit of snow while making the commute! But not this time! I LOVE driving over the Mackinaw Bridge... this will be Brogan's 3rd trip to the yoop, while outside my belly anyways.

"looking pretty comfy there mister Brogan! "

He lasted until about Munising... which is 45 minutes from Marquette, then he got pretty antsy. I'd say thats pretty good with only stopping 1 time to move our legs! Needless to say he was a wild man when we went out to dinner with Katie and Jeremy at the Casa that night. But of course everyone in the resturant understood and said HEY he just rode in the car 7 hours let him run around... its fine! I love how nice everyone in the yoop is :)

On Thursday after Buddy went to class, we went to our favorite restaurant in Marquette, Mandarin Garden's. This is a must stop when we go there. The stuffed mushrooms are the best! And Brogan loved it too! He had sweet and sour chicken, stuffed mushrooms, mandarin oranges, and a fortune cookie!

We stayed with our friends Katie and Jeremy and their dog Bentley. Brogan LOVED Bentley, he didn't really want to pet him, but he would get close and just go HE HE HEEEEE and clentch his fists and get really excited! Katie loved snuggling with Bman and he warmed up to the place fast. The first night was a little rough, but after that he did just fine!

On Friday morning, I let Buddy sleep in and met up with Jenna, Vanessa and Quincy at Starbucks for a morning coffee date! We took over a corner, and blockaded Brogan in so he couldn't run wild. It was so nice to be able and sit and talk and catch up on the boys (little and big) Jenna got engaged over Christmas and I haven't seen her... or the ring... since Oct! And Quincy has gotten soo much bigger since seeing him last. Being able to catch up with Vaness about all the new Motherhood stories was fun too! So it was sooo nice to get to hang out with my girls again!

"Quincy's facial expressions are priceless, not to mention his cute Mohawk! "

"Bye Bye baby Quincy"

Friday night, we stopped over at Cindy's house to visit with her and Alicia. She was like my friend/mom away from home while I was at Northern! We hung out there and put Brogan down and while he slept Cindy watched him there for a couple hours while we hung out with friends. Then Saturday we had a chill out day at her house! It was so nice to just NOT do anything for a whole day!

You know he is up to something with the look on that face!

(the Big stinker... daddy... sneaking the little stinker bites of his doughnut! )

DOUGHNUT FACE! Boston Cremes, MMMMMM!

Saturday night Buddy and I hit the town with a bunch of friends! Our friend Amanda had been asking if we needed someone to watch Brogan so that we could have a night out with each other! Fortunately our friends Vanessa and Alex also found a sitter for their son Quincy (whose blog is also on here) so that we could have an awesome "parents" night out of sorts of course along with the rest of our friends! A nice Break for us moms!

Brogan at Amanda's house having a ball! They had so much fun together. THANK YOU!!!

"The Parents" Me, Buddy, Vanessa, and Alex- after a long fun night of dancing and hanging out with friends!

In our original plans, we were going to leave Sunday morning. Then I thought, with a little coaxing from Buddy, that I "really" didn't have to be back until Monday night at 6pm for class so why not stay another day. I am the planner, and he is the "free spirit" so he helps me unwind a bit! hahaha So we stayed Sunday and had another just relaxing day and also watched the Super Bowl together at Katies parents house! (which I forgot to take pictures of, but here are some of us relaxing on Sunday morning... of course watching the toons!)

Then it was off to Grand Rapids, so that I could get back for a class presentation I had Monday night at 6pm ... yes it was cutting it close... but I was trying to be SPONTANEOUS... We got home 15 minutes before I had to be at school! SUCCESS! We went to Big Boy (of course) before we hit the road, and Brogan LOVED the oranges! I didnt get it on camera, but he was holding the orange in his mouth with just his teeth it was SO funny! Then we said goodbye to dad (but only for a couple weeks) and then left in this totally opposite weather than what we came in, but more of what I susspected and was used to driving from/to Marquette in. We had such a great time! And it was so nice to be able to hang out and see everyone all in one trip as ushually 2 days doesn't leave time for that. We'll be back to see you all soon!