Flashback: Fun in Midland, Michigan

 This post was originally published last year, and references a trip we took in 2010. Look how little my munchkins are! Midland makes a great getaway from the Metro Detroit area, we've even done it as a day trip.

Chris's aunt and uncle live in Midland, aptly named as it sits in the middle of the state. Midland is known as the home of the world headquarters of Dow Chemical. But to our family it is known as where Aunt Nicki and Uncle Bob live. A couple years ago, we decided to be tourists in Midland while we were in town for a visit. We had such a great time, and I hope we get to do it again soon!

Lucy and Mattie at the Midland Tridge

There is a great park within walking distance of downtown, with a splash pad, a playground, and the very unique Tridge (triple + bridge = Tridge). Although I love the picture above, it doesn't really do the Tridge justice. It is really big, and connects paths of separate areas of the park. A lot of people ride their bikes. We packed a picnic lunch and had a beautiful day.

Cousins on the Tridge

Bethany cooling off at the splash pad

Lucy

We walked around downtown Midland. There are flowers everywhere in Midland, along the side of the road and in front of the shops and restaurants. At the time there was a turtle themed auction going on, so we saw all kinds of turtles too.

See that turtle, hidden among the gorgeous flowers?

Even the courthouse is pretty

We also visited the Midland Center for the Arts. They had a Lego exhibit going on then, but there are always fun, hands-on exhibits for kids. Sometimes they have shows too. Check out their website HERE for more information. This summer it looks like they're having a Bob the Builder Exhibit...sounds like fun!

Mattie and the giant Legos! Back then we couldn't keep shoes ON her, now we can't get them OFF of her!

Lego Mt. Rushmore...this summer I'll get a picture of them in front of the real thing!

Lego peace sign...notice Lucy is really trying to hold up her fingers in a peace sign! Also, I think I want to be a pro Lego builder! That has to be the best job ever!

Have you ever been to Midland, Michigan? If not, it's definitely worth a visit!

Flashback: Tahquamenon Falls

 This post was published last year, and references a trip we took in 2011. Tahquamenon Falls is one of my favorite places in Michigan. What are some of your favorite Michigan sights?



When I was about 11, I was invited along on an Upper Peninsula adventure with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousin. I crossed  Big Mac (aka the Mackinac Bridge) for the first time, and I was smitten by the quiet beauty of Michigan's lesser known peninsula. We spent a week at our little cottage, fishing and swimming and seeing many of the area's gems. A year or two later I was invited once again. These two week-long vacations constitute some of the happiest memories of my childhood. One of the most memorable sights that we visited during both of those trips was Tahquamenon Falls. I stood before this majestic natural wonder and fell in love with waterfalls. When I became a mom many years later, I vowed I would take my own children to the Upper Peninsula one day and show them just how beautiful the world could be.

Last summer we finally made it to Tahquamenon Falls. It was actually our second time in the U.P. together, but the first had just been a quick jaunt to the beach when we were staying in Mackinaw City the year before. This time we stayed overnight and had a beautiful day visiting one of my favorite Michigan landmarks. The kids loved it; I knew they would.

One of the best things about being a mom is sharing experiences from my own childhood, like Tahquamenon Falls, with my kids. I look forward to sharing more with them, and remembering vicariously through their smiles and enthusiasm. Seeing new things is exciting too, but there is something special about standing in the same place with my kids that I stood when I was a little girl.

Flashback: Sublime Summertime in Michigan

 This post was originally published at the end of summer 2011. My kids have grown by leaps and bounds since then! Mattie is now wearing the clothes that Lucy is wearing in these pictures. We still have a lot of summer living to do this year, but it's fun to look back on what we did in previous years! I hope you are enjoying your summer!


It really, really was such a fabulous summer. As always, I'm sorry we didn't get more in before the start of the new school year. But we concentrated a lot on doing nothing this summer too - which definitely has its own charms!

Happy back to school to you. Happy end of summer, happy fall. 

Bethany & Mattie at the pool

Hanging out with cousins ~ Lexington ~

Connor, Lucy, Bethany, and Mathilda ~ Lexington ~

Sno Cones with friends at the park

Splash pad

Lucy ~ Sleeping Bear Dunes ~ 

Mattie & Bethany ~ Sleeping Bear Dunes ~

Starting the climb ~ Sleeping Bear Dunes ~

Lucy ~ Sleeping Bear Dunes~

Connor & Lucy ~ Sleeping Bear Dunes ~

Kiddies with their Auntie Mary ~ Sleeping Bear Dunes ~

The kids at Sleeping Bear Dunes with my 'lil sis

Lovely family picture ~ Frankfort ~ Lake Michigan ~

Bethany ~ crystal clear Lake Michigan ~

Lucy ~ beautiful Lake Michigan beach ~ Frankfort

Lucy

Cottage in Frankfort

Connor & the Playmobil pirate ~ Frankfort ~

Lucy enjoying a caramel covered rice crispy treat ~ Frankfort ~

Downtown with friends

Playing in the fountains outside of the Renaissance Center

Oh Canada ~ view from Detroit RiverFront

Carousel ride downtown

2.5 Days To Go: We Can Do This

We are on the final stretch of the 2012-13 school year. It feels a little impossible to get through full days Monday and Tuesday, and a half day Wednesday. I'm not even the one going to school. The last few days are for field day and cleaning out lockers and desks, the learning portion of the year is done. Theoretically, it shouldn't be that hard. Nonetheless, we've reached the the point when I wish I could just snap my fingers and be done with it.

I'll still be driving all the time, considering the stuff we've scheduled so far for the summer. The girls still have dance for two more weeks, Bethany will be going to basketball camp the week after school gets out, Lucy will be going to Vacation Bible School the week after that, Connor still has Cub Scout meetings, and Bethany and Connor will be going to a day camp Monday-Friday for three weeks. Plus all the other stuff we'll be doing, so I'll actually be driving more most days. But being on Summer break is freeing and wonderful, no matter how much we have planned, and I relish this time of year more than any other.

Besides our definitive plans that I listed above, we are heading to Port Austin for a week in July, and hosting two Chinese foreign exchange students for three weeks. They will stay in dorms for one week, and with us for the other two weeks. During the three weeks they are here, Bethany and Connor will be going to that day camp I mentioned with them everyday. They will be doing all kinds of fun activities and going on awesome field trips. I will have to be on my best game to make sure Mattie and Lucy have as much fun with me during that time.

I mentioned on Facebook that the kids and I started brainstorming summer fun ideas. In case you missed that post, here is what they came up with so far:

• Go camping
• Make giant bubbles
• Have a bon fire
• Water balloon fight
• Silly string fight
• Play with the new sprinkler Mattie got for her birthday
• Go to the zoo (Bethany & Connor will be doing this as a day camp field trip)
• Trace each other with chalk
• Go to George George Park

To their ideas, I added:

• Lakeport State Park
• Belle Isle
• Detroit Historical Museum
• Detroit Riverwalk

I'm hoping that Mother Nature steps it up because this cool weather we've been having is just not all that conducive to my kind of summer fun.

There are so many other things I'd like to do this summer too, and I hope we get to do lots of it! I know that life tends to get in the way, and I'm always up for spontaneous fun, so whatever we do, it will be all good.

So far the day camp itinerary with the exchange students does not include anytime in Detroit, so I'm hoping to knock a few things off our list on one of the weekends they are with us.

I also signed the kids up for the library's summer reading club, and I'm kicking around the idea of making a weekly schedule with various activities. We got a book of gross science experiments, and maybe I can come up with some other fun learning activities. I'm also considering purchasing a pass for our city pool, and getting Bethany and Connor to start running with me. I just want the kids to have  great time, and I really don't want to listen to anyone fighting about Netflix, iPads, Mindcraft, or anything like that. 

I do want to keep in mind that I need to remember to be flexible and to not try to plan or do TOO much, because I don't want to set anyone up for disappointment (me), I don't want to put undue pressure on anyone (me), and I want to make sure we have time to lay around and be lazy too, and let the kids pick what they want to do sometimes too.

As I get our summer mapped out a little more thoroughly, I'll try to post about it some more. 

I'd love to know what you guys have planned for summer! Vacations? Camps? Three months of lazy pj days? Tell me!

Family Fun: Visit Ohio's The Beach Water Park

This May, The Beach Water Park (an Adventure Landing Park) in Mason, Ohio, near Cincinnati, will be opening under new management and with $5 million in renovations under its belt! It's like a real tropical oasis, right in Ohio - complete with genuine palm trees, white ocean sand, and waterfalls, all situated among 35 acres of shady, wooded terrain.

Attractions are broken up into three categories: Real Thrill, Real Chill, and Real Fun for Kids.You can take your pick from several thrilling water slides, a heated wave pool, the 1200 foot long lazy river, and MUCH more! There is fun to be had for everyone in the family, from the littlest tot to the most daring thrill-seeker! Seriously, my wimpy self can hardly stand to look at the pictures of some of these water slides. Go check out the website and see for yourself!

May 18-19 marks the opening weekend of The Beach, and regular operations begin on May 25. Check The Beach's Facebook page for updates, because at this moment, a full schedule of special events is being planned for the summer!

If you live in the Cincinnati area, you might want to consider Season Passes, which are available for purchase now!

Want to give your child the coolest birthday party ever? Book a party at The Beach! The park is also available for company outings and charity events.

And because I hate to pay full price for anything, click HERE to print coupons good for $5 off admission! You can use one coupon per person, per day! Coupons are valid anytime throughout the 2013 season, not valid with any other discounts or promotions.

My kids have been asking when we're going to a water park, and they're going to be thrilled when they hear about this one!

Are you a water park lover? Do you prefer the Real Thrill or the Real Chill? I don't think it's any secret that I am a huge fan of the Real Chill!

My family is receiving free tickets to visit The Beach in exchange for this post.

My Love Affair With Summer

Not long ago I was lamenting my lackluster feelings of summer blah. I'm happy to report that I'm now happily in summer love again. Love, love, love. All it took was a few days of sublime summery perfection. I am still insanely busy, but I don't see that ending until after Bethany's birthday (August 20), so I'm just rolling with it as best as I can. Hopefully we'll have a couple weeks of rejuvenation before the school grind begins again. Probably something else will come up by then, but whatevs. In the meantime I'm enjoying the moments of bliss between the chauffeuring, nagging my kids, appointments, planning, work on the blog, duties as preschool President, trying to make sure my kids' brains don't turn to rot, etc. etc. etc.

Saturday was dance recital day, and I was filled with pride as my girls took the stage. Lucy did a ballet routine, and Bethany was in a jazz number. They worked hard and it was obvious in their performances. This was their first year at a new studio (new to us AND new-new) and I was impressed with how well the show turned out. Lucy was just in the matinee performance, but Bethany was in two Saturday recitals, so it was a super long day. But I enjoyed watching the show two times, and seeing my girls up there dancing brings me to my happy place. I wish the pictures were clearer, but I did my best with no flash.

My little ballerina, Lucy

Bethany, my Dancing Queen

Dance recital time always brings with it all kind of crazy chaos, and this year was no exception. But it's a chaos I know, this being Bethany's 7th dance recital and Lucy's 2nd. I'm no Dance Mom, but it is fun having dancing girls.

We've also been spending a lot of quality time with friends, and enjoying the beautiful weather. My heart is full.

Lucy resting in my friend's backyard & waiting for the fireworks show to begin

Airborne Mattie, entertaining everyone while we were waiting for the fireworks.

Connor concentrating on not burning his fingers with a sparkler

Killing time at the community college while Connor was at his Lego class

I think this is my favorite picture of they day!

A nice lady walked by & offered to take our picture. Thank you, nice lady!

Could she get any cuter??

Mattie wanted to take a nap in the wagon after we went for a walk around the block

I hope you are having a fabulous summer so far too! I can't wait to see what the rest of the season holds for my family and me. I trust it will continue to be awesome!