Cedar Point Trip, 2014

We took Joshua to Cedar Point this weekend with a couple of our friends. It's his second trip, the first when he was three. He had a lot more fun this time, despite being freshly recovered from a sick bug. Look at how much he's grown!

(3 Years Old)

(5 Years Old)

They had their automated dinosaur event still going. It was exciting because, at three, Joshua was terrified and he refused to take a photo like this one:

It was his first Ferris wheel ride as well. Last time we went, we'd gotten to the very front of the line when it started to thunder and the wheel was shut down. He was so nervous on the wheel while it was being loaded, but he had a lot of fun when it started going. At the end, he didn't want to get off, though that may have been more of not wanting to go home, since it was the last thing we did.

He's asking when we can go back again. It's a bit expensive, to be honest, for a five year old and a Mama who doesn't ride the big rides (Daddy did the first trip, but hung out with us for this one). We've been lucky to go on discounted tickets so far, and hope to keep that up. Next time, though, Sebastian will be old enough to go along. I think I'll need more help, particularly if Kris wants to ride some rides again. Lol.

<3

Family Field Trips: Hidden Lake Gardens for Christmas

Part of our Advent train gifts to Joshua are trips. We have one trip for every weekend related to some sort of Christmas event. Hidden Lake Gardens is a place near by we discovered this past summer. Last weekend they had their Holiday Festival.

Joshua and Sebastian had already had a long day with swim lessons and the afternoon with Mimi (my mom). So when we got there, this is what the back seat looked like.

Once Joshua realized there were cookies and popcorn and Santa, he was ready to go, though. Sebastian hung out in his carrier with Daddy. (Which I don't think we have pictures of, regrettably. Kris was taking people out left and right with that thing.)

As good parents, we showed Joshua the cookies first, then Santa, but told him none of that until a potty break! The crafts were near the bathrooms, so we ended up starting there. Joshua (erhm, I) made a couple Christmas ornaments.





Here I'm putting paint into a clear glass ornament and shaking it around.

   











Here I'm using a cut branch to make an angel ornament. There were many stations for these - for a reindeer, for Mrs. and Mrs. Claus - but after struggling with the angel, I thought she was enough. And you can see how patient Joshua was during out (my) craft time.










There was also a bird feeder made from a pine cone, Crisco and bird seed, but it was too far away from where Kris sat with Sebastian for a good photo. It was cute, though. I haven't checked on it since we hung it up, but I suppose it made a squirrel happy.


We eventually sat with Santa, then got our bag of popcorn, listen to the Saxophone jazz band for a little bit, before heading off in search of those cookies we saw at the beginning, enjoying the lights along the way. The hills were lit by candles in painted milk jugs, arranged into wreaths, snow flakes, candy canes. It was very simple and very beautiful. I wish we'd gotten a photo of that part, too.

Off we went home. This time the boys stayed awake with the promise of food at the end of the trip, and the Christmas lights decorating businesses and houses along the way.

What will the Advent Train yield next week? Maybe not as many pictures. Lol. ;)

Family Field Trips: Trick or Treat at the Zoo

I love this time of year. Instead of searching for anything to do, it becomes a choice of which thing to do. The zoo is a great choice for us. We have a membership and they have lots of activities going to get people to visit during their off-season.

I went with one of my girlfriends to their trick or treat event. We didn't have much time, unfortunately, but the kids loved it. Joshua got to be a dragon and my friend's daughter was a mouse. There were candy stations, a magician, and Fisher Price had come in with a ton of toys for the kiddos to play with (and beg parents for later).








It was a blast, and even though it was much more busy than I expected on a Thursday, as long as we're in the area it will be something I try to do each year. I didn't get many photos, but the ones I got were cute, particularly the one of Joshua in an animal cage (yes, that's what those bars are).

;)

  

Family Field Trips: Joshua's Day

Kris and I decided to take Joshua out by himself this past weekend. He hasn't had a day by himself with Mommy and Daddy for a while.

First, we had lunch together at a place the tablecloths are butcher paper so he can actually draw on the table. He loves it there (and on the plus side, kids ate free that day).

Next, we got him and Daddy side-by-side hair cuts. Joshua loves getting his hair cut. He will tell me when he thinks it's time to go..

Before we went home, we stopped at the local farm where they were having free pony rides. We were lucky enough to get there at a time no one else was in line so they let him ride both ponies around the barn. He also got to play in the seed corn box (kind of like a sandbox), see the cows and the goats and the ducklings and run through the hay bale maze. It is our favorite place to go, particularly since all of that cost $0.

He fell asleep on the way home. When we got to Mimi's house (my mom), he woke up, though, and jumped out to show everyone his haircut and tell them about his day.

 

Family Field Trips: Dinosaurs

A few weeks ago, we took Joshua to Cedar Point. There was a dinosaur exhibit there I thought he would love. He loved the dino dig in the sandbox, particularly since the worker helped him build a sand castle. The flying pterosaurs were cool, the herbivores were okay, but the meat eaters were a bit too scary for him.

Fast forward to a few weeks later to yesterday. There's a dino exhibit not too far from us for the weekend. I decided it would be great to go again. Maybe since he's seen them once, he won't be so scared. He was nervous at first, but quickly warmed up to them now that they weren't hiding in bushes, and there were a lot more kids around excited about them. It was a great idea, and I'm glad we went so he could learn that comfort.

What was that? Why yes, I do have pictures. :) A few, anyway. The kids moved around so fast, there were only so many I could actually capture. There is one other - a green screen photo of us disturbing a T-Rex nest. My mom has that for the moment so she can scan it in. I can try to remember to add it later.




Notes: The little guy in the red cap is Joshua. The cutie in the green overalls is Sebastian. The other children are my niece and nephew.

Family Field Trips: Hidden Lake Gardens

We went to Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton, MI on Saturday. It was in the 70's and raining lightly, but it was still so much fun. We were able to feed the Monarch butterflies, see a "dinosaur" (a bearded dragon), go netting for pond life (we didn't catch any, but this one kid was absolutely amazing at catching frogs), went on a nature hike where the guide taught us how to recognize poison ivy and let us smell Sassafras leaves (original ingredient of root beer). There was also a scavenger hunt through the Conservatory, and you could choose a plant once you completed it. Joshua chose a bleeding heart plant to give to his Mimi, as I am allergic to all things that create pollen.

I was able to get a few photos of Joshua and Kris, but I was really drawn to the scenery. Kris thinks I should run them through the Creative Kit to really play with the color. I may one day, but I really like how they turned out naturally. So, even though I don't usually post on the weekend, I'm going to today so I can show you the wonderful garden we went to, carved out by glaciers 1500 years ago.