Mystery Trip and More

Saturday morning the kids and I headed out on our "Mystery Trip" - I don't tell them where we are going - just pack a picnic lunch and yes, you need to wear shoes!!!

We went to Meijer Gardens. The kids were so engrossed in reading magazines in the back seat that they never really looked which direction we were going and suddenly were aware that I got off the freeway. Meijer Gardens is just 45 minutes from home.
Allison wanted to go to the Rain Forest greenhouse first. Andrew is into "Don't take my picture" - so this is the picture of the three of them!!! We saw some really neat little birds in this area. One had a tail that must be 6-8 inches long!!!!!! The Childrens' Garden has a special gate for the children to enter.

One of the first things we saw was a very large grasshopper eating the petunias.......he'd had a good breakfast from the looks of the plants!!!

We went straight to the treehouse - this is a lookout - in a birds' nest!!!!

The telescopes are positioned to view birds in the trees.

Down in the maze are some drums - they made wonderful sounds. There was a bell and a lower drum set, too.

Andrew liked this sculpture of wolves. He said - "Look, there are pedals!" - one of the many pieces of "scrap" used in these pieces.

In one area of the Childrens' Garden is a model of the Great Lakes - starting at Lake Superior and ending at Lake Ontario - complete with appropriate waterfalls and boats to navigate.

We spent quite a bit of time here..............and the shirts got quite wet!!!

What would you expect!!!!!

In a sensory garden you can find plants that taste, plants that smell, a large periscope to see out of the garden, many plants to touch, and something that makes a great sound......

And an ear to hear it with!!!!!!!!!!

We brought lunchables for everyone and went inside to eat.

Back in the large greenhouses were MANY mum plants - beautiful.....

This hanging basket made for a great wig!!!!!!!!

We took the TREEmendous Tram in the childrens' area and learned about 6 Michigan trees. We had a tool kit with visuals to answer the questions posed by our leader. We saw the trees, seed pods and some sculptures on our trip.

Sunday when we were out, Andrew wanted to find a "cone tree" - a pine tree. One of the things in the tool kit was a pine cone and we looked for them in trees along the way.

After the ride, it was back to the Treehouse and beyond. This time the kids found a sand area - with planted fossils to dig for - trilobites, snails, rib bones, etc - shovels and brushes provided.

This was a group effort - and quite fun.

Back to the water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was smarter this time - took off the shirt on Andrew before it got wet!! His pants got wet this time, but just took them off, changed the diaper and put on a dry shirt and he was just fine!!!

He really enjoyed the boats...........and LOTS of water.

Allison found the sculpture of the Storyteller........

Just beyond the Treehouse was this storytelling place..........complete with lots of dress ups. Andrew is the Butterfly King!!!!!!!!

This sculpture is called "Mad Mom"

All of the kids are readers.............and requested a stop in the library. There is a special shelf of children's books. It was a nice, calm end to the trip.

Andrew is "reading" his book - you should have heard him "reading" - soooo cute, with the appropriate "the end" when he closed the book.

We came home to casserole dinner - meatballs and pasta. Baths for all and bedtime stories..............I had said to Andrew that we needed to wash his hair because he had a rats nest in the back. He replied, "Yeah, a rat got in there and did that and he left and that was silly" That kid can be sooooo cute in what he says.

After his bath while wrapped up in his towel he told me "Grandma Linda, you're awesome. I love you." ---.....I about melted!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sunday morning Ashley, Alexander and I did the Autumn Classic - an 8K ( 5 miles) run around Lake Lansing. Alexander came in 4th in his age group and got a backpack. Ashley was in the middle of her age group. I came in 6th - with an amazing time of 1:03:40!!!!!!! I do not run much - only ran out of the park, then did my fast walk. One lady came up to me afterwards and said she could not keep up with me doing her walk-to-run technique. I find that keeping a fast walk pace is better than the walking/running for me.

It was a cool early morning, but as soon as we got out of the park and around the lake it warmed up.

I made bacon and eggs for Alexander and Allison, Andrew had cereal and a waffle. All enjoyed some time outside - ladderball, chalk, bubbles, balls, jump ropes, etc. Too soon it was pick up and time to come in.

The kids had a bite to eat - everyone something different!!!!!!

Allison LOVES tomato soup.

Alexander likes to make his own Easy Mac.......

Andrew had a dish of pasta and meatballs and some drink yogurt and showed us how long is tongue is!!!

I drove the kids to Chelsea to meet their parents for the ride back to Ohio.

John came home just before noon - got to have a little time with the kids.

It is nice to have him home - I don't like the single life.

We had steak on the grill and beans from the garden - and a Kuhlman Manhatten!!!!!!!!!