Children's Museums on the Trip

We were able to make it to two children's museums on the trip, and using our reciprocal membership with My Museum in Monterey, we were able to get in free each time. In the future we might build a trip that is more focused on going to these museums because we had so much fun.

This is the capitol building in Madison as we walked to the museum . . .

They had a little greenhouse with water tables . . .

Getting behind the wheel of any vehicle is one of Ella's favorite activities . . .

She also loves art . . . on this day she decided to paint herself . . .

This raised table had miniature roads, cars, buildings, and trees so kids could set up a city.

Giddy up sheep!!

An above-ground walkway designed like a dinosaur skeleton.

This zebra was in the elevator . . .

This is the roof . . . they had a garden and small animals up there . . .

If you noticed that we were wearing different clothes in the pictures (very perceptive of you) it's because we went twice on two separate days :)

This is the children's museum in Grand Rapids, MI. It was not as new as the one in Madison, but we liked it better for the fun activities for the littler kids.

Ella filled this "rainbow" with the balls and then pulled out the bottom and they all fell out, much to Grace's amusement . . . they must have done this five or six times.

Ella also had fun grocery shopping . . .

Back behind the wheel . . .

Racing cars . . .

Daddy had a lot of fun with the bubbles . . .

Dr. Ella . . . take a deep breath Daddy!

Which one is the real Grace?

More Michigan Moments

Grandma and Aunt Sandra have collected some things for a dress-up box (actually a basket) for the girls. Here Ella is modeling the crown (backwards), the head scarf, and the cape. Notice Grace is in the background actually inside the basket :)


Ella and Mommy pose outside of one of our favorite places to eat when in N. Michigan . . . The Cherry Hut!!!

So Grandma and Grace aren't looking and Daddy got caught with his mouth full, but oh well! We recommend the cherry chicken salad and cherryade.

Ella recommends the hotdog and chips :)

This is a pic of Grace's toes on a little beach in Traverse City . . . this was taken 10 minutes before a torrent of rain began to fall. We made it to the van with seconds to spare!

This was taken at a park near the beach . . . Ella's first merry-go-round ride! You can see our picnic in the background.

One night, we visited cousin Joe and Kathy's family farm . . .

We saw bunnies . . .

And sheep and goats . . .

And chickens . . .

And Russian boars . . .

Michigan Pics of the Day

Tonight, we roasted hotdogs outside at Aunt Debbie's house. After hotdogs, we made s'mores! Here is one Kurt made . . . the perfect s'more :)


Here is Ella taking a bite of her first s'more . . .

Yummmmm!!!!!


Earlier today, we went to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Park. Here are Ella and Grace having a blast on the dune . . .

Kurt and Ella and I hiked up the big dune and then came back down. We played in the sand and had a little picnic afterward.