Lakes, Sand, Soccer, and Model T's

These first pictures are from our road trip to Lake Michigan. Since the lake was too cold for swimming we resorted to throwing, I mean skipping, rocks. First you find a nice smooth, flattish rock. And then . . .

You toss it!

Synchronized rock skipping.
Bret staring in awe as Aaron demonstrates his textbook form.

Bret enjoying the freedom to throw sand (and rocks) without getting in trouble.

The Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.This is about halfway up the dunes.Almost there! At the top you get a glimpse of Lake Michigan.

Lake Michigan

Fishing trip to a smaller lake.

Tyler's catch of the day. Possibly a bass?

Tyler, our little soccer star, with his hard-earned medal.

Taking a ride in a genuine Model T at Greenfield Village.

Tyler quizzing our patient driver.

The Harry Potter Club

It's official. I finally joined the Harry Potter Club. I read all seven books in two weeks (and loved them). I had to quit cleaning my house and caring for my children, but I did it! Now I will totally get all the Harry Potter jokes and when I watch the movies, I'll be able to say "That's not how it was in the book! The book is way better!" I'm so cool now.

So, what's next? Where do I go from here? Is there life after Harry Potter?

The Farm

Here are some pics from visiting Grandma and Grandpa.Bret tried for hours to catch a cat, but the cats knew better than to play with a one-year-old.

Bret's first tractor ride to feed the cows with Grandpa.

Tyler enjoying the trampoline with Uncle Matt.

Yeah, so no one looks good in this picture, but they had a great time on their fishing trips. Tyler caught trout and bass.

Bret and I meeting a horse.

Just hanging out with a bull.

The twins. They were terrified of Bret.

Bret watching the twins run around. Yes, that is cow poop on the gate.

The cows running from the creepy little people.

Detroit Zoo

Aaron actually had a weekend off so we went exploring and discovered that Detroit has a zoo and it actually isn't a dump like the Las Vegas "Zoo".

This is Amphibiville, one of Tyler's favorite places, where we saw this little guy, the Panamanian Golden Frog, that was recently declared extinct in the wild. bye-bye froggy

The Polar Bear exhibit did not disappoint. The glass tunnel gave us a spectacular view of the bears (and seals in a separate area) swimming and playing in the chilly water.

I thought this was such a cute picture until I realized that Bret closed his eyes. Bret was more excited about the ball than the seal.

Tyler's First Comic Book

Frozen Fun

Last weekend we were feeling adventurous (and Aaron actually had a day off), so we braved the cold and took a trip to Plymouth to see the ice sculptures. It was perfect weather . . . for the ice sculptures.

Here's Tyler just hanging out on a park bench.

"Stop taking my picture Mom!"

Bret and I are ready to tear up the sledding hill!

Victory!

A Winter classic- "The Snow Spider".

Tyler with his cousins, Eden and Sam (and, of course, Frosty).

Dear Santa,