Sappy mom post- you have been warned.

 When following the kids around and documenting our lives, I try to put the camera down and make sure I am experience it with them and not only through a lens. The kids like watching our vimeo channel. If you would like to see me turn into a sappy,weepy mess, just have me watch one of those videos. Jane will gush- "Oh Elliot you were so little and cute!" I think he is still so little and cute, but watching those videos the reality sets in, we have big kids!  No more missing front teeth, strollers, saying basghetti instead of spaghetti. 

I am excited to see the people they will one day become, but there are days I would like to just stop time and keep them little just for an extra day or two.

Meijer Gardens 2007

Fall 2013

 I think Elliot might understand how fleeting his childhood really is, he said today he would like to be a kid forever.  I think he gets that life is pretty good when mom and dad take care of you. My job for the next 10 years will be to make sure he does in fact grow up, since mom and dad and the free ride won't last forever.

Jane got this Build-a-Bear stuffed animal- named "Monkey" for her first birthday.  It is well worn and loved. 
 Nice photo bomb courtesy of Elliot. 

I know one day I will look back at this time and think how little they look and how fast they went from our big kids to our young adults. 

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Fall Time

We attended Zeeland's  Pumpkin Fest

Jane was part of the parade with The Critter Barn, 10 year olds were able to hold the bunnies. Jane's bunny got scared during their chant, and scratched her but she was a trooper and held on tight and has the marks to prove it. Working with animals isn't always easy.

In front of the Howard Miller clock.

There were scarecrow displays that depicted different States.

"Duck Dynasty"  representing Louisana

 After the Pumpkin Fest we visited a local horse farm

Jane and Elliot helping the band.

Carnival games, free horse rides and pumpkin painting, and food were part of the festivities.

The farm was raising money. It rescues horses  and provides riding lessons and mentors to help kids with mental, emotional and developmental issues. 

We visited Robinettes Farm with one of our homeschool groups.

 It has been probably over 10 years since I was last there.  I think it was an activity with our young married group from church. I don't think Nathan and I qualify as young married anymore.

The kids polishing their newly picked Red Delicious.

"Apple Cake" made with crushed apples.
Cider is made from freshly squeezed apples, juice is boiled.

Artprize 2013

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          Our second year of Artprize greeted us with warm weather and lots of new art to vote on. I easily voted on one out of three entries I saw last year, maybe it was the rookie in me, who got easily excited and impressed by what I see. I realized sometimes I would vote after I talked to the artist, as if they would know one way or another if I voted on them. I call it the guilt vote. Really though I never voted on something I didn't think was at least worth a mention.  Sometimes it is a good guess that an entry isn't going to win, but "hey its pretty neat and isn't something I could do" therefore it gets a vote. 

My Mother-n-law's favorite
made from license plates, a boat wheelbarrow and other odds and ends.

 This year I was much more critical and found myself  texting my vote a lot less.

The living statue. If you put some money in the jar he would come to life and play a song.

Flash Off

Flash On

Nathan and I even got a date day to explore more than we would with the kids.

This entry made the top 10. It is carved out of wood.

Homeschool outing with our friends the Clarks. It was nice going during the weekday, with less traffic.

Earth Giant. I overheard the artist is a college student who after entering went back to college out east and once his professors heard he made the top 25, told him to return to Michigan. He did end up making the top 10 list.

The Winner

I voted for this entry and hoped it would win. I am not sure how I managed it, but after seeing it twice I didn't get my own photo?  It is a four panel quilted image of The Sleeping Bear Dunes.

It took the artist one year to make.  Anne Loveless is a Michigan native.

This is us, summer 2012 at Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Upper Peninsula and Canada

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We visited Pictured Rocks National Forest and made a trip to Canada, the kids first time.

 Bushplane Museum in Sault Saint Marie Canada

Sault Ste. Marie History Museum

Elliot taking a picture of his sister in dress up clothes, she didn't want her photo taken.

The kids liked using the stereograph, the original view finder.

 The Locks on American side

The Pickle Barrel House, originally built for a cartoonist. 

 Jane expressing her love of Grand Marais history

Au Sauble Light House

 We were visiting during the anniversary of the light house. 

They were offering free shuttles and a look inside.

 Keepers and their families would be sent books inside a box like this. They lived on small rations and lived very isolated lives. I can imagine how exciting it would be to get a shipment of books.
  I don't think I would have like being a keepers wife. There were strict rules on the color you could paint the walls and even a specific place you could fold your laundry. To supplement the food they would hunt bear, fish and grow fruit.  I always think how nice it would be for our kids to experience a life with less conveniences and a limited access to accumulating more.
It is easy to say no, when it isn't an option.  

 A windy day on Lake Superior

 The kids completed the Junior Ranger Book

Jane earned three last year during our travels and Elliot earned two, he opted out of the Mammoth Cave badge.

Pictured Rocks Badge

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