Jodie and the girls visit

Jodie and the girls were able to stop over our place for a couple of nights. 

We visited the GR public museum -featuring Legos

Jane, Jez, Zoee

I liked the replica of the GR public museum. 

We appreciated our first real Chinese food in two years.
Mapo Dofu prepared by Jodie, it was delicious! 

Spring?

According to the calendar, Spring arrived on March 21st, now we just need the weather to look at a calendar and realize it is time to let the sunshine and stop the snow from falling. 

The good news, thanks to a wetter snow the kids were able to make their first snowmen.

The Titanic Exhibit is currently going on at the Grand Rapids Museum.

Photos aren't allowed inside the actual exhibit. Here is Jane next to a painting of the "unsinkable" ship. The captain was asked to come out of retirement and make this one last trip for the maiden voyage.  He was to be done sailing after they arrived to their destination.

We were given boarding passes of real passengers. When you come to the end there is a list of names and you can see if your person survived.
My name was Sarah Elizabeth I was in second class and I didn't survive. Jane was a 16 year old girl in first class who did survive.   First class ticket cost anywhere from $57,000-100,000 (in today's currency) and third class $900. The tragic of the Titanic prompted changes in laws and regulations that has saved lives on the Atlantic for a hundred years.

riding the carousel

BUTTERFLIES AT THE GARDENS

When we now walk into the conservatory and see the banana plants, bamboo and feel the warm, humid air, it reminds us of Hong Kong. 

Desperately trying to get a butterfly to land on him. 

Outside of the conservatory we are are quickly reminded we don't live in the tropics.

Snowball fight outside the cabin

 The Kids at the Gardens in 2007

Look at those chubby faces! I hope the gardens will be a fond memory to the kids when they are older and look back on their childhood. 

Museum and Skating

This was taken this past summer when I met up with Kim (far left)   Mandy and their kids for a fun time of skating.

We spent a couple of days with Kim and the girls during their Christmas break from school. One place we visited again was Tarry Hall skating rink.

A fun part of skating, taking a break in the snack bar.  Emma and Elyse are in between Jane and Elliot in age and grade. 

Snowflake making

The Joslins have a pass to the museum like us, we met up with them to take advantage of their Holiday activities.

The kids had a pattern over a tin plate and made dots to create an image.

Bowling

 Elliot and I had a ring toss contest, I could only get one on.

I love walking through the part of the museum that features the old shops of Grand Rapids. This printer was demonstrating how the press works. He made beautiful cards that were free to take.
  One said Happy New Year and the other was a book mark that featured the Tigers baseball name and their 2012 season stats, which took them to the World Series.

Members now get free carousel rides, so we rode it more than once.

 Michigan made root beer -free samples. Elliot really wanted to take home a bottle, but at $5 each he decided not to spend his money on it.

We love skating and visiting the museum but it is always more fun with friends.

tasteslikepaint from outypants on Vimeo.