Day Trip!

Last Sunday Daddy really wanted to do something other than stay home.  Unfortunately, every place he could think of was either closed or only open at night.  Then he thought of a place Mama had wanted to stop on our vacation but was closed at the time.  So, Daddy looked it up and it was open! After church we headed out.  Turns out it was a really neat apple orchard!

Mama was interested in the gemstone mining, but it wasn't really mining.  Daddy had to go buy a bag of dirt from the gift shop and we got to clean it up.  Here I am watching Mama to see what I needed to do...

Trying it myself...

Gotta wash all the dirt away to find the pretty rocks...

Look! I found one!

After we checked out the mining operation, we walked around and checked things out.  There was a little playground area with things for kids to play with.  I made music...

and played on the wooden truck...

and even got silly on the "roller coaster"! (in case you didn't notice, I was going down backwards!)

We also walked around the gift shop, had caramel apples (me) - donuts (daddy) - and peach ice cream (mama), and got to see the cider mill (it wasn't running for the year yet, though).

I had fun and I hope we go back again!

Exploring the Wizard of Oz

Towards the end of summer, Grandpa, Mama, and I went to a local museum that was doing a Wizard of Oz exhibit. Did you know that the Wizard of Oz is very much like the Wizard of Ha's?!? Mama says that is because Veggie Tales based their story on the story of the Wizard of Oz. I think that's pretty neat.

Here I am pretending to be Dorthy...

Gotta gather the eggs. I was actually collecting the eggs to take over to Munchkin-land...

A Munchkin in Munchkin-land!

Picking my brain like the Scarecrow (*Mama singing "if I onnnnlllly had a brain...!"*)

Having just exited a "scary" cave for courage like the Lion...

There was a little display where we could listen to heart sounds and test our heartbeats like the Tin-man, but Mama didn't get any pictures of that.


Here I am helping the monkeys fly...

Pretending to be the Wizard...

And checking out the story of the Wizard of Oz....

That Time of the Year

I have only been waiting FOR-EVER for this day to come. In fact, I even woke Mama up last week because I wanted this day to be here NOW! Finally, I can go back to school. *does a happy Jelly Bean dance* And even better, I now get to go five days a week! YIPPEE!!

Posing for my first day of school picture...

Being silly waiting for the bus. Yes, I get to be a bus rider this year!

And even more silliness...

*a note from Mama - Yes, Jelly Bean *really* is just this excited to be going back to school. As Daddy likes to point out, Jelly Bean is just like Lisa Simpson from the Simpsons. I thought we were going to have a melt down when I told her last week she still had another week until school started.

Trip, Part 5: Heading For Home

All aboard!

This wooden train is so neat!

Near the Mackinac Bridge

We tried to get a family shot, but it turned out kinda funny

Splashing around in the water

Stopped at a rest area. Daddy says this is a candid shot.

Here's the not candid version of the shot!

I hope you've enjoyed all the pictures!

Trip, Part 4: Valley Camp Museum Ship and The Mystery Spot

Looking at the Engine Room of the Valley Camp with Daddy

Looking over the side of the ship from the upper level

At the Mystery Spot - Um... something's wrong here...

Seriously, nothing is holding me. Is the gravity working here?

Getting ready for some more wacky gravity...

The tour guide is getting ready to let go of my chair...

Oh my gosh! I'm totally sitting in the air! Only the back two legs of the chair are even on anything!!!

I'm not sure what was even going on at that mystery spot, but I sure enjoyed myself and even enchanted the tour guide and other members of our tour group.

Stay tuned for one more set of pictures from our trip!

Trip, Part 3: Toonerville Trolley and Tahquamenon Falls

These narrow gauge tracks are just my size!

Normally I'm not allowed to do this!

I'm just so excited to go for a long train ride!

Grumpin' (and watching the water splash from the wheels)

Trying to find that unicorn Mama spotted

Grumpin' some more (and STOP taking my picture!)

Sitting in the engine. This is so cool!

I even got to toot the horn!

Studying my "cattail" near the Tahquamenon River while the engine turned around. Daddy tried to tell me it wasn't a cattail, but I wouldn't listen to him.

Ringing the bell while we waited to head back

Contemplating...

Mama and I on the ride back. I was grumpin' some more (and Mama and Daddy suspect a little tired, too).

Overlooking the Lower Tahquamenon Falls

Mama would like to add that we didn't get any pictures of me at the Upper Tahquamenon Falls because I was being a real grump then. All I wanted to do was go back to our hotel and swim in the pool. Though, I did think it was neat to see the animal skins they had on display near the upper falls. They came from REAL animals!

And still more pictures to come!

Trip, Part 2: Soo Locks

Watching a ship leave the lock

Being my usual self - silly!

Loving that fountain!

Trying to get a better look...

A display at the information center

On our way back to the car, I discovered a slab of concrete that looked like a stage. I jumped up there and asked Daddy to take some pictures. Here I am posing!

More to come!