Michigan

So Husband turned 40.  And I asked him if he wanted me to have a big party for him and he definitely did not. But we had to do something. The Wicked movie hits theatres in November and even though we adults had seen the show on stage our kids hadn't, and we really wanted them to do so before seeing the movie. 

Scoping out the tour it was going to be in Grand Rapids, MI which isn't too terribly far away from us. When the tickets finally went on sale for the non-season ticket holders the weekend I had planned to buy tickets for didn't have any. So that brought us to Memorial Day weekend. I bought 'em. 

Then we stopped to consider that C's birthday was the next day. And he has ALWAYS loved Penguins. And has always wanted to go to the Detroit Zoo to see the Polk Penguin Conservation Center. So we figured... why not? 

And the Michigan Memorial Day Weekend Trip was born! 

Friday the kids had school. It was supposed to be a fun day but there were storms. The whole school went to their shelters even at the start of the day. 

We left right away after school because we wanted to make it to Indiana. There were storms forecasted and we wanted to get behind there. There was only one point where it was slightly dramatic but luckily we never encountered the storms again.

Inexplicably we stopped at the nicest McDonald's I have ever seen and then proceeded to be stopped in the worst traffic ever for 2 hours outside of Chicago. 

It was at this point I was very very thankful our plan was to just go to Indiana that evening. Our 3.5 hour trip was 5.5 hours long by the end and we rewarded the kids with their very own pool! 

We stayed at 3 hotels in 3 nights. This was the lowest rated hotel. And for the price we paid it was fine! (It was not great but again, for as much as it was I was fine with it.) 

Bright and early the next morning, and I mean like the kids were up by 6:00, we got going. Free continental breakfast was had. Car was loaded up and we hit the road. 

It doesn't take too long to hit the Michigan border. 

Michigan was a lot a lot prettier than I was expecting. It doesn't hurt that it was the most perfect day anyone could imagine. 

After a few hours in the car we made it to Grand Rapids. We drove around a bit to get our bearings and then hit the Gerald Ford Presidental Museum.

M shook hands with Betty Ford outside. 

Have you seen the Gilmore Girl's Stars Hallow Museum? Well this made me laugh out loud. It reads: Replica of baby dress possibly worn by Leslie Lynch King, Jr." (That was the name Gerald Ford was given at birth.) Hilarious right? Maybe something that looked like this was worn by the future president. Possibly. 

It was a pretty cool Presidental Museum. Though the timeline and the flow from room to room didn't make a ton of sense. We really liked the cabinet room and learning about how a cabinet is formed and it's purpose. 

The kids also did a scavenger hunt through the museum. Which required them to actually read the information. It was a cool museum and we did get the passport which if you visit all of the museums you can get a prize! 

Right outside the museum across the river was the Performing Arts Center where Wicked was and our hotel. The kids could not get over the fact our fancy hotel was so tall! (It was a really fancy hotel, by far the fanciest they've ever stayed at.) I could not get over how perfect the day was. 68 with no humidity or clouds is my ideal weather. 

After the museum, we went to get lunch at a local pizza place. It was delicious!! 

Then we went to check in at the fancy hotel. It was fancy. 

And the kids were very impressed. As was I. The room was huge. The closet could have fit a twin bed and allowed someone to have their own room. Not kidding. 

This was part of the lobby. We got this pic between two brides getting their wedding pictures. 

We walked to the Cathedral of St. Andrew for Mass. It was gorgeous. We were a little cranky from the walk but we were glad to be there. Grand Rapids is a lovely little city. We quite enjoyed it! 

And no lie, it was a particularly great homily. Like I am still thinking about it. And even the kids made a comment about how much they enjoyed the homily. That says something. 

We walked back to the hotel and had a little picnic dinner in the hotel room. Fruit. Croissants. Cheese. Practically French over here. Then we went to Wicked. 

It was fantastic. As we already knew. But the kids didn't. The flying monkeys still creep me out. It's visceral. 

But watching the kids watch the show was so cool. I am so so glad we went! Next time... closer seats. And we are now all even more excited about the movie. For sure we will go on Thanksgiving! 

I love getting mail and our hotel had all these mailbox details. 

We went to sleep in our fancy hotel room and we all slept very well. It had been a long day. But it was a late night and an early morning. C got to open 2 gifts: this video game and hat from my parents. 

By 6:45 we were heading back to the lobby and valet to check out and get the car. I got my own picture to prove that I had been there too. Not a lot of pictures of me from this weekend. 

We had a quiet uneventful drive from Grand Rapids to the Detroit Zoo. Apparently, 7:00-9:00 am on a Sunday morning isn't the road's busy time, go figure. 

And then we made it to the Detroit Zoo. And we walked in and saw the Polk Penguin Conservation Center. When I tell you this kid watched the videos of the building being built. And then the penguins move in. And memorized the tour I am not yanking your chain. 

To say we were excited was an understatement. 

It did not disappoint. 

The rest of the zoo was nice. Not like a life-changing zoo experience like the penguin building but still okay. 

M is our panda lover and she enjoyed the red pandas. Which are the lesser of the pandas but still cute. This was the red panda tree walk. C and I skipped it the second time. 

M was mostly a good sport during the zoo. I was excited that we saw Lions. And Tigers. And Bears. (Oh My!) the day after we saw Wicked. 

Our second time through the Penguins she lost her patience. C and I could have stayed there for hours more. We did stay a long time. Husband and M went off to some other things. 

C made friends with a rockhopper named Opal. She came right down to him and they spent some time together. We have called C a rockhopper for years so this was a very special moment. Opal was very focused on C, she didn't go to any of the other children or react when another girl was tapping on the glass with her coke bottle. 

After we left the zoo, we drove to Ann Arbor for the night. It's just about 45 minutes west of the zoo. We opted to get a ways west to cut down on the driving the next day as well as we figured the kids would be wiped from the day so they wouldn't mind as much. Plus there was a good reason to go to Ann Arbor. 

We got to the hotel at about 3:30 (3:00 check in) and the room wasn't ready yet. So we sat in the lobby for about an hour waiting. It was a very nice lobby but the patience of my children was fading quickly. The room was totally worth the wait though! And we reset the day by taking another good swim! 

Then after everyone showered and dried their hair we went to a birthday dinner at Outback! See our Outback closed years ago and C is still not over it. So we go when we visit my parents. And then THEIR Outback closed. 

Would we have journeyed specifically to an Outback? Likely no. But it was a nice addition to the trip since there happened to be one. (And was part of the decision to drive to Ann Arbor.) 

C's favorite favorite part is the bread. And yes, we got several loaves to go! 

12 years old. And it always rains on his birthday. We just expect it now. Here is the obligatory birthday rain picture. 

Part of the reason the room was so great was because it was huge! Two king beds AND a pull-out. Which meant both kids got their own sleeping space. And since that is what they are used to at home it meant that they both had a REALLY great sleep. Not only were they super tired from two late nights and long days but their own space helped. 

Monday morning we woke up not as early, had a pretty good breakfast at the hotel, and then hit the road. 

The one thing I will say about the people of Michigan is apparently they're lawsuit-happy, or overly cautious, or people aren't that smart or I don't know. Every single bridge had this sign: Bridge Ices Before Road. I mean that's just science but whatever. It became a running joke. 

Also, it was crazy to me how so many of their roads were named 25 Mile Road. 22 1/2 Mile Road. Not the most creative road names. But suddenly Eminem's movie 8 Mile made more sense. 

In the musical Dear Edwina, the opening song is called Paw Paw Michigan. So we stopped for gas in Paw Paw while listening to Paw Paw. 

Mid-afternoon Monday we arrived home and we were happy to be there! But it was a really excellent trip and I am so glad we did everything that we did. Michigan was really great! But remember, the bridge ices before the road! 

A Belated Birthday Letter

Sorry for disappearing everyone. Things have been busy! 

On Sunday, this dude had a birthday and we celebrated him in the best possible way we could have imagined. Because we were traveling I didn't write his letter on time. 

Dear Goose, 

12 seems awfully big. It's a good thing you are still small. Gangly yes, that preteen-ness is there. But I am delighted you're still cuddly. 

The one thing about you I appreciate so much is your consistency. You still love walruses. And penguins. And Disney, Peanuts and Lego... all the things you've always loved. And it makes gift-giving super easy and more complicated all at the same time. You are SO my kid who loves to do laundry and use Downy Unstoppables. The memory of you running towards them in Costco will forever make me smile. I am so glad to experience these moments with you. 

This past year we added a Nintendo Switch to the family and we're working together to navigate healthy screen time limits. And you've surprised me honestly by how well you're doing with it. 

You are still so kind and observant. I know you don't come out of your shell much but those of us who get to know you and love you are the luckiest. You have such a big heart. I cannot believe that you are 12 and I can't believe you are going to middle school! What the heck? 

I am so glad that we got to celebrate you with penguins. Giving you the freedom to spend as much time as you wanted with them was the best I think for you and me. You got to take in the wonderfulness of the penguins and I got to bask in the glory of you. You were so happy and chill. And even with crowds of loud toddlers near you... you just had tunnel vision for the birds. And I got to watch you. It was my absolute favorite seeing you so happy and contented.

I love you so much. I am so glad God put you on this Earth for me to love and know. I hope you had the best birthday! 

Love Mom

What In the World Wal-Mart?

I don't regularly shop at Wal-Mart. 

It's not that I don't appreciate having a location with a million things at deep discounts readily available. But it's just geographically undesirable to our house. 

And has what I consider to be the absolute worst parking lot in town. I am convinced I am moments away from a car accident if I even glance too hard at the lot. Never mind driving in. It makes me nervous and I don't like it. 

But this weekend I got some targeted ads from Wal-Mart. Ranging from crazy to crazier. I have no idea why they thought I would be in the market for such things. Let's take a look at them shall we? 

Okay, so the first one was a commercial soft-serve machine. I do like soft-serve. But I don't own an Ice Cream Cottage so the point is pretty moot. 

Soft serve mix sold separately. 

The next thing Wal-Mart thought I'd like was the $29,990 tiny home kit. With a spiral staircase. 

Let me assure you that should I be interested in spending nearly $30 K it would not be on a tiny home kit. On top of that, it's not even a particularly cute tiny home. Though I do like the blue accent trim. 

Following that curiosity, is this lazy bed. I love sleeping. It's my favorite thing. But this just looks impractical.

Cozy, yes. But how would you clean it? Where would you put it? Is it meant to replace your bed and mattress altogether? Is it meant to come out when you have guests? So many more questions than answers. And I clicked on it... it's not even in stock. They flagged this ad as something for me to see and it's not even something you can purchase!

But then Wal-Mart followed up that bed/couch/pillow thing with a blender that looked old in 1986. It's the off-white color for me. I am pretty sure my parents had this blender. Seriously. 

I supposed everything old is new again. 

Let it be known, I know I am weird. But I always order drinks with no ice. I just don't like things to be too cold and as it melts it waters everything down. So Wal-Mart suggesting this nugget ice maker was funny too. 

You might remember for her 8th birthday, M got a countertop ice maker of her very own. She LOVES ice. And so does Husband. So this suggestion isn't the worst of the bunch but I personally am not that interested in it. 

Another thing I am not interested in: the 5 gallon bucket of pickles.

I honestly don't really care for pickles anyway. And I definitely would have no use for a 5-gallon bucket of them that needs to be kept refrigerated. I am not a restaurant. 

I genuinely don't think our yard is big enough for this inflatable waterslide/pool thing either. It does looks like it would be fun though!! 

But why is it in a desert? Who's running a hose out to this thing? This was the best landscape they could photoshop the slide into? Highly suspect. 

So Wal-Mart. What in the world are you thinking with your targeted ads? At least they were good for a laugh! 

A Low Key Mother's Day

It was about as low-key a Mother's Day as you can get. About a week ago, C decided that we should go see Unsung Hero to celebrate the day. So we did. 

After a sleep-in and my traditional breakfast pizza to start the day. Then time with my family at a movie. 

Now, I don't think any of us knew that it was going to be quite so much about how awesome the Smallbone mom was in their story but it made it even more appropriate. We genuinely enjoyed the movie! 

We also made a list of all the movies coming out in the next few months that we want to see. There are a lot so get used to this particular shot of all of us. 

I hope however you celebrated, you had a great Mother's Day. 

Our Week

Our week started off with a bang. It was the final in-service of the year so no school. Because of that, I introduced the kids to the secrets of Costco. We pulled into the lot at 9:30 and I got gas. I then parked the car in "my" spot. (Does everyone have a spot or general area they prefer in a lot?) 

And we waited. At 9:45 we got out of the car and went to the sidewalk outside of the store. So when the store that was supposed to open at 10:00 opened at 9:50 we were the third set of people in the door. Because I had the kids with me we meandered more than I would have typically. But still, we left Costco at 10:14. The parking lot was now crowded and swarms of people were moving in. 

And we were leaving. 

It is the most magical way to shop Costco. 

The only photo my phone took on Monday was this gem. As M had to clean a particular corner of her room in order to go buy a basketball. 

She did manage to get it clean. She paid for the ball with her own money. Then she played outside for a long time with said ball. 

Tuesday brought a beautiful day. I wore the truth on my shirt when we went to piano. 

And then we went to Cracker Barrel because it would have been fiscally irresponsible not to. 

We had a gift card and kids eat free promotion. By girl math, it was a free meal. 

Wednesday was our last Family Faith night and I spent the day crafting a giant rosary out of pool noodles. 

And any time you can pray as a large group life is pretty good right?!

Yesterday I went with my friends to see Lauren Daigle in concert. 

Was it my smartest choice to go with my friends an hour and a half away to see a musician that is fine but not my favorite? Probably not. But I am still glad I went. 

We had determined in December when we got the tickets that we'd stay under $100 a ticket and honestly, I thought our seats were pretty great. 

I honestly would have been mad to be on a floor seat because the chairs were set up "to the front" but the stage was clearly in the middle. Taylor Swift managed to figure it out. The poor people on the floor had to keep turning around. 

Ellie Holcomb was the opener. And then when she was done there was a whole drawn-out commercial pitch to sponsor children with a speaker, filmed projections and a DJ underscoring it. It was emotionally gripping. 

But then you guys the speaker said "Let's sponsor 500 kids tonight!" and the volunteers would come out with the pictures of kids to sponsor. And he said, "kids just raise your hands and use your parent's credit card!" I'm all for sponsoring kids but come on. How on Earth can you say that in a crowded venue full of Christian children?! It was uncomfortable and I didn't appreciate the manipulation of small people who cannot actually make that decision. 

Lauren used projections on her screen. And I genuinely appreciated how the lights looked over the crowd. 

While I was off galavanting with my friends my peeps at home were at member night at the museum. 

And they had a really nice time! Apparently, that movie was the best one they've ever seen at the museum so that's fun. I will have to try and catch it. 

Today is May Crowning which has nothing to do with my job and as I don't have a second or eighth-grader also doesn't concern me as a parent! So I just am going to go and sit in the balcony, bask in the cuteness, and call it good. 

These two smiley people brought their flowers for Mary and I hope they have a great Friday. Just as I hope YOU have a great Friday. 

BizTown

So on Friday, C and the other 5th and 4th graders at his school got to go to BizTown. A 4-hour simulation of working and paying bills. It's the culmination of a semester of work. They've learned how to write checks, interview for a job, run a business meeting etc. 

C was hired as the editor of the newspaper. The whole newspaper team was named Bizzy News. 

And I was lucky enough to chaperone for the day at BizTown. Everyone was assigned a different place to work from their child, which I admit, was a good call. 

Oh man, some of the kids were very sweet. But also absolutely clueless. Which, actually, makes them perfect at being CEOs. All the kids had to dress professionally. So C and Husband decided to dress the same. 

C took his job very seriously and even packed his own bag lunch that morning. 

I had to go early for training. 

I was assigned the Professional Offices. In our office we had a CEO and CFO (every office had one of those) a real estate agent, investment agent, CPA, Non-Profit Organization Manager and Insurance Agent. 

Other businesses included: radio station, newspaper, cafe, factory, bank, ag center, health and wellness center, municipalities, variety shop, City Hall, 

Every role had its own checklist and tasks they were meant to complete and all together the teamwork would lead to each business paying off its loan and hopefully turning a profit. Many businesses even had goods to sell and small storefronts for the kids to use their paychecks on. 

Here was C coming to sell me a subscription to the newspaper. 

Here he was at his break waiting in line to mail his letter. (Everyone was in charge of writing a letter to someone prior to coming to BizTown. The mail carrier delivered them all.) 

Here he is hard at work at his office. 

This is when he was out and about shopping for some of the junk treasures one can buy with BizTown money. 

During the second "town meeting" he was recognized as being one of the hard workers and got an extra $2! 

At the Professional Office, the things kids learned was that "Work is hard." And "I just liked the lunch break." My favorite was "There's a lot to remember to get a job done, pay the bills and still have fun." 

Each kid was given timed breaks and that is when they could shop, vote, go to the bank and get money, eat lunch, mail their letters... etc. 

I was most surprised by how kids I wouldn't expect to be hard workers totally rocked BizTown and how poorly some of the other kids did, who I would have expected to be great. So another real-life lesson there. 

All in all, a great field trip and hands-on learning experience for them! I can't wait for it to be M's turn. 

I Made It!

 This weekend was a long one for me! First Communion. 

3 Masses. 41 kids. 

4 last-minute baptismal candles were needed. 

And in the end, all these sweethearts received Jesus for the first time! 

If you're looking really closely at these pics on the steps you can see me. Or my hands. See I am the person standing on the other side of the door keeping people out of the pictures. 

I will tell you, it was 100% less stressful than it was last year. I think simply not having a first communicant of my own is primarily the reason. But even still. I got to Friday and I was convinced I had forgotten to do something. (I hadn't.) 

I took a good nap yesterday afternoon!