Sunday, November 2, 2008
Go Green!
Just have to post to say woo hoo! MSU football beat Wisconsin yesterday with a Field Goal with 9 seconds to go- we won by one point! MSU is now 8-2 with losses to Ohio State and Cal...but one of those wins is from last week when we beat Michigan in Ann Arbor- the first time since 1990! 
Liam's first Halloween
We also took Liam to the Mall on Halloween. Josh and I have been going to the mall on Halloween to see the kids in their costumes since we started dating over 8 years ago. This time, we had a little guy of our own, who is too little for the candy anyway, so we thought we would dress him up and take him.
Our plans almost changed because he was sick just before, but he made a recovery- at least his temp was gone- I didn't know it would come back when we got home, but it was gone before we took him. You can tell in the picture of him with the real pumpkin how red his little cheeks were...we did not torture him, just around the mall once and back home in less than an hour.
Trunk or Treat
Josh and I went on Friday night (the 24th) to help set up for Trunk or Treat at our church. Trunk or Treat is where cars park outside and decorate their trunks, and the kids can go from car to car trick or treating. Only our church does it up. BIG. We had no idea how big until we went with our life group to help them set up for a couple of hours on Friday night. They decorated the church to look like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory (from the original movie, not the Johnny Depp one). The décor was complete with the shrinking entrance, working “chocolate” fountain, live birds (for the part where they lay the golden eggs), and shrinking entrance- among other things. Josh helped with the giant machine that shrinks Mike T.V., and I strung candy to hang from the ceiling (yes, it sound easy, but we were working with fishing line- a daunting task). We only helped for a couple of hours, and people had already been working for MONTHS! The event was Sunday night, and there was a GREAT turnout- We stood in line with Liam dressed in his gingerbread costume for two hours to see the final product! Next year, we’ll have to help more!
Here is the entrance to the chocolate factory, complete with shrinkage. The photo isn't very good, but you get the idea.
The chocolate fountain and Augustus Gloup in front of it.
And this is Liam- still happy after standing in line for two hours dressed like a gingerbread man...what a good baby!
Here is the entrance to the chocolate factory, complete with shrinkage. The photo isn't very good, but you get the idea. Here is the factory- you know the part where they are walking through, and everything is made of candy- just before the chocolate fountain? See that candy hanging from the ceiling? That's the part that I helped with. Two hours and I think I made six little strings- so you can imagine how much time others must have spent on this!
The chocolate fountain and Augustus Gloup in front of it. This is the machine that shrunk Mike T.V. and a giant Wonka bar beside it. THis is the part that Josh helped with...
And this is Liam- still happy after standing in line for two hours dressed like a gingerbread man...what a good baby!These are just a few photos, and they certainly don't capture the mood- but the important thing is that there were over 9,000 kids that came through- success!
After the chocolate factory, they went from trunk to trunk in the parking lot to collect candy. The trunks each had a theme. One of my favorites was a giant trailer with huge teeth at the entrance and a little man in a rowboat back behind one of those hangy-things in the back of your throat (Josh isn't here right now, or I'd ask him what that's called- I'm sure he's thrilled with me calling it a hangy thing!) Anyway, it was Jonah in the whale- so cute!
NKOTB Concert!
I have a great mom. I already knew that, and she certainly doesn’t have to buy me anything to prove it, but she did something great for me again. I opened up my email one day at the end of August, and there was an email from my mom- subject: See attached. I opened it up, and there were two printable New Kids on the Block concert tickets- woo hoo! For those of you who don’t know, New Kids on the Block is like the Beetles of the 80’s (oh no, she did NOT just compare New Kids on the Block to the Beetles!). No, not really- not in terms of quality of music or staying power. If I can only listen to once CD for the rest of my life, the Beetles trumps NKOTB-no contest. Just the craze. Every girl loved New Kids on the Block. There were mobs of screaming, crying girls at concerts and others who just had posters, buttons, t-shirts, bed sheets, puzzles, pencils and just about anything else that could be marketed. For those of you who still don’t know who I’m talking about, they sang the songs “Hangin’ Tough” and “Step by Step” among others.
Anyway, so I open my email and am SO excited. I look over at Josh and say “Hey, look where we’re going!”. He frowns and me and says “No, we’re not”. Great. So which of my friends can I call and invite to this jr. high school reunion from the 80’s? It has to be just the right person- old enough to appreciate them for what they really were, but not so young that they missed the craze. And she had to really love them. I texted my friend Karen. I knew I chose the right person when the final text of the conversation was “I’ll be Hangin’ Tough until then!”. And a week later I got another text asking me if she should bring her Jordan Knight (one of the bandmembers) doll. Oh Yeah. This is going to be great!
The concert was on Saturday (the 25th). Karen came over and we drove to the Palace of Auburn Hills. The crowd was Crazy. There were people with the original attire that they saved from the 80’s- I saw a girl with the exact same shirt on that I used to have. People made signs and wore the giant buttons that defined the band. There were legwarmers and side ponytails, and glow-in-the-dark puffy painted T-shirts that said things like “I Still Love you Joey!”. Karen and I took our seats (GREAT seats by the way- 5th row floor) and had a blast going back to Jr. High. A couple even cried when they sang “Please, Don’t go Girl”—seriously. Karen and I went into it with the same outlook- we LOVED these guys in Jr. High, and it will be fun to re-live that time. Some girls did not- they were really still in love with the New Kids. The only problem? I have been singing songs like “My Favorite Girl” and “You’ve Got the Right Stuff” non stop since then. Oh well- what a great night! Oh, and the Jordan Knight doll DID attend the concert with us- see photo
This is Joey- he was my favorite about 20 years ago...in this photo, he's pointing at me, telling me that I'm his favorite girl.
Karen and I with the Jordan Knight Doll- the girls next to us were VERY jealous of Karen's Doll
Fianlly, if you want to see some of the concert for yourself, here is a link that will take you to a youtube video that I uploaded- the sound isn't very good, because it was recorded with my digital camera and not a camcorder, but still, it's way fun. Once I figure out how to post actual videos and not just the links, I'll get some of Liam up here!
Anyway, so I open my email and am SO excited. I look over at Josh and say “Hey, look where we’re going!”. He frowns and me and says “No, we’re not”. Great. So which of my friends can I call and invite to this jr. high school reunion from the 80’s? It has to be just the right person- old enough to appreciate them for what they really were, but not so young that they missed the craze. And she had to really love them. I texted my friend Karen. I knew I chose the right person when the final text of the conversation was “I’ll be Hangin’ Tough until then!”. And a week later I got another text asking me if she should bring her Jordan Knight (one of the bandmembers) doll. Oh Yeah. This is going to be great!
The concert was on Saturday (the 25th). Karen came over and we drove to the Palace of Auburn Hills. The crowd was Crazy. There were people with the original attire that they saved from the 80’s- I saw a girl with the exact same shirt on that I used to have. People made signs and wore the giant buttons that defined the band. There were legwarmers and side ponytails, and glow-in-the-dark puffy painted T-shirts that said things like “I Still Love you Joey!”. Karen and I took our seats (GREAT seats by the way- 5th row floor) and had a blast going back to Jr. High. A couple even cried when they sang “Please, Don’t go Girl”—seriously. Karen and I went into it with the same outlook- we LOVED these guys in Jr. High, and it will be fun to re-live that time. Some girls did not- they were really still in love with the New Kids. The only problem? I have been singing songs like “My Favorite Girl” and “You’ve Got the Right Stuff” non stop since then. Oh well- what a great night! Oh, and the Jordan Knight doll DID attend the concert with us- see photo
This is Joey- he was my favorite about 20 years ago...in this photo, he's pointing at me, telling me that I'm his favorite girl.
Karen and I with the Jordan Knight Doll- the girls next to us were VERY jealous of Karen's Doll
Fianlly, if you want to see some of the concert for yourself, here is a link that will take you to a youtube video that I uploaded- the sound isn't very good, because it was recorded with my digital camera and not a camcorder, but still, it's way fun. Once I figure out how to post actual videos and not just the links, I'll get some of Liam up here!
Cider Mill
“Cider Time” is apparently a Michigan tradition. Josh and I noticed it the first fall that we moved up here. There were signs everywhere for Cider Time, and apple cider (both hot and cold) was available for purchase everywhere- at grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops all over town. There are also excellent donuts called Cider Donuts, that are made with apple cider and some are then covered in cinnamon and sugar- mmm.
The cider is made all over the state, and there are cider mills at apple orchards everywhere. Most of the cider mills are open to the public- you can go and watch them make the cider, buy hot donuts and fresh cider, and usually pick some apples and/or pumpkins too. There are hayrides at some, and haunted houses at others. We have seen nice fall photos and heard stories about some great cider mills in the Lansing area, and even a few of them in Detroit. So we decided to venture to the one closest to our house. Bad Choice!
Apparently we live close to a ghetto cider mill. It reminded me more of a state fair (complete with rides and carnies) and was not at all the quaint fall scene we were going for. People were smoking in the cider building and dogs dressed for fall were accompanying about 50% of the patrons. Many of the patrons, however, were dressed for an outdoor Cheetah Girls concert- wearing very little in the way of clothing (It was a hot day) I did manage to snap these photos of Liam and make it appear that we were in the kind of cider mill that we were hoping for. When I got home, I checked a friend’s blog, where she raved about the great cider mill that they just visited. Oh well, we’ll have to try again next year!
The cider is made all over the state, and there are cider mills at apple orchards everywhere. Most of the cider mills are open to the public- you can go and watch them make the cider, buy hot donuts and fresh cider, and usually pick some apples and/or pumpkins too. There are hayrides at some, and haunted houses at others. We have seen nice fall photos and heard stories about some great cider mills in the Lansing area, and even a few of them in Detroit. So we decided to venture to the one closest to our house. Bad Choice!
Apparently we live close to a ghetto cider mill. It reminded me more of a state fair (complete with rides and carnies) and was not at all the quaint fall scene we were going for. People were smoking in the cider building and dogs dressed for fall were accompanying about 50% of the patrons. Many of the patrons, however, were dressed for an outdoor Cheetah Girls concert- wearing very little in the way of clothing (It was a hot day) I did manage to snap these photos of Liam and make it appear that we were in the kind of cider mill that we were hoping for. When I got home, I checked a friend’s blog, where she raved about the great cider mill that they just visited. Oh well, we’ll have to try again next year!
Trip "Up North"
Josh and I finally went “up-north”. For those of you not from Michigan, up North is just understood. Even though there are several destinations north of us, nobody ever says where they went- it was just “up north”. Our particular trip was for a wedding of a friend of mine (Congrats Amber and Patrick!). After work one Friday, we loaded up the car for a weekend (now that we have Liam, we really do load up the car for the weekend- complete with stroller, pack and play, toys, food, etc.) and drove about 5 hours north to Mackinaw City, Michigan. We looked around and said “OH, so THIS is why people like Michigan!”
It was absolutely beautiful. Mackinaw City is located at the very tip of the lower peninsula of Michigan, on the straits of Mackinac- where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron join. The leaves had started to change color, and the weather was perfect- sunny, but with a bit of a chill in the air- not so cold that we were miserable.
On Saturday, before the wedding, we crossed the Mackinac Bridge. It’s the third largest suspension bridge in the world and connects the lower peninsula to the upper peninsula. We drove around and just looked at the scenery. It reminded us of some of the New England towns outside of the cities in Massachusetts, only it was in Michigan, and the towns were on the lake, not the ocean. The views were great, and we had a blast! We went to the wedding and reception on Saturday and then walked around in downtown Mackinaw City- famous for fudge and ice cream!
On Sunday, we went to Mackinac Island via the ferry. The Island is a great little place where there are no cars or motor vehicles allowed. Everyone either walks, rides a bike, or takes a horse drawn carriage. It’s famous for the Grand Hotel, Fort Mackinac, and the scenery. We went for a hike to see some of the highlights of the island, pictured below.
You will notice a photo of a stuffed monkey- Liam threw it out of his stroller sometime in town on the island, before we had gotten very far. We didn’t notice it until we had hiked up a KILLER hill (me holding Liam and Josh lugging our giant stroller). I hiked back down while Josh stayed at the top to feed Liam. I was asking everyone if they had seen a stuffed monkey, and at the bottom of the hill, I asked a Scottish woman. She said (in a thick accent) “Was he just a wee little’ guy? There was a wee little’ monkey sitting on a post in town.” I hiked back up and told Josh the bad news- that was at least two miles back. We decided to call the monkey a loss and continue on our hike. At the end of the day, when we were going to catch the ferry, the monkey was STILL on the post! We took his photo before we touched him. While we were waiting in line for the ferry, there were several children who said “look mommy, it was his monkey!” They had all wanted to take him home, but their moms wouldn’t let them- one little girl told her mom that if he was still there when they came back in two years, he was going home with them.
The Monkey- just how we found it!
Downtown Area on Mackinac Island
Liam and Mommy by the straits with Mackinac Bridge in the background- scary to drive over!
Liam and Daddy in front of Arch rock- they are blocking the rock, but it's pretty neat!
Fall colors at the lake
It was absolutely beautiful. Mackinaw City is located at the very tip of the lower peninsula of Michigan, on the straits of Mackinac- where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron join. The leaves had started to change color, and the weather was perfect- sunny, but with a bit of a chill in the air- not so cold that we were miserable.
On Saturday, before the wedding, we crossed the Mackinac Bridge. It’s the third largest suspension bridge in the world and connects the lower peninsula to the upper peninsula. We drove around and just looked at the scenery. It reminded us of some of the New England towns outside of the cities in Massachusetts, only it was in Michigan, and the towns were on the lake, not the ocean. The views were great, and we had a blast! We went to the wedding and reception on Saturday and then walked around in downtown Mackinaw City- famous for fudge and ice cream!
On Sunday, we went to Mackinac Island via the ferry. The Island is a great little place where there are no cars or motor vehicles allowed. Everyone either walks, rides a bike, or takes a horse drawn carriage. It’s famous for the Grand Hotel, Fort Mackinac, and the scenery. We went for a hike to see some of the highlights of the island, pictured below.
You will notice a photo of a stuffed monkey- Liam threw it out of his stroller sometime in town on the island, before we had gotten very far. We didn’t notice it until we had hiked up a KILLER hill (me holding Liam and Josh lugging our giant stroller). I hiked back down while Josh stayed at the top to feed Liam. I was asking everyone if they had seen a stuffed monkey, and at the bottom of the hill, I asked a Scottish woman. She said (in a thick accent) “Was he just a wee little’ guy? There was a wee little’ monkey sitting on a post in town.” I hiked back up and told Josh the bad news- that was at least two miles back. We decided to call the monkey a loss and continue on our hike. At the end of the day, when we were going to catch the ferry, the monkey was STILL on the post! We took his photo before we touched him. While we were waiting in line for the ferry, there were several children who said “look mommy, it was his monkey!” They had all wanted to take him home, but their moms wouldn’t let them- one little girl told her mom that if he was still there when they came back in two years, he was going home with them.
The Monkey- just how we found it!
Downtown Area on Mackinac Island
Liam and Mommy by the straits with Mackinac Bridge in the background- scary to drive over!
Liam and Daddy in front of Arch rock- they are blocking the rock, but it's pretty neat!
Fall colors at the lake
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