June 15, 2009 Summer Fun

Finally a warm enough day to get the pool out. The kids had a great time using the slide to splash around. They even made the hose into a waterfall from the top of the play gym - they realized they could slide faster when the slide was wet.

This is the last picture to be shown of our good and faithful pool. I purchased this pool the year Nicholas was 1 (see below). So after 6 complete summers of use - the pool finally gave up the ghost and wouldn't hold air anymore. Thanks for the memories.

June 5 - 9, 2009
Channel Park - Muskegon

We have been to Channel Park several times in past years, as well as earlier in the 2009 season. In talking about our experiences, Grandma and Grandpa had expressed interest in camping there with us so we chose this weekend to take them up on it. We had a great time and really enjoy being near the water and the boats.

Muskegon Channel

Seeing as the cost of getting ice cream at the Ruth-Ann's is getting more and more expensive we have started bringing our own ice cream - this weekend's special treat was Drumstick cones.

One of the things we have grown to like about camping at some of the Michigan State Parks in the summer is their Young Explorer Program. They have a DNR Ranger designated to teach the kids about different things at the park. On Saturday, the Young Explorer program offered a hike around "Lost Lake". It was quite the hike, so just Paul and Nicholas went. Nicholas is definately our little hiker and enjoyed every minute. They saw many interesting plants and insects that the ranger was able to point out.

This was also a momentous morning for Gabrielle. While Nicholas and Paul were on their Young Explorer hike - Grandma and I took the other kids for a walk. Gabrielle kept commenting to us that more and more often she wasn't hearing her training wheels touching the ground. When we returned to the campsite we asked her if she wanted to try taking her training wheels off. She agreed, excitedly, and so we obliged. We figured it would be a while of trying and that by the time Paul returned she might be getting close. What we didn't expect was for her to just take right off. I think I held onto her bike for about 3-4 steps, then she took off and continued all the way around the block. She had an incredible surprise for Papa when he returned from their hike. I think she probably rode around that block 100 more times throughout the weekend.

Given that it was a cooler weekend and we weren't putting in beach time or anything, we decided to take the kids mini golfing.

Nicholas got 3-4 hole in ones through the afternoon.

and Allison got 2-3 hole in ones herself.

While on one of our many walks - Sam decided he really enjoyed Grandma's tea.

Allison carried Grandma's camping lantern around with her almost non stop all weekend. She thought it was just the coolest thing.

After a couple of year hiatus - we took a drive down to 'The Block House' - the kids always seem to like running around, chasing each other and looking out the windows.

Although it wasn't beach weather this weekend - we had to check out the beach anyway. As usual the kids seem to have the most fun at the beach when they aren't "supposed" to get wet. What is it about getting your clothes wet that is so much fun? Is it that they feel they are getting away with something? One of the funniest things was that the kids (but especially Sam) continued to run around trying to hold their pants up even after they were already soaking wet.

I think Allison is in her glory when she is laying on her belly in the sand and water.

Last walk together before Grandma and Grandpa went home a day earlier than we did.

What's a camping trip without more ice-cream. We had noticed earlier that the nearby corner store offered specialized flavors of soft-serve ice-cream. So, while Grandpa finished getting the trailer ready to go home we headed out try it out. They had so many flavors to pick from and you could have it mixed with either vanilla or chocolate. The kids loved it.

After Grandma and Grandpa left, we headed out to a bike trail that runs along the causeway and the other side of Muskegon Lake and continues down near Heritage Landing. We had wanted to try it for quite some time. It was a nice ride with the kids, we stopped for a snack and playground break at Heritage Landing. We would have like to go further and see where the rest of the trail went but the kids were getting tired and it looked like it might rain.

The kids - all wearing their hats. They thought they were pretty cool.

The last hike before we headed home. What a group!!! :)

May 29-31, 2009
Ionia State Park

School's out and our first "summer" camping trip has arrived. The kids had 1/2 for their last day of school so we were able to head out at a decent hour. We had never been to Ionia State Park but found we liked it very much. Most of the campsites are surrounded by bushes, trees and long grasses that separate you from your neighbor so you don't feel like you are right on top of them. There is a small man made lake surrounded by some beautiful scenery. You have to drive from the campground to the lake (within the park) but there is a nice beach house with bathrooms right there.

We headed down to the lake on the first night to see what is was like.

On Saturday we went for a hike. Their was a trail that went all the way around the lake. The very first part was wooded and brought us down to a look out deck on the lake. Then we had to walk across the bridge on the road and the trail continued for quite some time through the fields on a nicely mowed pathway. We enjoyed finding many different types of flowers.

Nicholas' favorite part of camping is hiking. Just past the halfway portion of the trail, it became wooded again and we saw signs that told of the Tall Creek Bridge being down. Paul and I wanted to turn back because we didn't want to walk another mile or so only to find we needed to turn around. Of course, Nicholas wanted no part of turning back - so even though he was told if the bridge was down we would have to turn around and walk all the way back he wanted to continue. Nicholas and I continued alone while Paul headed back with the other kids.

This is what was left of the bridge. I originally decided we could take off our socks and shoes and cross the creek in the water (as I am no gymnast to try that balance beam), but just before we tried to cross a couple of fisherman who had done the same thing as us came and helped us across.

Although, the water was still quite cold - the kids did have a little fun playing in the water for a short time and enjoying the beach.

Because we don't actually go on a public road from the beach to the campground, we let the kids ride in the back of the truck on the way back. The thought it was pretty cool.

Sam learned how to pedal his bike on his own, on this trip.

They also enjoyed the swings.

May 26, 2009 Kindergarten All Day Field Trip

Being a part-time working mom and also having young kids at home, I am unable to go on some of the kids field trips. However, I am trying to work it out so I can go on the All Day Field Trip for each of the kids when they are in Kindergarten. (Gabrielle gets to go twice because the Young 5s class is included in this event). Each year this field trip consists of a morning at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum, followed by lunch and playground at a township park right by their next destination, which is an afternoon at the Fredrick Meijer Gardens Children's Park.
It was cool, but dry and a wonderful time was had by all.

They had enough parent volunteers that I was responsible for just Gabrielle and her friend Emily for the day. They had a great time together.

The bus ride to the museum.

This was a big hit with Gabrielle, following the pattern to build her creation.

Gabrielle and Emily

Can any child spend a day at the museum without doing some grocery shopping?

Gabrielle and Emily by the fountain

Playing with the boats.

Rolling down the big hill...

May 24, 2009 - Family Day of Fun in Greenville

If you haven't figured it out by now we absolutely LOVE camping and biking. However,we are unable to camp EVERY weekend - so we have been trying to find fun things to do on the weekends we are home.

This particular weekend we decided to head out to find the Heartland Bike Trail near Greenville for a nice bike ride. We packed a lunch and found a cute neighborhood park in the city of Greenville to eat and play a little before finding the bike trail.

Veteran's Memorial Park
Greenville, MI

Well, we had trouble locating the trailhead for the Heartland Trail, so we stopped at a gas station and asked for directions. She gave us directions - but to the wrong trail. She sent us to the trail head of the Flat River Trail. We were not disappointed however, because it was beautiful. The entire trail ran right alongside the river. We saw many flowers and trees, and were even able to see people kayaking and canoeing down the river. It was an absolutely perfect day. (After our ride, we did drive around and finally found the Heartland Trail and hope to go back there sometime)

May 22, 2009 - Tandem, Child Style

When we first got married, Paul and I had a tandem bike and we loved to head out together for a ride. However, the kids came around and we sold it. However, lately Gabrielle has started to express interest in getting out of the bike trailer when we go for family bike rides but can't keep up with us on her own bike. Paul and I had just recently started talking about looking into a Tag-A-Along bike for her. Low and behold, our neighbor across the street was selling one at her garage sale and we picked it up. Gabrielle loves the bike and we are looking forward to using it for several years to come.

May 18, 2009 Kindergarten Visitation Day

Even though, Gabrielle's Young 5's class was considered a Kindergarten class in many ways (like field trips, etc) she will actually go to Kindergarten next year. Ravenna has an All Day Every Day Kindergarten program that was part of our decision to send her to Young 5's this year.

Each year, the school cancels class for the current Kindergarteners for a day - and next year's Kindergarteners visit their class rooms. It gives the kids a chance to see the class rooms and meet the teachers, interact with other kids and they do some activities that help the teachers assess the children's readiness for Kindergarten and make recommendations to parents if needed.

Cutting out and coloring an elephant after reading a book about the elephant with Mrs. DeBoer.

Musical numbers in Mrs. Oleson's class

Playing a name game and a shape game with Ms. Doane

May 21, 2009 - Young 5's Class Picnic

Gabrielle's class had their class picnic on a beautiful day. I had a meeting at work that evening and needed a babysitter for a few hours in the afternoon, as well as help setting up a garage sale that afternoon, so.... Grandma happy obliged to help with the babysitting and garage sale and since she was already heading out to Ravenna, she was able to join us for Gabrielle's fun day.

Gabrielle and her friend Emily having lunch

Sam and Allison thought they were pretty cool getting t have lunch with the big kids too.

One of the parents arranged for each of the kids to make a Creative Memories scrapbook page for Mrs. Carroll, their teacher. She then bound the pages into a book and they gave it to her at the picnic. They had a starter sentence on each page that the kids finished including memories they had of their school year and of their teacher. It turned out really cute and Mrs. Carroll loved her gift.

Mrs. Wagner has a double role. She not only volunteers in the library at school and did their story time each week - but she is also the grandmother of one of Gabrielle's classmates. She gladly joined the celebration and brought a few books about picnics to read to the kids on the lawn.

Sam and Allison did not want story time to end. They didn't want to leave - so Mrs. Wagner happily reached into her bag and read the 2 of them another book.