Paige's Crossing

Last Friday we took the kids to Paige's Crossing in Columbia City. They had a great time, but DID NOT enjoy the roller coaster! I though that it was going to be a nice, slow, kiddie-type ride. Boy was I wrong! It was a miniature full-fledged coaster! Grace and I loved it, but Colt and Ella were in tears by the time we got off the ride. Colt did, however, love the go karts he rode with Chris - he does love his "racers"!

Adventures with Peter Pan

Saturday, we took the kids to the Botanical Conservatory for the Peter Pan exhibit. It was great!! The kids a blast on the life sized pirate ship. There were sections filled with crafts and games, a snack area where the kids could make an edible fairy wand, and the fairy forest with bubbles. Colt especially liked the bubbles : ) I liked the little crocodile that made a tick-tock sound just like the movie. It was a nice way to get out of the mini blizzard that was hitting us in the afternoon.

American Girl Store/Chicago Girls Only Trip

Last Saturday, the girls and I went with my sister in law, Jennifer, my niece, Anna, and my mother in law, Ruthie to the American Girl Store in Chicago. It was so much fun!! We rode the train out of Waterloo which was a new experience for the three of us. Grace slept almost the whole way there and the whole way back. It was really nice since I didn't have to drive : ) While we were there, we shopped, looked at the sights - Grace was really impressed by the huge skyscrapers! - and looked at all the cool American Girl accessories. Luckily all three girls have a doll, so no one was left out. We also ate lunch there, which was really neat! We had a four course meal - which included cinnamon buns BEFORE the actual meal, much to Ella's delight! - and the food was thankfully VERY kid and mom friendly since we are all pretty picky : ) It was an experience that none of the girls will forget. Hopefully the girls and I will get to go to the store again around Christmas time with my mom if all plans come together. More pictures will come as I get them through email : )

Science Central Day

This weekend we took the kids to Science Central for the first time in five years. We had a great time and Colt really enjoyed the toddler area with the slide and water table. I enjoyed the perpetual motion device - let me tell you that I am WAY too old to be that dizzy! : )

Shipshewana Outing

On Saturday, the girls and I went with my mom to Shipshewana for a small get away. We walked around, did some wishful thinking about some really neat antiques, and ate at The Blue Gate Restaurant. Outside the Blue Gate was a cool koi pond and the girls wanted their picture in front of it and Grace took a really good picture of the koi fish.

Grace's Birthday and the Dunes

On Wednesday, we went to the Warren Dunes in Michigan for Grace's sixth birthday. We were pretty nervous on the way there because storms and clouds were rolling in about half way there, but the day turned out to be a beautiful one! Chris made her a sandy cake and she blew out her six stick candles : ) It was Colt's first time at the big beach and he loved the water and especially the sand - we had to keep a real close eye on him because he kept wanting to throw the sand at everyone (leave it to Colt) : ) We had a wonderful time and got a little sun and best of all, we got to spend some quality family time before school starts next week.

Summer 2010 Zoo Trip

Today we took our annual trip to the zoo. We had very limited time, so we focused on the new addition of our zoo - the African Safari Adventure. We fed giraffes, saw lions, zebras, and monkeys, and saw many beautiful floral specimens. It took about two hours to travel through the entire exhibit and there was a really net sky ride that Chris and Grace rode (Ella, Colt, and I stayed safely on the ground). There was also an exhibit of traditional African drums that the kids really liked! It was a beautiful exhibit and we are very lucky to have such a nice zoo in our city!

Thanks, Maria!!

More Holland, MI pictures...

WOW!! Thanks to Cousin Maria for the collaging tip! This is great!!

Grace and Ella in the Famous Wooden Shoes

These are of the girls in the famous wooden shoes. Ella said "I am a giant!"

Little Dutch Boy

This is Colt in one of the gift shops in Holland, MI. Oh how I'll miss being able to completely embarrass them when they're older : )