Family trip to Niagara Falls Jul 2010

It has been 10 years since we took our first trip to Niagara Falls with 18 month old Aubrey, so we decided to go back. It was a little more complicated this time due to the new border crossing requirements. We were restricted to the US side because we didn't get passports in time. We still has a great time though. Everyone enjoyed our ride on the Maid of the Mist. We also visited the Daredevil museum which highlights people who have gone over the Falls (accidentally and on purpose). Some of the contraptions they built were quite interesting. The footage of the Falls and the Canadian buildings are courtesy of Aubrey. She had a lot of fun trying to capture the ambiance of the area.

More Mud Day

Aubrey really likes the video of her and Aidan trying to chase down Carsten. So here it is...

Hines Park Mud day 2010

Every year Hines Park in Westland,Michigan sponsors a mud day. They mix 20,000 gallons of water with 200 tons of topsoil and let the children run wild. Even though they celebrated their 25th anniversary this year, it was our first visit. Aubrey and Aidan were the most daring, Carsten eventually joined in, but Lauren remained steadfastly opposed to the whole event. She sat on Daddy's shoulders looking as appalled as she could. For weeks afterward she would absently mutter, "Aubrey so muddy". She was obviously scarred. Unfortunately that probably won't keep us from going next year too.

April Fools for Aubrey

Aubrey is getting wise to our plans for tricking her each year. This time we had to enlist outside help. Luckily her band teachers were quite willing. Merrill made a chocolate mold of her tuba mouthpiece. We arranged with Mr. Bartley and Ms. Smith to replace her actual mouthpiece with the chocolate one and have Aubrey discover this at the beginning of band class. We're told she was very surprised. After finding the homemade mouthpiece Aubrey didn't immediately realize it was chocolate. She thought maybe something bad had happened to her loaner instrument and she was going to be responsible. Her thoughtful teacher let her squirm a little longer by saying "Aubrey, what have you done?" After a few (seemingly long) moments the teacher pulled the actual mouthpiece out of his pocket with an attached note that read "Happy April Fool's Day love Mom and Dad". Aubrey was able to drown whatever lingering concerns she had in chocolate.

Horseshoe Curve

While in PA we visited the Horshoe Curve National Historic Landmark. This was a great place to take the kids. We were able to see something that interested the adults and had plenty of room for the kids to roam. Aubrey especially liked the long staircase.

Pool Time with the Abbotts

We have really missed our good friends the Abbotts since they moved away. A chance came up recently to meet them in Pennsylvania so we jumped at it. We stayed in the same hotel and had so much fun playing together in the pool. My cousin Becky (who live in PA and my kids just adore) was able to join us too, so we were doubly excited.

Lauren's Pockets

Lauren recently discovered some of her pants have pockets. She is excited about this. Lauren and Merrill were making the most of their pockets here in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

U.S.S. COD Submarine

We recently went on a family vacation to Pennsylvania and Ohio. We stopped in Cleveland to tour a submarine called the U.S.S. COD (www.usscod.org). The retired servicemen were a bit brash, but very knowledgeable. They softened a little when Aidan asked them to babysit his butterflies while we toured the submarine. The gentleman said, "Yes, but don't ever tell anyone I did it". Aidan agreed, but I didn't!

Aubrey's Icicles

After an afternoon of swim team and a brisk walk home during February in Michigan, Aubrey found a surprise. She had grown her own icicle on the end of her braid. She was quite proud of it.



Aubrey at the synchronized swim meet.

Lauren's tongue

Lauren seems to disproportionately target the mouth part of her body when she gets injured. The most recent incident involved a tumble from the top bunk. Luckily Carsten grabbed her and softened the impact. Her tongue was still met with some sharp baby teeth though. The ENT said unless the tongue is almost separated they just let it heal on it's own. Two weeks out she is doing much better, but we still don't like looking at it.

Aidan's first loose tooth

Aidan recently lost his first tooth. He pulled it out himself and the tooth fairy brought him a dollar for it.

Aidan's half birthday

Aidan's half birthday was on 10 Feb. We are inconsistent with our half-birthday celebrations, but Aidan was lucky this year. We baked a "half-cake" and everything.

Ice Fishing

Merrill took the three oldest kids ice fishing for the first time on Feb 13th. This was the Independence Lake Ice Fishing Derby. We didn't win any prizes, but the kids had fun fishing and spending time with friends. The warming hut was a favorite spot.

A snowman for Connor

One of our more interesting family traditions is each year we go build a snowman at the Arborcrest cemetery for Connor. The kids decided that since we usually build them at our house, he should have one too. This year Aubrey designed it. She did a great job finding odds and ends around the house to decorate him with.

Playing in the snow

We finally had enough snow and time for the kids to have some fun. Lauren is enjoying the first winter she is old enough to play outside.