Around Saginaw, MI

Our home base while in Michigan was at my cousin Sharon's house in Saginaw.  It was just outside the city and right in their back yard was a tree farm the kids loved wondering through.  The funny thing was on the way they had to stop off at the raspberry patch and get their stomach's full.

Sharon decided to make up some Apple Cider Jelly and Kaia was all over that!  She loves to help in the kitchen.  I am sure she wished her mom (me) did more cooking.

About a mile down the road from their house was this farm that had this great selection of fruits and vegetables.  I love me some butternut squash and was so excited when these were $1each!  We bought 8 and they made it all the way home to Texas with us. (Once you see everywhere we were after this that will mean more)

 

Kaia and her gourd

Seth and his gourd

One night we went over and visited with our cousin's.

Kids playing in the "pool"

Jim, Linda(my Mom), Dennis, Tom and Sharon

 The kids got a ride from Bob!

 

 Kaia rode with her Grandma to visit all her relatives in the cemetery.

Holland, MI and Lake Michigan

When I was a kid we visited Holland, MI and I still remember how beautiful everything was. I knew that I wanted my kids to see it too so we planned a day trip to see Holland and Lake Michigan!  It wasn't the way I remembered it but we still had fun.  Before we left Texas we knew that we wanted to see and collect water from all 5 Great Lakes and Lake Michigan would be our first one!

My mom watches "Diner, Drive-ins and Dives" on The Food Network and wanted to stop by Rosie's Diner on the way to Holland.

The kids love sitting at the counter!

After breakfast we drove to Holland! 

Here he is explaining how wooden shoes are made.

 Beside the wooden shoe factory they sell bison meat and told us that we could walk back and see the live ones if we wanted too.

After seeing the Bison and buying some bulbs from the other side of the shoe factory we drove to find Lake Michigan.  Note...just because it says park on the gps doesn't mean it is a public park.  

Being the rebels that we are, we drove right past the sign and found the lake.  The Park reminded me a lot of the summer resort in Dirty Dancing but a lot smaller and since it was off season nobody was there! 

Seth, Me and Kaia

Dad

Mom

Lake Michigan   Great Lake #1

Ohio and Michigan

After a week in Louisville we decided to move on to our next destination, but not without a little care package for the road!  A big thanks to Chris for our 2 containers of homemade chocolate chip cookies!  I bet I actually gained weight in Louisville from all his great cooking!

My cousin Chris and I

Not to far up the road we made it to Ohio!  We noticed a slight change in temperature!

The welcome center going into Michigan didn't have a sign but when we arrived to my cousin's house we were greeted with a  raspberry crunch!  Everything was alright with the world then!

This is where all the raspberries came from.  Fresh from their backyard! 

We weren't there 10 minutes before my kids had buckets collecting more.  I think more went into their mouths.  I sure can't blame them! YUM!!!

More garden goodness!

They had a few pumpkins that they gave to the kids.  How cool it get pumpkins from the source. 

 They couldn't wait to dig into their quill and ink set they bought from The Gateway Arch.  We made some parchment paper from crumpled paper and stained it with strongly brewed tea.

Unschooling Rocks!!!

 Yum!

Bronners

While in Michigan we visited Bronners Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth.  I remember visiting this store as a kid and again when I was pregnant with Seth.

The kids in the Nativity Scene!

I just love this!

Crazy Girl

I think he hung up on her for trying to kill his reindeer.

The nutcracker is trying to cut her.

This one was a little nicer.

We want this for our yard!

Mom, me and Kaia

Covered Bridge in Frankenmuth.