What We Did Wednesday-Michigan Part 1

I think everyone needs a place they can visit that is totally relaxing.

Not a luxury vacation spot.

Rather, a family spot, where life is simpler.  

For us that is my grandparents home in Michigan.

For my birthday this year (a few weeks back...) my grandparents flew Bud, Bitsy, and myself out to visit for 9 whole days!

It was there first time meeting their great granddaughter.

She's their only great grandchild

The first full day we were there was a beautiful and balmy 70º.

We took the opportunity to stow away to Grand Rapids and enjoy the outdoors and one of the museums there.

Part of the museum is set up just like old Grand Rapids used to look.

They encourage touching and being interactive.

There are even people in some of the stores and business that show what they used to do.

Including an old printing press where the volunteer was making actual book marks for the museum!

It was pretty interesting to see how calculated each plate must be and how they did multi colored items.

The feature exhibit was all about beer.

This was one man's collection of beer cans from all around the world and from varies time periods.

I thought this was interesting.

It showed where each beer stems from.

One of the best parts of the museum is by far the carousel.

It's the same carousel I've ridden since I was a child.

We were fortunate to be the only ones on it!

Grandma snapped a quick family photo of us.

I think Bitsy liked it ;)

(pssst....someone told me that the giraffe appears to be photo bombing this picture!)

She got to ride the horse that went up and down.

The lights and music had her attention 100%...okay maybe 90% since we did get a few pictures.

Daddy was holding Bitsy tight....

Uh....Dad....make sure she doesn't lick the horse.

Ewww!

Crazy child!

I had to get a picture on that giraffe, he was my favorite.

When on vacation many people sleep in.

Not me.

I'm not wired for it.

The good part about that though is that it meant I got to steal away for an hour or so with my Grandma each morning.

She would make us lattes with her fancy coffee machine and we would sit and chat.

Some mornings it was light hearted conversation, others were deep and more serious.

I walked away from each one with a wonderful appreciation of who my Grandma is.

This is the view from my Grandparents back porch.

The first days we were there the leaves were full of colorful trees.

Towards the end of our vacation the leaves had all fallen off.

No matter where we lived growing up, and we lived a lot of places being military, this was and always will be home.

It's the only place that has remained constant in my life.

This is the view from the pond up towards my grandparent's home.

I love this land.

I love this home.

Our time there was a wonderful time of rest and relaxation.

One day during Bitsy's nap....Bud may have been napping too....I stowed away to snap a few pictures...and to sit on the dock of the pond and revel in the calm quietness.

Below are a few pictures of the turkey's my Aunt is keeping in my grandparents coop.

These ladies were funny.

We would practice our turkey calls on them and they would gobble right back as though we were carrying on a wonderful conversation.

Bitsy thought they were funny.

Heck, I thought they were funny too...

and honestly I thought they were kinda cute.

One afternoon there was a fox hanging out by the shed.

I went out and stalked him.

This was the closest and best shot I could capture of him.

In all the years I've been to my grandparents I've seen deer and wild turkey, but never a fox.

Another wonderful thing about vacation is that you get to do special things.

Special things like allowing your daughter to have her 1st taste of ice cream....

...so everyone can see her reaction.

Even she's not sure what she thinks.
But it was fun to try.
We bought ice cream cones just for this.
Since our child refuses to be fed from a spoon/fork/utensil of any kind...we had to give her a way to do it herself.
Let me tell you, my family didn't believe me that went straight from milk to solids.
Not solids like pureed food either...solids like food she can pick up and put in her mouth on her own.
They got a kick out of it though.

I'll be back next week to show you some of the family.
Where is your get away spot?
How often do you get to stow away to said location?
I try to get to my grandparents ever couple years.

I hope you had a Blessed Wednesday!

P.S. I'll be posting a special giveaway next!