Indian Springs Metropark

On Saturday, we decided to scrap working in the yard and just wanted to go do something fun as a family. We've been trying to go biking as much as possible lately, so we decided to take a trip down to White Lake to the Indian Springs Metropark. They have an 8-mile paved bike path loop, a splash pad, golf course, nature center, nature trails, playground, fence maze, and much more. We took a picnic lunch, our bikes, and swimsuits and headed down there. Its only about 25 minutes from our house, so its not a bad trip at all. We decided to buy an annual metropark pass so we can make many trips back to Indian Springs and to check out the other metroparks.

The bike path is very nice at Indian Springs. Its an 8-mile loop, mostly through the woods, so it can get buggy (the deer flies were bad on Saturday), but it wasn't unbearable or anything. We really had a great time. We are all really enjoying our bikes this year. Carson loves either riding in the bike trailer or riding his own bike. We take the trailer when we go biking as a family mostly, until we know Carson's little legs could keep up on his bike. We've been trying to get out for bike rides a couple of times a week lately. Kevin has also started mountain biking with his buddies one night a week. They are really loving that. They've been going out to Holly Recreation Area and riding the intermediate level trails trying to work up to the expert trails.

After biking, Carson got suited up and we hit up the splash pad. Its no where near as nice as the one at Bicentennial Park in Grand Blanc, but it was still fun and provided a much-needed cool-off for all of us. Carson was totally loving the splash pad, running through the water sprays, sticking his head in, and laughing and squealing the whole time.




After the splash pad, Carson and Kevin made their way through the fence maze. Carson led the way and did so good! He made very few wrong turns, we were amazed!






It was a wonderful family outing for the afternoon. We can't wait to go again and to check out the other metroparks, too! Its going to be so fun!

Splash Pad at Bicentennial Park

Friday was my flex day, so Carson and I wanted to do something fun. Its been crazy at work lately and Carson has been noticing. When my blackberry rings and I have to take a work call when I'm home, Carson will often come over and climb up on my lap after the call is over. He'll say "please don't talk on your blackberry anymore, Mama. Its not fair to me." I'm not sure where he heard the not fair piece, but he's right and it totally breaks my heart. So we both just wanted to have a fun flex Friday together. So we called Aunt Julie on Thursday to see if they'd be interested in doing something fun. They were and we decided to meet at the Bicentennial Park splash pad in Grand Blanc on Friday afternoon.

Carson didn't take much of a nap beforehand, so he was quite tired when we went. Therefore, he was kind of timid and didn't know what to think at first. He warmed up and ended up really having a great time with Anna and Joel! They were all loving it! Even Jonah got to enjoy the splashing a little bit. The kids were bummed to leave, but after nearly two hours in the sun and water, they got some really good, fun times and memories in. Carson was exhausted once we left and crashed soon after. But he is still talking about the fun time he had with his cousins at the splash pad!

Father's Day Weekend

Still playing catch-up here. Next up... Father's Day weekend.

First of all, happy (belated) father's day to all the dads out there! We spent our weekend with lots of family. On Saturday, we took a trip out to Hudsonville to visit Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Van Heukelum. When we pulled into their driveway, Carson immediately noticed all the garage and barn doors on the farm. He got out of the car and stood there in awe, saying "Oh my, look at all these garage doors! I wonder what is in them all." I told you he has a strange obsession with garage doors. :)

We had a great visit with Great Grandpa and Great Grandma. Carson had a lot of fun playing with all their toys and taking Great Grandma's hand to walk around the house with her. We got to explore the big barn a little. Carson loved the tractors, especially the big Farmall.

When we left the farm, we headed over to Aunt Mary's and Uncle Justin's to pick up our beef order. Unfortunately, Rebecca was sick, so we couldn't stay to play, but it was nice to see them for a few minutes, at least.

On Sunday, we headed out to Aunt Jeri's house on the lake for a family party. The weather was great (and hot), so we spent lots of time out on the water. Carson and Mackenzey (each with their dad) both got to go tubing for the first time! Neither of them cried or acted too scared, so we think it was a success! And Carson has been talking about how much fun tubing was ever since, so we think he must have liked it. He's also been saying he wishes we had a boat since he had so much fun. :)





Kevin got to go slalom skiing and got to drive the Ski Nautique, so his day was made! He was grinning for several days after. :) Can you tell we really miss our boat? Hopefully we'll have another boat again someday, but only time will tell.

The Best $3 Garage Sale Find

Nana picked up this easel at a garage sale a few weeks ago. She only paid $3 for it! Fantastic! Carson LOVES it and draws on either the chalkboard or white marker board at least once every day. He's our budding Van Gogh. :) This is our best garage sale find yet this year!

Auntie Jaime and Uncle Jeff!

Auntie Jaime and Uncle Jeff were in Michigan for a week this month. We were lucky enough to see them several times while they were home. Jaime and Sara went to get pedicures together one day. We all went to a party at a friend's house another night. And we joined them for a couple of hours at the lake for Jaime's brother's high school open house another night. We had a great time with them and already are missing them badly and can't wait to see them again! Carson is still talking about them and about how we got to take Jack (their dog) home to his grandma's house one night. And he still remembers eating his snow cone with Uncle Jeff. :)

Memorial Weekend 2010

I am very behind on posting. Sorry about that. Let's see if I can do some catching up.

We'll start with Memorial weekend. We spent Saturday working outside all day long, finishing up the raised flower beds on the north side and front of the house. Its part of a larger landscaping project we're working on this year, which also involves tilling, grading, and seeding our entire front yard. We're still not completely done, but we're getting there. We're seeding the yard in thirds (b/c we don't have time to water more than a third on a work night). The first third is done and is growing quite well. I think we'll be seeding the second third this week.

On Sunday of Memorial weekend, we went out to the lake for some swimming in the morning. In the afternoon, we went over to Kevin's parents' house for a family party with most of the fam. It was nice to be together and the kids all had a lot of fun together, as always. They played out in the yard for quite a while, playing soccer, running around, climbing trees, and just hanging out. Carson loves his cousins so much!


Then on Memorial Day, we went out to the lake to my Aunt Sharon's house for a family party. Carson had a blast in the water and had fun playing with Gabe. He is such a fish! He was going to go on a ride on the jet ski, but just as we were about to go, a storm blew up. We'll have to try again later this summer.

Carson is growing up so fast! He is still changing so much. He is constantly learning new things. And he continues to be very physical. He has just about mastered riding his Trek bike and his trikes. He pedals and pedals and pedals, round and round and round. And he's fairly good about knowing what is left and right when you tell him to turn one way or the other... although he does still get them confused sometimes... but then again, so do I! :)

Carson also loves to play matching/memory games. We have two different ones that he plays and he is so good! He remembers where the match is even when Mama and Daddy don't! He also loves his Chutes 'n Ladders game and is learning the rules pretty well. We still haven't gotten his Candyland game out yet. We'll have to try that one of these days.

I have never seen someone so obsessed with garage doors as Carson, either. He loves to call them out while we are driving down the road, whether they are open, closed, clean, dirty, and what color they are. He is so funny.

Carson is very expressive and full of emotion. He quite often will exclaim he "just loves" something. Whether its a pair of shoes, the kitty or dog, a toy, etc. He'll pick it up, hug it, and say "I just love this!" All with a cheesy grin on his face. :)

I know there is more that I need to catch up on, but this is all for now. I'll try to update some more this week.

A Little Boy and His Water Gun

What is it with boys and guns? I do believe they are born with some intuition about guns. We have never shown Carson how to use any type of gun and we have been careful in what we watch on television, yet he will walk around and pick up sticks pointing them in the air like guns. I figured there was no use keeping it from him anymore at this point, so we picked up some water guns for him to use this summer. He knew right away what to do with them... with absolutely no instruction from Kevin or me. And he has been having so much fun with them! Whether its just shooting them in the air, shooting us or Jet, or running around screaming and giggling shooting whomever he can. :) He especially loved running around with Anna and Joel this past Saturday in our backyard!