mid-trip update

We're in Michigan's Upper Peninsula by way of Pittsburgh and Detroit. I'll put together a fuller post when we return, but here's a quick look at the trip so far.

Allegheny County Courthouse, photo by Macon 

cheering on the Pirates

on our own personal tour of the lobby at the William Penn Hotel

Macon, Eric, Marlene, Jed, Aunt Delores, and Uncle Ray (Marlene's aunt and uncle)

on top of Castle Rock in St. Ignace, MI

Paul, Babe, and Jed at Castle Rock

the clear waters (and my finger) of Lake Huron

happy father's day!

Happy Father's Day, Eric and Grandpa! We love you! ... but our big computer is in the shop, so no photos, new or old. Here are our Father's Day posts from 2015 and 2013 with photos and videos.

summer outing 1

It felt like we were at the Battle of the Bugs, but really, it was Bentonville Battlefield. Today was Jed's first day of summer vacation, so we headed southeast in search of a site that would combine history and some outdoor time. After touring the Harper House, which served as a Union hospital during the 3-day battle, we walked through an extremely buggy forest to see some earthworks before driving the rest of the battlefield. For our hard work, attentiveness during the tour, and good question-asking, we earned ice cream in Newton Grove. 

  charging 

Look at Newton Grove on the map: clearly, someone had big plans. I don't know anything about its history, but its shape lured me in. The trip was worth it only because there is a drug store with ice cream on "the circle," but the circle is not big enough for something like a courthouse or town hall, and the town obviously didn't live up to the elegance its planner envisioned, but I am going to have to see if I can find out what's up with the circle and hexagon. 

Paul Revere

Today, the second grade classes became a wax museum with characters from all sorts of backgrounds. The kids picked their person, researched him or her, wrote a short talk about that person, and then presented it as their visitors came by. I was so impressed with all of them, but our Paul Revere was great! 

George W., Paul R., and Mia H. 

nice picture from a friend's "real" camera 

birthday celebrations

On Jed's actual birthday, his class sang to him while he stood on his chair. 

I was so glad I got to be there! While everyone enjoyed blueberries and a cookie, Mr. Harvey asked the class about their favorite memories of Jed. Many children mentioned traits, but one child had a real memory: he met Jed (long, long ago) in first grade, but before he met him, another friend had told him that Jed was very funny and very nice, and the boy finished his story with, "so I was really looking forward to meeting him." 

Today, Jed got his party at Sky Zone, which is an indoor trampoline park. This involved no creativity on the part of his parents. We got a grocery store cake and the trampoline place took care of the rest, and the boys had a BLAST! 

awaiting their "jump time"

Before they jumped, they went in a hurricane "simulator" that, for a mere $2, will blow wind on your kids for a minute or so. It was a much bigger hit than my description might suggest, and the wind blew much harder than the pictures might suggest. 

feeding the beasts after jumping
Empty plates reflect the speed with which they ate their first round of pizza.