A Proclamation, a Movie, a Wedding, and More

This week’s adventures involved repeated visits to the Henry Ford Museum (Yes, there again. We should buy stock) for a couple of significant events. The first involved the 150^th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. The original document made a stop for 36 hours at the Henry Ford, so we made the attempt to get a look at it on Tuesday. When we arrived, we were told the line would be 4-5 hours long (yeah, right. . .). We waited two hours in one portion of the line, an hour in another portion, and another half-hour in a third portion, with no real anticipated end in sight and two small, very patient, yet flagging children in tow. Diamond had already taken Landon around the museum to keep him entertained, and he and Mike had taken a few trips out to the car to get items and a change of scenery. Seeing that we were likely to continue staying in line for (at least) another two hours into the deep of the night, we decided to let a game of Rock, Paper, Scissiors determine whether we would continue. In an epic two-out-of-three nail-biter showdown, paper beat rock, and we reluctantly decided to go home, stopping by 7-11 for Slurpees to drown our sorrows a bit. The little ones didn’t know any different anyway, plus Landon got a treat.

WDET's Craig Fahle reading the Emancipation Proclamation  

The crowd remaining ahead of us after being in line 3 hours. We waited another 1/2 hour before opting to leave.  

Several musical acts, including this couple, entertained us during the last part of the wait. 

Patient Eliza. So cute!

After coming home, Landon had some Lightning McQueen  macaronin and cheese.

Eliza had her own meal. She's starting on solid foods! 

As just about every parent of a child under 16 knows, Cars 2 opened on Friday. Because the original is one of Landon’s all-time favorites, we decided a little while ago to make Cars 2 his first feature movie experience. We opted to take him to the IMAX version at the HFM. Hallie went to great lengths to make it memorable for him with the purchase of some Cars-themed items—along with lots of other moms, apparently (Stock in HFM? No, we should buy stock in Disney-Pixar)—such as cereal, fruit snacks, and die-cast cars strung out over the days leading up to the event. Here’s the funny thing: He didn’t seem to make as big a deal of it as we did. Typical Landon! Of course, he has also neither let go nor lost sight of his new favorite toys since receiving them.

The new breakfast of champions

On Friday night, our friends from church Lloyd and Bonnie got married. Originally envisioned as a small affair, it quickly got larger than originally thought (We should have known better. People love to share a celebration!). After a few improvisations, things worked out. Congratulations, Bonnie and Lloyd!  

All dressed up! 

We were going to have her wear this dress to go before the judge when we finalize the adoption. Now that we're not going out to Utah, we chose to have her dress up for the wedding! 

Bonnie and Lloyd after "jumping the broom"

On Saturday morning, Hallie and her friend Sarah took her son Chase and Landon down to the farmers market. Afterwards they enjoyed a chat outdoors as we all took in the mild early summer weather. Later Hallie went to run some errands while Mike and the kiddos played at home. 

Mike’s dad got the family a couple of video games, so we had to break them in! Speaking of things Mike’s dad did, he sent some pictures he scanned from a Christmas long ago. Can you tell what decade the shot below took place in? Ah, memories! 

A few clues: Weeble haunted house, shag orange rug, and the Little Professor (the calculator, not the boy--although isn't that a coincidence???)

Just a Few of Dad's Favorite Things

The week’s activities started with Macy’s 2nd Monday at Greenfield Village. Landon got to drive cars, and he and Eliza rode the carousel, a first for her. In other firsts, Eliza has learned to roll over all by herself.  

On Tuesday, Mom and Dad had a yummy Latin American-themed fondue dinner at the Melting Pot. This was one of our first real dates since Eliza was born.  

Landon helped Mom and Diamond make cake balls, little donut hole-sized morsels of death. Delicious chocolate flavored death! (Apologies to Walter Bishop. Cue Homer Simpson salivating in the background. . . .)

Mike rewarded himself for writing this week by biking down to see “Pirates of the Caribbean” at the movie theater at our neighborhood park. We could go on about the park and its gym, pool, marina, first-run movie theater, and other amenities—all within a 10 minute bike ride from home! June means mayflies (called fish flies by the locals), so riding home in the post 9 PM twilight meant Mike brought a few guests along for the ride.

On Saturday after we tidied up around the house, we drove down to Motor Muster at Greenfield Village (we should just move to Dearborn for as often as we go to HFM/GFV).

An overview from the Village Green (note the awesome Ford Falcon in the foreground!)

Cars as far as the eye can see

Working repair truck

1964 1/2 Ford Mustang w/view under the hood

Classic wood-paneled estate wagon

Diamond picked her favorite. 

Eliza was looking to pick a winner, too! 

Not only did they have classic cars, but people dressed in classic costumes . . . .

and classic bikes (both pedal and motor), too! 

Exploring career possibilities

He helped hammer this tin medallion

Later, we helped a new family move into the branch. They have four kids, and their dad works as a doctor at the local hospital. Another new family will be moving in next month. Hooray for more new friends in Primary!

Posing with the roses in the front yard. "Ahoy, maties!" 

This Father’s Day Hallie and the kids got Mike some great presents: a picture frame with the kids’ pictures and a tent and sleeping bags for father/child campouts over the summer. Fun!

A Little Breather Before Some Summer Fun

Landon finished preschool on Monday. He’ll start up summer classes soon, but he has a couple of weeks of unstructured time to bounce off the walls at home. Time to send him outside, maybe? Hopefully the crazy weather will cooperate for a bit. In the mean time, Hallie took the kids to Jungle Java, Mike took Landon to Lowe’s Build and Grow (goofy golf—Awesome!), and we all walked down to the farmers market so he could blow off some of that inexhaustible energy.

He's not too eager to get out of school, is he? Thanks, Ms. Deb, for all your hard work!

Oh, yes! We have also gotten back into taking early morning bike rides down to the park. 

Eliza turned four months old (already?!), and she went for her well visit at the doctor’s. She received a clean bill of health, and she’s growing like a weed! 

In an outfit sent by Grandpa Merle

So cute in June! 

Remember when she was so tiny just last March?

Summer is Off to a Running Start

We celebrated Memorial Day remembering our troops by hanging up the bunting and patriotic lights and by roasting a turkey (huh? Well Hallie had intended to cook the turkey—bought for Thanksgiving—earlier in the week, and it hadn’t happened yet, and we didn’t want it to go bad. . . .). Oh, yeah, and we made chocolate coated chocolate rice krispie treats with sprinkles!

Landon’s school had “Funapalooza,” an end of the year festival/fundraiser, on Thursday night.

Such a cutie!

Fearless! He would get to the bottom of the slide and do a somersault to finish. Yeeesh. 

This balloon-bending clown came with personality plus!

Note the intense look of concentration. He was very into his horsey ride.

We thought we'd start Eliza on solid foods with a slider from Burger Pointe. 

On Saturday, we made a quick trip to the farmers market followed by a trip to Westview Orchards’ Community Day, where we got to do all their fun activities for free. Landon fed the animals (his favorite activity), and then he moved on to all the play activities. 

"Again!" (Repeat 20 times.)

Exploring career options (He recently discovered Dirty Jobs on Netflix)

Meanwhile, Eliza chilled out. She loves her new fuzzy blanket!

The boy in a moment of contemplation over an ice cream cone

The girl in a moment of bliss with her bottle

After Westview Orchards, we went to St. Clair Shores’ Junefest. On a lark, we entered Eliza in a beautiful baby contest at a local children’s store (the prize is a $50 gift certificate, which we could put toward a blessing dress when her adoption is finalized). We think she’s so dang cute, so she’s a winner no matter what happens!

"Your sword, my liege." Another talented balloon maker. 

Even our fairy princess received a butterfly on a leash.

Temperatures have risen, and we have enjoyed the sun. The humidity could hold off for a while. It seems like we have leaped straight from winter to summer. Hallie even suggested we share some tereré to cool off in the evening (Happy Paraguayan Independence Day!—just a little late).