Fun with My Favorite Small People

Last post I mentioned that we were kid sitting with our two favorite small people, while their parents celebrated their tenth anniversary. (One is seven, the other almost six.) There wasn't a lot of sitting!

Rick went down a couple days before I did and they took on a mega-playground and a splash park. After I arrived, we hit a park in the neighborhood for some baseball practice!

(I have to say, though no photos exist, I (who haven't hit a ball in decades) did pretty well! Always a triple threat (can't run, can't pitch, can't hit), my old work softball team (who, I'm sure, let me play to be nice) would have been shocked. I was. Meanwhile, this little guy sent a few really flying!

Carson loves to use my camera (with varied results!) But this one was pretty good!

They are some serious climbers and loved the monkey bars too. I get nervous beyond words! (Of course, we all know Spiderman can climb anything. And let me say, that costume didn't come off, Rick said, for three full days!)

We had a pretty mellow night after we went to a kindergarten meet-up at the school. It seemed like bedtime came all too soon. There were stories, of course.

And when this one asked if I'd lay down with him for a few minutes before sleep, my heart burst!

The next day was a full one! We packed a picnic lunch and headed for downtown Detroit and the riverfront, where we enjoyed a picnic! Everyone was happy with sandwiches from last night's pork tenderloin, along with sliced turkey, cheese and peanut butter!

Then a bit of a walk before our next attraction, just a short one. But I felt very happy when the Camster reached for my hand without my having to ask for it as we were (carefully) crossing the street. At another point later, we were all four holding hands. I loved that. (It's the little things, you know?)

Michigan DNR Outdoor Adventure is ironically named -- it's all indoors! But it's super fun, with lots of interactive actvities for kids, including this monster "tree" (three stories) into which the kids could climb and slide out of.

 Displays explained how helicopters are used to spot forest fires and kids could enjoy the control panels.

(This was a big hit with both our guys.)

They also loved the riding the snowmobile and ATV, dodging obstacles on the film in front of them.

 

You could go "fishing" too -- the movie showed the fish underwater, then taking the bait, while something tugged hard at their lines so they could reel them in!

And of course, there was a bike race!

 

  Along with that were some nature exhibits. I especially loved this turtle. . . 

. . . and this frog.

 

 All good days come to an end. After a stop at the famed Eastern Market (which was closing, so a disappointment this time), we headed home and made dinner -- Dinner on a Stick night, with Yakitori (sold to them as grilled chicken nuggets on a stick -- without the coating!) and fruit skewers. And of course, that always means more time with Waffles the Cat. 

(This cat is THE most mellow cat in the world, comfortable in all positions and never using her claws.)

We couldn't have had a happier time.

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