"I'm Back, Baby!" -- Bender (Futurama)

Got back from the Michigan Trip last night about 11:30 p.m. (EST). It was a LONG drive, but the kids were great (both there and back). It worked well to leave on Friday night and then stay at a hotel in the early morning (1-2 a.m.) and then go keep going on Saturday. Willow slept through most of it, was amused by her big brother the other part of it. We made sure to make frequent stops on the Saturdays, and it worked out well. On the way back, we promised Michael we would play Weird Al when we hit Massachusetts--and to see his smile when he heard Weird Al--priceless.

We had a good time and we visited a lot of relatives, but a little more visiting happened than we thought would -- because Husband's uncle died just before he was able to see him. So, part of our time was spent going to the Wake and Funeral. Very sad, but it also allowed Husband to be able to see some relatives he might not have seen. And it made it all the more meaningful for him to spend time with his Grandmother later in the week.

Michael also got to hang out with his cousins, especially N. Michael also had fun playing/snuggling the dogs, especially Spanky. Willow was a super trooper -- she was passed around to tons of adults and was not fussy in the least. She was cuddled and cooed over the whole trip. And she had fun looking at all the different things. We also got a chance to have some adult time--went and saw "Tro.pic Thun.der"(hilarious).

We ended the trip with a hotel room overlooking Niagra Falls. None of us had really seen the Falls even though we had traveled past it all these times going to and from Michigan. This time we had a wonderful view and had breakfast outside our room looking at the Falls. Then we did a few touristy things, walking a strip that included some Haunted Houses (Michael was fascinated by them, but could not get the courage up to go in them). Leaving there about 1:30 in the afternoon, it made a longer day for the adults, but seeing Niagra was a good way to end a good trip.

Here's some pics (others to come).


We all went to Greenfield Village.



Michael and N went into this sweet shop in Greenfield Village.







Michael was impressed with the machinery (got to make a candle holder with a lathe). And especially impressed with the courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law (the floor is the same floor Lincoln stood on--Michael felt the floor and said he was touching the footprints of Abraham Lincoln).


Another thing we did was spending a LOT of time at this video game arcade. It was great fun.