The Kleiber Family Timeline

Category: Michigan

Events in Michigan

  • Boat Ride to Mackinaw Island 2010

    The Mackinaw bridge connects Michigans lower peninsula with its upper peninsula. Many think it goes to Mackinaw island which is not true and also would be silly since automobiles are not allowed on the island. If you want to go to Mackinaw island you have to take a boat ride over. The price for round trip varies throughout the season but can be as high as $24 per person depending on what time in the season you are visiting. However the boat rides are a blast and James thinks they are the best part of the trip. The boats are fast and they give you a great view of Mackinaw Island and the Mackinaw bridge.

    Each year the boat ride is a little different and this year was no exception. High winds created waves 5-8′ high and the boat was bouncing around like a carnival ride. James loved every minute of it, especially the high water splattering on the windows of the boat.

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  • Mackinaw City 2010

    With only 2 days of rest since the Nashville trip our vacation continued with our annual visit to Mackinaw. On the way up North we stopped off and visited Aunt Criss at her work (which is about the half way point to Mackinaw). James and Aunt Criss had not seen each other in quite some time but got along great and James came away with some candy to help him on his journey North.

    The weather forecast for the next few days called for rain on and off, but we were very lucky because whenever we were inside it seemed to rain, whenever we were outside the weather was fine. Mom found a bunch of good deals on t shirts (Mom no longer fit into her older Mackinaw T shirts so Dad inherited them). As usual we spent a good amount of time at the Mackinaw Crossings which is fast becoming a sort of board walk for tourist with fun houses, movie theaters, and some virtual rides along with about fifty or so souvenir and specialty shops (aka Tourist Traps).

    The last night of our trip the winds were so strong they knocked out the power in the hotel and half the city, the final couple pics were taken in gale like winds.

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  • Abbott’s Magic Get Together 2010

    What a fine time we had in Colon Michigan, the magic capitol of the world. James had a blast swimming at the small beach that they have here, and Mom enjoyed the craft fair while Dad enjoyed the props at the dealers room, many of which were Halloween oriented.

    The magic get together is primarily magic shows and magic lectures that go on at various times during the 4 day festival. The highlight of each day is the evening show which features Vegas quality acts. They have had some of the best acts in magic here during their history including Lance Burton, Harry Blackstone, Mark Wilson, and many many more.

    The evening shows are held at the high school, the dealers room is in the elementary school, the buskers are throughout the city, the ventriloquists are at the Abbott Magic Shop, and the Gospel magicians are at church. There are various events throughout the city such as car shows and craft shows. The whole town gets involved in this event and it really shows by how many people return here year after year.

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  • Marshall Blues Festival 2010 – Then Puppet Show

    It was a very hot July day and the traffic and construction tie ups were terrible, but we made it to the Blues Festival in Marshall Michigan for the first time. James and I stayed for a bit then went on to the park and a magic shop, while mom enjoyed the music while shopping for antiques on the Marshall main street. We left around 6pm as the place was just starting to get real crowded. Mary bought a cd of the music of one of the bands and we listened to it on the way home.

    That evening James watched a dinosaur movie then did his own version of it in his puppet theatre. Lots of entertainment this day!

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  • Trenton Festival 2010

    What a great time we had at the Trenton festival. James has been here several times in the past few years and he always has a good time. I think his favorite thing is getting the free balloons from the various shop keeps to participate. This year there were a whole bunch of inflatable moonwalks and slides that he could play in as well as the usual games that he is familiar with. He also got to put out a simulated fire with a real fire hose. After the event was over we went out for Chinese to complete a wonderful summer day.

    On the way home, we stopped by Aunt Louises old house and snapped a picture. sure looks different with those gates in the drive.

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  • Oakwood Festival 2010

    James got to go to a festival two days in a row. The first day he went was Saturday when we stopped off at the Oakwood Festival on the way to a graduation party (Kirsten Maliszewski). The next day we picked up Aunt Peg and took her shopping, then went back to the carnival for some more fun. The pictures here are from the first day, the second day it was just Dad and James so no one took pictures which was fine with the both of us (Aunt Peg couldn’t join us because she was in pain with her legs.). The only ride we did different the second day was the Ferris Wheel and I would have to say James liked that the best.

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  • James Grandma Moves To Michigan 2009

    James Dad flew out to Nashville to help Grandma move to Michigan. Grandma hired a company to pack her things and they loaded up a rental truck and drove them up to Michigan. They rented the truck in Nashville but fortunately could return it in Michigan.

    It did not take long to unload the truck into Grandma’s new place called the “Garden City Tower” and we helped get Grandma settled into her new home.

    There are many activities at Garden City Tower as they have a library and a computer room plus Grandma has an outdoor balcony where she can plant a garden if she wants or fly a flag. She has a great view from the balcony since she is on the tenth floor.

    Welcome to Michigan Grandma.

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  • Abbotts Magic Get Together 2009

    The Abbott Magic Get Together has been going on for over 70 years. Located in Colon MI, the Magic Capital of the World, James spent a couple days about town watching the magic. Before we left, James drew us a map of the street complete with addresses so we would know where to come back to.

    For the last couple years I have been doing the Abbott Magic website and a string of other magic oriented sites. They are alot of fun and keep me busy during my free time. James helps with some of the picture taking, I’m sure he’ll do more when he gets a little older. Right now he enjoys the beach the most when we visit Colon, AKA “The Magic Capital of the World”. If you would like to see more from this event be sure to visit magicgettogether.com

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  • Sea Shell City 2009

    We always stop at Sea Shell City on the way home from Mackinaw. Its about 10 minutes south of Mackinaw and James loves to play pirate on the boat out front. This gives Mary a perfect chance to shop in peace since I am usually with James while he plays on the boat. I think thats why so many of our funny t-shirts have comes from here.

    Its always on the way home that we stop at Sea Shell City, it makes the end of vacation a little easier having this to look forward to. It also usually gives us one more chance to buy that perfect souvenir of our vacation, as if the car full of bags of souvenirs and “stuff” is not enough.

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  • Mackinaw Island State Park 2009

    James was very good for this trip, and he still likes to ride in the wagon for much of the journey through the state park. This is actually our second wagon, the first was a gift from Criss and wore out because it was used so much. Now that he’s older he doesn’t need the wagon as much, but still takes advantage of it, especially on steep slopes upward.

    All in all James did great this visit, he is beginning to get familiar with the surroundings now and is building on past trips to Mackinaw. Since we live in the suburbs, it is difficult to have strolls in the wood that last for hours like we can at Mackinaw Island.

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