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Ann Arbor Hands On Museum 2006
Here’s an idea whose time has come, its called the hands on museum in Ann Arbor is a great place for kids of all ages to visit. Different activities on different floors and James might actually have learned a thing or two. James got to see himself in front of a blue screen with different backgrounds and also got to see a tornado up close. Lots of science and electronics and much of it was beyond him, but that’s why they have different floors for different ages.
I would have to say the favorite thing for James was the gear boxes and the switches. The gear boxes were fascinating because he turned one thing and a bunch of things turned, the switches were fun because, well, he likes turning on switches.
Highly recommended, glad we found this place
Elmo Comes To Dearborn 2006
As with most young children, Elmo plays a big part in their childhood activities via games, television, or talking dolls. Elmo is a hero for James and James could not wait to see Elmo when he came to the Fairlane mall – and he was not disappointed. After waiting patiently for about a half hour he finally got to see the star, Elmo of Sesame Street.
The thing I will remember about this is James getting upset when we had to leave and I had to carry him out crying, as I walked past the security guard he said “There goes a true Elmo fan” lol. However all was not lost, just on the other side of Fairlane the Easter bunny was setting up shop and with a little coaxing, James was back to his happy self again and getting his pic taken with the Easter bunny (which I will add to the Easter gallery later).
Super Bowl 2006
The Superbowl came to Detroit and we took James downtown during Super Bowl week to participate in some of the festivities. James got to see radio row and rode on the people mover to Greek town and then off to Ford Field and a stop at Comerica park (which would be the first time James saw the two new Detroit stadiums). We bought James an official Super Bowl XL outfit, then drove by the Spirit of Detroit to see how the statue was dressed for the event.
The Steelers won the Superbowl later in the week which we watched together on TV. One of the other sites I do is called “The Curse of Bobby Layne” and it was interesting that the one time a Superbowl was played in Detroit it would be won by the team Bobby was traded to nearly 50 years ago.
Harsh Lake George Winter 2006
So you want a nice quiet place on the lake, eh. Want to kick back with nature and get away from the city, eh.
Here are some pictures Aunt Criss sent us of Lake George in the winter time. Something tells me the salt trucks and plows won’t be riding to the rescue anytime soon.
My sister Criss emailed these pictures of what a winter is like living on a lake. Thankfully they have television and the internet to help them through it. The other months of the year, they are the envy of the family living on a lake, but in winter time the area takes on a different style of beauty, and I don’t think I like ice fishing as much as fishing off a boat on a warm summer day.
Christmas 2005
We bought our first inflatable Christmas decoration since Homer Simpson was stolen from outside our house. That happened before James was born. We tried it out in the living room and James just loved it, watching the little styrofoam snow pellets whiz all around the globe. Right before Christmas we went into a nursery and they were selling a big animated Santa with 2 elves for about 75% off (it was the last day before Christmas that they were open and they said they did not want to store it) so we picked that up as well.
Needless to say the house was very well decorated that year.
Thanksgiving Visit to Canterbury Village 2005
Canterbury Village was on our Thanksgiving plate for today, we needed a few Christmas items that they did not carry at Target or Walmart but did not have time to make the trek to Bronners in Frankenmuth so we decided on going to Canterbury in Lake Orion which is probably about 1/3 of the time it takes us to go to Bronners.
Canterbury is a Michigan Historical Landmark and some of the original buildings (Wildwood Farms – known back then for raising prize black angus cattle) that were built in 1870 can be found in the back here, usually selling candles or something like that behind the Merry Go Round. The big buildings in the front are much more recent architecture from about 20 years ago in 1993.
A nice place to spend part of our Thanksgiving weekend and an early preparation for the upcoming Christmas season.
Continue reading “Thanksgiving Visit to Canterbury Village 2005”
Halloween 2005
James was a bumble bee this Halloween. There is a commercial with a bee in it that he simply loves so we thought he would enjoy dressing up as a bumble bee. We trick or treated the whole block of Tulane this year, and all the neighbors thought James looked so cute in his bumble bee costume.
We decorated Mary’s Nash this year to really look creepy with a skeleton driving it. One of these pics made it to the Nash Metropolitan club of Michigan newsletter for October. Lots of comments from other trick or treaters on the Nash Metro being a great Halloween decoration (so long as the skeleton is driving it).
James Birthday 2005
James second birthday was celebrated in stages, with a small party at home and another one at Caesars, and a little bit of playtime in the back yard as he got to play with his new moonwalk. The weather is perfect and it is such a nice warm day for late September. this may be my favorite time of the year weather wise, not as rainy as spring and the leaves have not fallen from the trees yet. Our electric and gas bill reflect this comfortable weather as well as the heat is not on and the air conditioner is not one, just open windows. However, I digress.
Thanks again to everyone who showed up at the party and/or sent gifts. James had a lot of fun and had a great day.
Greenfield Village 2005
James wants to ride the carousel first thing now whenever we go to Greenfield Village. Can’t really blame him either, its one of the oldest carousels in the country. Mary and I rotated duty this day so James got to ride the carousel twice. Of course all the favorites of ours had to be visited including the bandstand and covered bridge. Mary was very impressed with the floral for this time in the season and took many pictures of flowers and crops including watermelons and pumpkins.
Beautiful September day at the Henry Ford and James got to ride his favorite carousel. A great time was had by all.
Remembering Louise Dunberger 1921 – 2005
When Louise Ann Graf was born on May 16, 1921, in Natrona, Pennsylvania, her father, Joseph, was 34, and her mother, Rose, was 30. She married Harry A Dunberger on January 18, 1944, in Wyandotte, Michigan. They had one child during their marriage. She died on August 25, 2005, in Wyandotte, Michigan, at the age of 84.
We were very happy that Louise had a chance to meet James before she passed away. She was in a nursing home but she was very active and aware. She got to hold James and feed him his bottle and she wished that her sister (James Grandma) had gotten to meet James. She outlived both her husband and son but was always optimistic about what the future would hold. I think every family member had at least one birthday celebratiion at her home in Trenton and Criss and Kenny had their wedding reception at her home as well. A very outgoing person.
