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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.
Detroit Zoo 2005
The Detroit Zoo was a popular date for Mary and myself so we figured James would have to like it. He did, but had a little trouble seeing some of the animals because he was so small, so we lifted him up when we could. What James liked best was the Amphibian exhibit, not because of the animals but because of the fountains outside where amphibian frogs would squirt water into the air on and off. James laughed each time this happened and enjoyed it alot. A close second would have to be his playtime at the park, since he got out of his stroller and got a chance to play and burn up a little energy.
All in all a fantastic day at the zoo, and it was nice to take James somewhere that I used to visit and enjoy as a kid.
Meijer Garden 2005
We visited Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids Michigan for a day. Truly amazing flowers and gardens, even predatory flowers could be found there. This is the same Meijer who operate the Meijer super centers throughout Michigan and the midwest.
On the way home, James got sick and we had to stop in at Criss’s doctors office to make sure the little guy was ok. We were already on our way there anyhow but we did not expect James to be sick. When he got into the Doctors office he threw up. Poor kid, and poor Aunt Criss, she doesn’t get to see James that often and when she does he throws up at her work.
However James was fine at Meijer Gardens and enjoyed the play area there.
James Meets Ronald McDonald 2005
While we were walking around the Dream Cruise on Telegraph, James got to meet Ronald McDonald at our local McDonalds restaurant and had a good time with the famous clown.
Telegraph Dream Cruise 2005
James went with us to watch the antique cars at the Telegraph Dream Cruise. It was pretty hot that day so we didn’t stay long in the sun. Mary stuck it out because she enjoys cars and she wants to support this new dream cruise.
Mary used to live in Ferndale and during the Woodward Dream Cruise we would have front row seats, so we are hoping the Telegraph dream cruise will eventually be as big. We only live a few blocks from Telegraph so its only a 5 minute walk for us, where as a drive to Ferndale and parking during the Dream Cruise is a nightmare.
Only time will tell where this dream cruise will lead to.
