We took a couple pictures of the arch bridge which is going to be the “Gateway to Detroit” for the 2006 Superbowl (which is only about 6 months away) will be the exit and on ramps between Telegraph and I-94. The idea is that when people get off their plane and head to Detroit they will pass this structure and think how great we are.

Somehow I don’t think the Lions will be playing in it but you never know…well, actually I do know.

They have been working on this for quite some times. Sometimes in the summer with the windows open you can hear the sounds of the construction from our home even though we are about a mile away (as the crow flies at least). In the past when you exited for telegraph you had to get in the left lane which is unusual so maybe that’s another reason for building this bridge.

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This was the first time many at the Knights of Columbus met James. James did a little dancing on the floor, then enjoyed some barbecue hot dogs and potato salad.

Lots of Grand Knights and Past Grand Knights were at this well attended event. There was a small fundraiser and remembrance for 911, all sorts of games, and great grilled cooking. I never saw a hockey game that was played on grass but I have now.

Hines Park is pretty famous as parks go in Michigan, probably the most famous of all not counting sports parks. I remember coming down here as a teenager and playing frisbee at Nolars Bend. In the winter time they set up a gigantic Christmas display that you drive through in your car.

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We try to get to the Trenton festival each year, usually its right around the same time as the Wyandotte festival. We always take a stroll down by the river there, if for no other reason to get a break from the crowd.

The booths are well stocked with all sorts of gems including personalized storied so we ordered a personalized story for James which they had finished before we left for the day.

They have also have an area of games for the kids which James enjoyed and he always falls asleep with a helium balloon by days end.

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James loves playing on his swing set, it has a couple slides, places to crawl and places to climb. Now that the cement is in and the back yard is level with new grass, the place is alot funner (and safer) to play. I felt so sorry for the toddler running in the back, only to fall down because the ground was so unlevel. Now he can play to his little hearts content and believe me, he has.

We almost bought a wooden set but I think the plastic one will serve us better and last longer. I see alot of these at garage sales so it must mean they outlast the kids childhood. I never see the wooden or metal ones at a garage sale which means they are probably scrapped. Right now, if he had a favorite, it would have to be the slide and after that the swing.

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For years we have been dreading this day since it is one of the biggest expenses you can incur when redoing a home! I remember when my father had it done, we used to have hardly a drive way at all, but my dad took care of that and had everything paved. Ever since that day it seems it has been my job to shovel the snow of it but thats another story. The cement was buckling from years of hot and cold weather so its something that really needed to be done. Hopefully this cement will last as long as the one my dad put in.

After the cement hardened, James wasted no time setting up his play area on the new foundation.

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Years of different style gardens and trees had made the back yard a rolling terrain till we finally had it leveled. Another enormous job since just the year before we had a sprinkler system installed. The best thing was we were able to make a nice play area for James in the back, complete with wood chips just like they have at the park (we heard the rubber chips get too hot in the summer and can actually burn a child on a hot day).

James seems to enjoy the new yard and it should be easier to maintain being level. Also there is grass to the fence so it should cut back on the amount of weed wacking that needs to be done. Got a big thumbs up from the neighbor on this one.

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Our annual visit to Mackinaw and one of the largest suspension bridges in the world. Mary was a little under the weather today so James and I went to the Fort. It’s still pretty much the same way I remember it when I first went there with my mom and dad about 40 years ago or so. The thing I remember most about the Fort was the skeleton in one of the watch towers so that was the first place James and I went, sure enough, he was still there.

James is much more mobile than he was at the last visit here so that helps, we don’t need to keep him in a stroller all the time. He enjoys running around in the open areas that they have at the fort and at the parks. He is not yet thrilled by the historical significance of some of the indoor displays at the Fort.

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We like making stops on the way up and down to Mackinaw and this is one of our favorite if not the favorite. Bronners is the largest Christmas store in the world and its located right here in Michigan just a few miles off I75 on the way up north. Lots of video as we made this our gateway to Mackinaw for this year.

Each Sunday James and his Dad take Aunt Peg shopping and then go to a park. This weekend we chose Champagne Park where James participated in a variety of activities under the tutelage of Aunt Peg.

Champagne park is a huge park that is located on Pelham between Ecorse and Middle Belt road (on the Allen Park side of the street) and in addition to the park facilities and shelters, has an ice rink and tennis courts. James Dad remembers playing CYO baseball at Champagne park in the seventies. He also remembers helping his Aunt Criss field ground balls at the park when she was practicing for her softball team.

James had a blast here, being bounced on the teeter totter thingy and going into the monkey bar sphere which should be fun for climbing once he gets a little older.

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Nuff said…