Turtle Cove Waterpark Adventure

It's hot and it's summer. Any parent knows the secret to keeping most kids happy, and occupied for hours .... Turning them loose to play in water. So far this summer we've done several local pools, our sprinkler under the trampoline, and the blow-up pool in our backyard. But the kids wanted more.... And I wanted an inexpensive place that our family could go to cool off and have a good time.

We found one last week. Turtle Cove Waterpark, which a few months ago had it's grand opening and is located at one of our local metroparks, only a 15 minute drive away. This week we thought it was high time we checked it out. For only $8 for adults, $6 for children, we got an all-day pass to all the waterslide action we could handle. The only thing we didn't like is that there's no food allowed inside the park, so we ate lunch before going.

Turtle Cove Aquatic Center has two water slides (body slide and tube slide with single and double tubes), an endless lazy river, a water playscape with a dumping bucket, a zero depth entry pool that deepens into a four lane lap pool, a snack bar (called Turtle Cove Grille) and a sunning hill. My favorite was the lazy river. Jessica and Alex loved the water slides, and Logan loved the water playscape, especially when the dumping bucket dumped the water on top of him. He'd stand underneath the dumping area while waiting for the water to spill over onto him, then laugh and laugh and go again. Too cute!

We went with our friends, the Larsens, and had a terrific time. On the way out of the park we stopped at "Turtle Cove Grille" to buy some snacks and drinks. We got slushies, french fries, nachos and ice cream before going home.

Spencer is at scout camp this week so he didn't go with us. We'll have to go again in August with him and Joshua. I know they'd love it too!!

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Take the Disney Princess Quiz like I did ---

You Are Ariel!

Headstrong and fiesty. You have a mind of your own that's full of romantic dreams about the world around you. Exploring exotic places is your ultimate dream, and although you can be a little naive you'll realize that there is something to be gained from your family's wisdom.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Jessica's Haircut!!

We never thought the day would come that Jessica was serious when she said, "Cut my hair!" She has said it many times before, but usually she didn't mean it.... Like when I'm combing her hair in the morning and she's screaming "I WANT TO CUT MY HAIR!" because of the knots in it. For the past 6-7 years, Jessica's long hair has been part of her identity. She's always enjoyed being the "long-haired girl" and having the longest hair in her class at school or out of all her friends.

So, when she came to me last Friday morning and told me that she really did want to cut it, this time for real, I told her to take the next 24 hours thinking about it first. If she still wanted it cut on Saturday, I would do it for her. Well, she didn't change her mind, and on Saturday afternoon she said to cut it just below her shoulders. I gasped!! I knew that would be a lot! But I did it, hoping she would like it, and knowing Joshua wouldn't. He has always loved Jessica's long hair.

After we did the deed, I measured the length of the remains. We had cut 8 1/2 inches!! A lifetime of hair was cut from Jessica's head. I thought she would be sad, but she loves it! She really looks cute, and I can tell that her hair looks a lot healthier.

First Lost Tooth

Alex is soooo happy to finally loose his first tooth! Here is our toothless boy wonder ---

Painted Kids

Last Saturday, we went to a neighborhood party at the park. We had a BBQ hamburger/hot dog lunch, ate cotton candy, mingled with some neighbors and the kids got different things painted on them. They wanted pictures taken of their body art before we washed them off.

A Trip to Belle Isle

Last Friday July 18, we went with some friends to visit Belle Isle, Michigan. Belle Isle is an island park in the Detroit river just across from downtown Detroit (see map here). It is the largest city island park in the country, larger than Central Park in New York City. The last time I went to Belle Isle was when we first moved to Michigan a little over 8 years ago. I took Spencer and Jessica with a big group of friends from my ward, but they don't remember going, so I thought we'd go again. There are many things to do on Belle Isle. We went to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (which opened in 1904), a Nature Zoo, William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse (the only marble lighthouse in the U.S.), and a large play area where we had a picnic. We also planned to go to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, but were disappointed to find out it was closed that day.

We really liked the Conservatory which is home to hundreds of different plants, including one of the largest orchid displays in the country. It had an 85-foot dome that has become a symbol of the island, with palm trees that soared way over our heads. Outside it had beautiful perennial gardens, rose gardens and lily pond.

But our favorite thing on Belle Isle was the Nature Zoo. As we were touring the nature center, one of the volunteer employees asked if we wanted to help feed the deer in their outside enclosure. Apparently, as we soon found out, the deer on the island were slowly being run over, hit and or wounded by vehicles on the island. So to keep them safe, the Belle Isle Nature zoo was able to secure all 25 fallow deer that once roamed the island to now enjoy a one-acre enclosure and barn. None of us had ever seen deer that close before. It was pretty cool! The deer were definitely not shy at feeding time, and came right up to the fence to eat the crackers we were given. I got a lot of pictures. Way cute, and really fun for the kids! It was a fun day!!

The kids on a Coast Guard Boat in front of Dossin Great Lakes Museum

In the Conservatory next to the giant Orchid display

By the fountain at the Conservatory

Spencer smells flowers in the gardens by the Conservatory

Logan and Alex on the playground

In the Nature Center - Everyone is a "horned animal"

Alex is a one-horned Bull

Getting some food for the deer

Jessica feeds the deer

Logan wasn't scared of feeding them

Alex was a little more timid about getting his fingers bitten

Our group out on a fishing pier

The kids on the banks of Belle Isle with the Detroit skyline behind them

A Swimming Friday Fun Day

We went to a local indoor pool for our Friday Fun Day. It was nice not to worry about sunblock since we were indoors. Spencer and Jessica each brought along a friend. Here are some pictures from our fun afternoon...

Spencer and Jessica with their friends in the lazy river

Jessica and Moira

Going under the waterfall

An action shot!

I love this picture of the boys going under the waterfall. Alex is so cute.

Cute little Logie

Alex is so photogenic

Baby Jack Jack

Anyone seen "The Incredibles"? Here is our "Baby Jack Jack". I do this to Logan's hair every bathtime. Alex and Logan get the biggest kick out of it. To them, I'm the funniest person in the world. Pretty soon, they'll learn better...

Logan is a funny guy --- a continuous source of laughter in our home.

A Game of Tag

I've been tagged by my friend Miriam! See if I tagged you at the end too!

3 JOYS: (Besides your family)
1) Activities with my family, especially being outdoors enjoying nature
2) Planning and going on vacation
3) Summertime (Yay! It's finally here!)

3 FEARS
1) Losing someone close to me, and since getting married, especially Joshua...
2) Empty Nest -- Each one of my kids leaving me will be a sad, sad day....
3) Getting older and losing my health. I hope to travel the world someday and don't want anything to hold me back!!

3 GOALS:
1) Getting and staying out of debt
2) Raising righteous, kind, confident, happy children
3) Getting back into the workforce

3 OBSESSIONS:
1) Keeping a clean, tidy, organized house amidst all the forces that continually mount against me...
2) My children -- I think about them more than anything else!
3) Watching movies, especially in the movie theater, but I do make the most of our Blockbuster Online subscription!

3 RANDOM FACTS:
** A few months ago, I wrote down 105 'random facts' on my blog. Read them HERE.


Okay, I have to tag 5 people too ....
Summer C, Megan S, Christina T, Judy C, Michelle B .... and anyone else who wants to play...

Warren Sand Dunes 2008 - Day 1

Our family spent a wonderful July 4th weekend on the west coast of Michigan -- This was the trip we were originally suppose to have on my birthday weekend, but was rainy and we canceled. But this weekend, we had the most perfect, beautiful weather with hardly a cloud in the sky and the temperature averaging 79 degrees! We are glad we waited!

We spent two days beaching, hiking and exploring Warren Sand Dunes State Park on the Lake Michigan shoreline. On Friday, the morning of the first day, we let the kids spend several hours in the morning swimming in our hotel pool. After taking showers and cleaning up, we went to a matinee of "Wall-E" at a nearby movie theater. It was a fun movie -- Really cute! Afterwards, we had lunch at this really fun "grinders" sandwich shop that was decorated as a 1950's hamburger/soda shop, and it was right across the street from the theater. Really yummy sandwiches with a fun atmosphere! We'll have to remember this place the next time we go back!

After lunch, we made our way over to the sand dunes. We learned that the park has three miles of golden dunes and offers six miles of intertwining trails throughout the park (See map here). So, we spent the day climbing, jumping, rolling and sliding on the sand dunes and hiking the trails. We had the greatest time! We climbed many, many dunes, some rising over 240 feet tall above the Lake Michigan shoreline. Alex and Logan were troopers! They climbed every hill by themselves, and some were incredibly steep! Tough enough that Joshua and I were really winded by the time we reached the top! But you really can't imagine how beautiful it was up there - looking out over the lake on one side of the dunes, and woodlands on the other. On the tallest dune, we could even see several Chicago skyscrapers across Lake Michigan! Next time we'll have to bring binoculars to improve our view of the Chicago skyline. Pretty amazing!

In the evening, we watched the sunset over the lake. It was unbelievably gorgeous! Our day exploring and enjoying the dunes was so much fun and convinced us that we'll have to come do this every summer from now on! The only bad thing is that now our car is covered in sand! We'll have to vacuum it later this week. I took over 100 pictures on our trip. I'll share some of my favorites from our first day...