Children's Zoo in Saginaw

This morning we made our first visit of the summer to the Children's Zoo over in Saginaw. It's a rather small zoo compared to most, but the kids always enjoy it and they love seeing all the animals. We always have a good time when we go. What made this visit extra special was it was the first time that Megan was fully engaged in the experience. Before she was usually in a stroller half the time but today she was running around at full speed just like big brother.

Ship Builder

Ben and I just finished working on his first scout project. In a few weeks Ben will be participating in a "ship regatta," where all the boys build small boats that they race in rain gutters. Ben wanted to put space stickers on his boat, so we ended up calling it "The Space Ship." Anyway, we'll see how it holds up in a few weeks when we race it.

Time For A Nature Hike

This past week I took the kids out to the Nature Center for a short day hike. This is the same Nature Center that I went kayaking at last week. This time of year we seem to visit this place almost on a weekly basis. We have a favorite trail that we like to hike called the "Arbury Trail." It's a short paved path through the woods with a stop in the middle at a frog pond. The kids love hunting for frogs and toads and watching the tadpoles swim around. I love seeing the kids get out and explore the woods. They love watching the bugs crawl around and looking for animals, and just being in the forest. When we were done the kids took some objects back to the visitor center to show the naturalist on staff. Ben brought back a leaf with strange spots and Megan brought a clump of pine needles and a pinecone. Michigan is loaded with thick pine forests like this one all over the state. It's fun when there's one right in your own backyard.

A Camping We Will Go

One thing Jenny and I have noticed living here in Michigan over the years is how most people "camp" around here in RV's and trailer campers. We've always camped in tents everywhere we've lived, yet for some reason that's seen as unusual around here. A lot of people ask us "you camp in a tent?" - like we're poor or destitute. Jenny was telling her co-workers about our camping trip last weekend and the first thing they asked her was "you camped - in a tent?"
Everywhere else we've ever lived it's been different. In Texas and Louisiana I'd say the ratio might be 1 to 1 with tent vs. camper. In Colorado it was more like 5 to 1 with tents being the majority (unless you were at a campground with several trailer sites for tourists.) But for some reason here in Michigan most people "camp" in an RV or trailer. Now someday I might be an RV guy when I'm older, but not now. And as for trailers Jenny and I sometimes ponder the idea of getting a "pop-up" camper. So the truth is I've got nothing against campers and trailers. We're just always surprised how one-sided it is around here.
My theory is it's a bi-product of the "car culture" around here. Whenever Michiganians go up north in the summer they usually take along their 4-wheelers and fishing boats. In the winter they take along their snowmobiles. All their outdoor playthings are motorized around here...so I guess it only makes sense that their "tents" would be motorized as well.

Camping at Hartwick Pines State Park - Day 3

On our last day we packed up the car and headed out. But before we left we made one more stop at the lake again for another fishing attempt. This time Megan and Jenny joined Ben and I. We all had a fun time. Once again the fish didn't bite, but the kids didn't seem to mind too much. Overall, it was a fun camping trip at a very nice state park. I'm sure we'll be back there again someday.

Camping at Hartwick Pines State Park - Day 2

We started our second day with Jenny hanging out at the campsite as Megan got over her tummy ache. So Ben and I took a short morning hike to a beautiful lake called Bright Lake. It's one of those perfect inland lakes that can be found all over northern Michigan. In fact, the lake reminded me a lot of the lakes you find in the mountains of Colorado...just without the peaks in the background.
After our hike we went back to camp and got ready for our fishing trip with Kelvyn and his family (Jeff, Glynith, and their daughter Karalyn). Ben's starting to develop a healthy interest in fishing, so recently Jenny got the kids new fishing poles (Spider-Man for Ben, and Disney for Megan.) I even gave Megan's pole a try even though it was pink. Well...we didn't catch any fish, but I would say the two lakes we fished were the most scenic I've ever fished. I was more interested in the scenery than anything else.
Later in the day our whole group took a hike on the "Old Growth Trail." In the 1880's Hartwick Pines was a logging camp, so the trail exposes you to old trees that are still alive from that time, as well as some of the old buildings and tools that they used back then.
At the end of the day we all cooked hot dogs over the fire and made some chili. Then for desert we made fruit pies out of bread and pie filling. Delicious!