Hello everyone!! I hope you are doing well today!
The big news around where I live the past few days is that there was a legit bear spotting! This is a big deal because we live in a very built up area that has not had bears in decades, and is said to be probably the most southernmost bear spotting in SE Michigan ever. Guys, I live 10 miles outside Detroit. This bear is about 20 miles south of Detroit. It is a big deal and of course all anyone around here is talking about. Every business is posting photos of their businesses with the “bear” there, making jokes, etc. The DNR has told us that this bear is a transient, wandering looking for a home or whatever. They are taking it seriously of course, and telling people in that area to exercise caution, secure their garbage, and they even cancelled some of the outdoor recess for kids in the location it was spotted. It is just crazy that there is a bear here. We are used to things like rabbits and squirrels, a few deer, some coyotes occasionally. But not bears!
The excitement of the bear aside, we have been just working away over here! We are wrapping up school, as Wyatt has another surgery at the end of this month. He had hardware installed last July with his big surgery, and this time he has to get it removed. So I am slowing down on school for a bit, and we will take a long break for June and then pick up again in July. We are going to do some basics to prevent summer slide, and then also do a “South American Summer”. I like to use the summers as a time to teach Wyatt about other countries, and while I know we won’t get to do an in depth study on all of the countries in South America, we are going to talk about them all, and then do more deep dives on a few of them. I think it will be fun, but then again I am a geography nerd. We are definitely doing Peru and Brazil, and I would like to add in two more country studies. It is hard to narrow down!
Wyatt also started his Challengers Little League team, and wow does he love it!! The kids have two games a week, and they only play two innings each game, which is just enough time. I have to hand it to the city that organized this as part of their Little League program, they have made a lot of kids very happy. It is completely free for our kids, they get uniforms and trading cards and it is really neat. The parents all go out with their kids on the field, help them bat, and it is a blast. Wyatt had quite the cheering section at his opening game! He had three grandparents, and my brother Devin, Chrissy, and the girls also came. It was definitely an act of love because it was freezing that day and it even snowed.
I can’t even begin to describe the smiles that Wyatt has out there. He loves zooming to the bases with his dad, playing first base and outfield (with Billy next to him) and I love watching him just exude happiness. All of the kids, honestly. Two of his friends from Blackbirds also play and it is a just a great time.
Tonight is actually our last Blackbird meeting of the year too. We are having an end of the year party in June, but today is the last meeting. I am keeping it simple and the kids are making giant poster board size paper airplanes and then playing with them outside. I think it will be fun!
Our kittens are getting to be teenagers! They will be 6 months old at the end of the month and are so goofy. Billy was commenting last night that the one he picked, Max our orange boy, is like him, all crazy zooms until he runs out of energy then he is all cuddles. Then he said the one I picked, Mouse, is just like me, a goofball klutzy calamity! I wish I could say he was wrong…. that is actually Billy’s nickname for me, Calamity, because I am always getting myself into situations. Lol.
They love to play and they play fetch with Wyatt, which is so cute. They are now good buddies with Miso which I love. And then at night Max is my cuddle buddy and Mouse is Billy’s. They have chosen their humans. Miso has usually found her own quiet spot in the den by then away from any kitten shenanigans.
And I think that is it from me this morning! I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!
That Little League team is so cool. Just fantastic and I’m so glad Wyatt has that opportunity (though it sounds pretty fun for the “elders” too!) That’s smart, not to let learning slip during the summer but probably a little more laid back.
I am so happy that they have that opportunity. He loves it so much!
We have had a few bear sightings over the past couple of years (not so odd as we are out in the country) but I have never seen it— just heard stories about it from others. I’m good with that though. The Little League team sounds so fun! I loved seeing your photos.
I am hoping that this one just kept going. It can’t want to stay in this area! Lol.
They are having so much fun on that team. Wyatt just lights right up!
I have never seen a bear in the wild. I think, living where you do (and where I do, too), I would be genuinely freaked out! I absolutely love that Wyatt and Billy had this fun opportunity for baseball. You’re right about the smiles. And, the kittens!!! Oh, how I love cats. Mike, however, does not. We did have one that he liked a lot, but we lost him to leukemia just as that was being recognized. I think you were so smart getting two instead of just one. I’m also glad Miso has adapted and adopted them! Have a fabulous weekend, Erin!
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I have seen them a few times in the wild – in the appropriate settings, but it still freaked me out! Once was at Shenandoah National Park, and the other time was driving up north in Michigan. There was a bear just hanging out on the side of the road! But here, absolutely not! Lol. It had better not decide it likes our area!
I am so happy we got two as well. They keep each other company a lot. And now I think Miso feels that way too, that they are her friends. I think she missed Maggie and Marlow, or at least having other cats around.
That is interesting news about the bear. Probably is looking for a place to call home and just went too far south. I didn’t know you were a geography nerd – me too! I love reading about other places, looking at maps and cam usually be the go-to for a trvia question. As a matter of fact, I just picked up Ken Jennings book titled Maphead.
Great big smiles on Wyatt having the time of his life with Little League ! Love the cat photos. They are so adorable.
I think that is exactly what happened. There haven’t been any more sightings so hopefully he kept on wandering.
I totally am! I was so close to majoring in it in college! I have a history degree but I took so many geography classes along with it, that I almost had enough for another degree. Lol. Wyatt is all about maps too. 🙂 Chip off the old block, that one. I will have to look his book up!
And thank you!