Wednesday Morning Coffee Catch Up

On September 11, 2024September 11, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Coffee Catch UP, Michigan8 Comments

Hello everyone! I am one tired mama this morning! I keep telling myself I can rest after such and such – and then something else comes up! Lol. Oh well – all too soon we will be deep into winter and not doing anything at all really, so it’s best to get out there and let Wyatt experience as much as possible while we can (and have some myself too)

Last Friday, we kicked off our school season with a field trip to The Henry Ford Museum. Wyatt is starting a big prehistoric unit in science this fall, and I love to try to find a field trip at the beginning of the year that correlates with something we are going to learn about. Lucky for me, we were able to squeak in under the wire for the Dinosaurs exhibit at the museum, two days before it was set to end. I am glad we made it, because we both had a really good time.

The artist who created these, John Payne, welded the metal and steel together to create these huge sculptures. Wyatt and I also talked about this, how art doesn’t have to just be paintings or sketches, it can be these enormous dinosaurs made out of steel, fire and heat. The exhibit is called Dinosaurs in Motion, and it is interactive. Half of the dinosaurs could be moved and manipulated using old fashioned pulley systems, and we could pull ropes, levers, spin wheels -there were all sorts of different ways to activate the pulleys. And let me tell you, those dinosaurs were heavy! Wyatt and I would be pulling or pushing together and sometimes I had to put my whole weight behind it. There was just one dinosaur I couldn’t really budge, and a young twentysomething man asked if we needed some extra oomph! I said yes and he helped Wyatt get that dinosaur really moving!

The other half of the dinosaurs were activated by computer, and you can see Wyatt at the controls in the one photo. All of they exhibits you could press buttons and make the dinosaurs roar, and flash lights like lightning and play storm sound effects; the computer versions you could do that plus use controls to move them around. It was really really cool, and I felt like we were in the movie Jurassic Park. Wyatt could not get over how big that T-Rex was, and kept giving it the side eye. He was a little skeptical of it at first.

The exhibit was a fantastic way to kick off school and I was so glad that we went.

On Saturday, Wyatt had like the perfect Wyatt day. Billy and I also very much enjoyed ourselves, especially the autumn weather that we were having! We took a drive out to Grosse Pointe Park, to a children’s bookstore named Coreanders. It was so whimsical, adorable, and I wanted to spend hours in there. It was not very big, but just big enough. The walls are covered in beautiful murals, including the entire elevator shaft. The elevator to the second floor has a window in the door, so that as you go up or down, you can view a mural on the way. It is spectacularly done. I was also so happy that they were wheelchair accessible!

There is also a cafe/ice cream shop in the back, and we of course had to pop in for coffee and cookies which we ate in the courtyard. It felt like we were in New Orleans, with the wrought iron, the brickwork, the garden. Tucked in and hidden about the garden were little garden statuary, little animals reading or just hiding, and we enjoyed looking at them all and picking our favorites. Also – the cookie was delicious, and was made at a nearby boulangerie, name LeRouge. Wyatt picked out a book, I picked out a book, and also grabbed a few cute bookmarks. I love them – they are designed by Ingrid Press and they are beautiful! I should never have looked up that website because now I want everything!

We walked around the cute little area, wandered through a farmers market that was just closing up but I still managed to buy a bag of loose tea from Outer Realm teas. I bought the Royal Tea and we are going to brew a pot up over the weekend.

When we went home, we painted as we had not managed to fit art in over during the week. Wyatt is studying Charley Harper for a few weeks and I wanted to fit in the first lesson. Then we had game night! I think all three of us crashed out that night!

Sunday was much more relaxed. I went to church in the morning, then we hung out at home for the afternoon, just relaxing and doing whatever. Dinner was an adventure though. We were planning on watching The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for Comfy Cozy Cinema that evening, so we thought it would be fun to get Indian food as well. And goodness, I am so glad that we did. It was fantastic. We ordered from a place called Charminar Biryani House in Detroit and it was delicious. We couldn’t decide what to get, everything looked amazing, so we ordered Butter Chicken and Tandoori chicken, and split it with some buttered naan bread (Wyatt had a different dinner although he seriously missed out).

Needless to say, it was a very packed weekend. This week though, is a much slower pace right now. School, and finishing up some errands and projects for scouts tomorrow night – it will be our first meeting! I am super nervous about it! Tonight I still need to make game paddles for a game we are playing, and put together the little beaded keychain kits for every kit, that they are going to make while learning about the pack laws. (Be kind, etc) Wish us luck everyone!

Here are a few photos from the roll!

And that is it from me today! I hope you all have a wonderful day and do something today that makes you smile!

Friday Morning Coffee Catch Up

On September 6, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Coffee Catch UP, family, Michigan15 Comments

Hello everyone!! It is a rainy day here today, and I have to admit, it is making me feel all happy inside. I needed a rainy day. Wyatt and I are going to go slow this morning and then later on we are going to the museum to see the dinosaur exhibit before it is gone. When we get home, we are painting. It should be fun!

Where to begin? I will start with Billy’s medical procedure on Tuesday. It was a regular type thing that everyone gets at some point as they age, but it was the first time Billy had ever had anesthesia so it was freaking me out a little. They told me that they were only going to give him just enough for the short procedure, and that most people wake up immediately once back in the room. He spent the day before getting ready for this procedure (I am sure most of you can guess what this was at this point) and Wyatt and I kept busy doing other things which I will talk about next, and then we had to be at the hospital bright and early the next morning. I am all over the place, I apologize. I blame the fact that I am still drinking my first cup of coffee.

We were shown to Billy’s little room and they told me I could stay there while he was having his procedure done. I did take my embroidery with me, and so many nurses came in and looked at it while I was stitching. They all thought it was cute, and mentioned that they had been thinking of doing something like it. One nurse told me that she used to do it with her grandmother when she was little and would like to pick it back up. It was sort of neat how it was a conversation starter. And the anesthesiologist was right on – Billy started to wake up almost immediately when they rolled him back in. He was very groggy and doesn’t remember it but he was up (ish). We got a good report from the doctor and then we were on our way! Wyatt was with his grandma while we were gone and she reported that he did excellent as well – although he refused to eat or sleep while I was gone. So I need to work on that guys! We are just together so much. I don’t have many sitters available and then there is homeschool and his therapy anyway.. but we need to work on this.

So that was Tuesday. Let’s throw it back to the weekend. The Sunday before Labor Day we went to my brother’s for a fire, and it was such a relaxed night. Little Wild Child doesn’t give her parents a break though, she cracks me up. Mermaid Girl was a kid that would sit and color and play for hours in one spot – Wild Child never ever stops moving and running around and getting into everything. And she gives you the most mischievous smile as she does! She is funny. I did get her to sit down for a few minutes. She likes to put things into containers now (at that stage lol) and I took the game Qwirkle with me, which has a million little wooden tiles in a bag. So I dumped the bag and mesmerized her for a few minutes with them. Mermaid Girl was there too – she brought out a whole collection of cat stuffies and toys for me to view. It was cute.

On Monday, Wyatt and I went to Greenfield Village briefly. We were going to ride the train a few times and walk around but the bees and wasps were insane! I am not sure what the problem was but they were just swarming us it felt like. So we rode the train once around and then went to the gift shop instead – which Wyatt told me was his favorite part. Of course. Lol. I don’t even buy this kid stuff everywhere we go, so it is funny to me he likes to shop. He did pick out a sticker for his water bottle while we were there though this time and he was very happy with it.

Wednesday, Wyatt had therapy where he continued to do awesome, then in the evening we went to my mom’s senior apartment building because Elvis was in the house! My mom hasn’t been doing well with her mental health lately and it was nice to get her outside and doing something fun. And honestly, it was really fun. The impersonator did a great job and had many of the residents up and dancing. Wyatt was bopping along to the music, and even Billy and I were singing too. It was a wonderful evening to be outside too, perfect really. It was a nice night.

And now it is Friday! Pizza night! Field trip, art day. Tomorrow is game night and Sunday is when Billy and I watch our movies for Comfy Cozy Cinema – this week is the Great Exotic Marigold Hotel. We may have a few other surprises in store as well for the weekend, we shall see.

And that is that for today! I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!

Mini Trip Getaway: Shopping, Squirrels, and Starry Skies

On March 5, 2024March 5, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn family friendly, Michigan14 Comments

Last year, it was wolves. This year, the stars. Every year for Wyatt’s birthday we try to find a nature inspired adventure; when he was little, they were closer to home, but as he has gotten older, we have ventured farther afield. Last year we travelled to Indiana to the Wolf Park Sanctuary, which was awesome and I thought, well, how the heck do we do anything to measure up to that trip? And then I realized, I didn’t need to. It wasn’t about that. It’s not about finding bigger and better every year – it is about finding a new adventure as a family. After that, it was easy to pick. And honestly, this trip was pretty darn fantastic in every way.

This year, we travelled to a town in Northern Michigan – Alpena, right on Lake Huron. Billy and I were excited because Lake Huron is one of the two Great Lakes we had never visited. We always visit the sunset side of Michigan, never the sunrise side. So this was a new experience for us too! I reserved a cute little AirBnB in a quiet neighborhood, that was advertised as being close to the lake and downtown and when we pulled up we were happy to see that it was just as perfect in person as it was online. A little corner house, filled with light, roomy and bright, and perfect for our little family’s little trip. We trundled in with all of our gear – so much when traveling with a kid! Games and technology and snacks and of course his gifts for his actual birthday. Cake and ice cream too, and all the things for a pancake breakfast per Wyatt’s request.

Our first night, after we had finished grocery shopping, we just settled in and were lazy bones, enjoying the comfort of the house. We ordered food from a place named The Nest, and it blew us away it was so delicious. Billy and I each ordered a different steak burger – Billy the Brie Larson, and I ordered the Classic Owl (of course). Wyatt ordered the grilled cheese from the Fledglings part of the menu, and wow, everything was amazing. Like, it was the best burger I have had in a long time, if ever. I definitely recommend this place if you are ever in Alpena, hands down. We didn’t dine in, we took it back to the house where we ate it picnic style on our picnic blanket on the living room floor. Wyatt loves a picnic, so a picnic we gave him.

We turned in early, and were up with the birds the next day, thanks to our own little early bird.

After a cup of coffee, Billy started making the big pancake and bacon breakfast for our new nine year old!

Wyatt loves Peppa Pig. Like loves Peppa Pig. There is an episode where Daddy Pig flips a pancake and a pancake lands on his head – so we were joking and wondering if Billy was going to end up with a pancake on his head, like Daddy Pig. Hence, the pancake on Billy’s head. He’s a good sport. Lol.

After filling up on pancakes and bacon, we headed out! Our first stop, downtown Alpena for a little shopping. You may not realize this, but Wyatt loves to shop. It cracks Billy and I up, because we are not shoppers. However my dad LOVES to shop, so apparently he inherited his love of shopping from his grandpa. Our first stop was Cabin Creek Coffee, where a polite pirate held the door open for us. It was so cute in there! Then we spent the next hour or so happily popping in and out of the shops. Our favorite by far was Traveling Ladders, an art/antique/home decor store. First the woman working was so friendly and welcoming, which is always nice. And the store itself was chock full of beautiful things – I could have spent all day in there marveling at all the little things. It is two floors, with the top floor being all antiques – just like the building itself is an old building. It was an old pharmacy and you can see the all the old bottles and boxes and shelves and drawers still there. It was really beautiful! I of course had to take a photo from the top floor of Wyatt and Billy way down there below! We also ended up buying a really cool antique/vintage poster for Wyatt’s room redo that is upcoming.

After exhausting all of our shopping options, we moved on! I had read about a small little island wildlife sanctuary right there in Alpena and that was our next stop. It was just the perfect size for us and it was so beautiful. It was really neat that it was a little island too. It was like this little peaceful oasis of nature, quiet, and calm right there in the city. And, we saw flying squirrels!!! We heard this weird noise that we thought was from birds, but nope, it was flying squirrels! We have never seen them in person so that was a first for us as well. They were so cute and tiny – and so loud despite their diminutive size. We also stumbled upon a geocache, and we added our names to the notebook and left a Valentines rubber stamp that I had in my purse, because I am a mom and become the holder of all things and you never know what you are going to find in my purse.

After walking around here, we were ready to go back to the house and chill out for a while. We played games, watched tv, just bummed around. We had a big night planned so it was good to get some relaxing time in there.

We hung out for a bit, then as dinner time rolled around we knew we had to get moving again for the main event of Wyatt’s birthday surprise! We had pizza followed by cake and ice cream, then bundled up for our night under the stars! Ok, not a whole night. Just a little while under the stars. Our destination – Rockport State Park! It has been designated a dark sky park, which means there is absolutely no light pollution. Being from the Detroit area, we are used to the dark being not really actually full dark at home. As we got closer and closer, the dark began to feel much closer, and the stars started popping out in the sky, little by little, and more and more. We could not have asked for a more perfect night for stargazing either. Clear, not a cloud in the sky, and a new moon, which means no moonlight either – just the light of the stars. We pulled into the lot, with Lake Huron in front of us, and Billy switched off the headlights. And then, it was pitch black. The dark just enveloped us, which I have to admit was a little unsettling at first. The woods surrounded us, the lake was in front of us, and I couldn’t see either of them. But I could feel them, if that makes sense. There was a chill in the air, and the waves were rioting below us, lapping against the shore with their slosh and retreat. The real show however was overhead. Never have Wyatt and I seen so many stars in the sky! It was like a brilliant blanket, and it seemed like there was not one available spot left in the sky for one more star. Orion was out, bold and bright. The Big Dipper and Little Dipper. It was just awe inspiring. We could have watched them all night (even though I was a bit nervous a bear would sneak up on us and eat us up) but all things must come to an end at some time. So after collecting a few rocks (Billy turned the headlights on for this) we headed back into town, leaving the stars and sky behind. As we drove to our little house for the night, The Decemberists were playing on the radio and it was just a dreamy way to end the evening as we headed back through the black. It had felt like we were the only people on earth for a little while and made us think big thoughts as we were reminded of just how wide and vast this universe really is.

This photo really does not do the sky justice – we didn’t have any other camera equipment with us besides our phone camera and Billy managed to get this one shot, which is beautiful. Imagine it though, with stars filling almost the whole frame because that is how it looked in person.

We of course had to examine our rocks before bed – and we learned that Wyatt really loves rocks. In fact so much, he wanted to take one to bed with him that night. So one rock became designated the bedroom rock and spent the night on the nightstand. It is on the nightstand here at home now, too.

And just like that, our adventure had come to an end. The next morning we packed up and headed home, stopping only for one thing – a roadside Paul Bunyan and Babe.

We had a fantastic weekend with our little guy for his birthday!

Up North Trip – Part 2

On August 30, 2023August 29, 2023 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn family, Michigan, mom life12 Comments

Days 2 and 3 were filled with perfect weather. Sunny, warm but not too warm, the kind of weather you want on your vacation, you know? I loved sitting outside in the morning, drinking my coffee and listening to the birds. I have another app – the Merlin app. My little family of three gets up hours before every else, so the first two days we would get our breakfast and head outside. I would put on the Merlin app and watch it light up with all the bird names that were in the area. It picks up and identifies the bird calls and if you pay attention, it helps you learn the different calls yourself. It is really neat. I think we wound up with 19 different species of bird?

Being early birds worked out well! By the time we had our breakfast and had hung out, everyone else was tumbling out of bed and getting their coffee and food. So of course to be helpful, Billy and I volunteered to hold the Peanut so that her parents could eat more easily. Such a hardship I know, right? She is the happiest little morning baby! All smiles and giggles. We also had a morning of painting in pajamas, which was super fun too. I had Peanut “hold” a crayon and scribble so her art could be displayed as well.

Once we were all ready, we would head out for our daily excursions! The first full day we opted for nearby Petosky, which was a lot of fun, and the second day we explored Indian River itself (that was painting day, so we had less time).

However, Indian River has another attraction I have always seen advertised, but never actually had visited, called The Cross in the Woods. We spent a lot of time wandering the grounds, which were beautiful. I can’t imagine attending church there, it would be amazing honestly, out in the woods like that. Very different from the small Chapel in the Pines, but just as lovely. The Peanut slept very peacefully while we were there.

While we were there we saw this statue of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, a Native American from the Algonquin-Mohawk nation, who was known as the Lily of the Mohawks. She became a Catholic saint. I am not Catholic but I did find her story very interesting. St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. Her statue was lovely and the base was covered in turtles, which I found to be such a wonderful recognition of her native heritage of Haudenosaunee.

After visiting The Cross in the Woods, we just putzed around some more in town and at the cabin. I always liked winding down in the evening too, with this crew. We actually didn’t get to have many fires, thanks to the weather that developed, but we did have one, and it was pretty awesome.

The next three days though all, were cold and rainy. It did interrupt some of our plans but we let those plans go and just had fun together however we could. We explored nearby small towns, Wyatt got his beautiful hair cut because no one liked not being able to see his eyes (which I will admit, his bangs were way too long) by a barber in Cheboygan. This barber was so nice guys, his name is Brad and his shop is right there on the main street. He cut Wyatt’s hair for free because we didn’t have cash, and he knew that up front. We did discover my brother had cash though and ran it in after, so we did pay him. We visited Mackinaw City, which to my dismay is very different than I remember. A lot of the stores, like the Island Bookstore which I loved, are gone, replaced by souvenir t-shirt shops. Like most of Mackinaw City is t-shirt shops. I am guessing the economy and the pandemic hit the area hard, or maybe just tourism sunk its teeth in years ago. It’s been a long time since I was up there so I am not sure. I was also disappointed to read that the Forts in both the City and on the Island were not super accessible for wheelchairs. I mean, I understand on some level as they are historical buildings, but the one in town is not super accessible because you have to cross 500 feet of sand to get to it – that can be changed somehow, I would think. Wheelchairs and sand just doesn’t happen. It was pretty cold and foggy and we opted to skip the island, at least during those days. My brother was considering it for Friday, when we were all sort of splitting up for the day. The kids did go to the local Build Your Bear (like Build a Bear) and each got a stuffie. Wyatt got a wolf, and Mermaid Girl picked a cat. They were both enamored with their choices. We also spent a quick chilly hour at the beach gathering rocks, and stopped in at Chillermania where the kids got tons of books and met the author Jonathan Rand, who signed their books. So the days were not a total loss. We also had our best meal during those days, at the Noggin Room in Petosky. Delicious!

And while we had some gray skies and rainy days, our friends and family back home were going through the worst weather – those tornadoes that hit. Five of seven of the tornadoes were within 10-20 miles of our home. My brother and I were watching the weather and texting friends to see if we needed to alert our mother. No tornadoes hit our actual city, but everyone says it was the scariest round of storms they have ever been through, even family and friends who are not normally afraid of storms.

The most important thing was that we were together, just hanging out with no agenda or schedule or somewhere we needed to rush off too. We made memories that these kids will remember forever, being with family, especially grandpa.

I have one more day to cover guys, and that is it. I promise! But it was a really good one, so it gets its own post.

Northern Michigan Trip – Part One

On August 29, 2023August 29, 2023 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Michigan13 Comments

Day one of course, was our journey to the cabin we rented in Indian River. A four hour drive sure feels like forever when you are in a hurry to get somewhere! We opted to stop in Hartwick Pines for a break, which is no hardship for us because it is one of our favorite places. The beauty of the Old Growth Forest is majestic, with trees soaring high above, so high you have to lean your head all the way back to get a glimpse of the tops. And the smell! So fresh and evergreen.

Before we stopped here though, we saw a sign for the CCC Museum, and decided to pull in and see what that was all about. We were glad that we did, it was a neat little quick stop, and we learned quite a bit!

This is a self-guided tour of the grounds and buildings, and it was really neat (and wheelchair accessible). This site depicted the work done by the CCC to regrow the forests that were lost due to forest fires. The interior pictures above are from inside the cone building, referring to pinecone, of course! They would roll the seeds out of the pinecones, overwinter them in mold and damp proof containers that looked like those giant milk canisters you see on dairy farms, and then start the seedlings off and turn them into “Happy Little Trees”. Wyatt was excited about the Bob Ross sign, as you can see.

It was a neat little stop before we got to our next one, Hartwick Pines.

When we got there, we headed straight for the visitor’s center first. We weren’t sure where exactly we were going, but I had found a wheelchair accessible trail on my AllTrails app, so I did know I wanted to do that with Wyatt. First though, we poked around the visitor’s center, and even picked up a few souvenirs. T-shirts for Billy and I, and a book for Wyatt – they didn’t have shirts in his size (or any kids size), which was a bummer. The book we got was really cool though, and since he loves books it was fine that he didn’t get a t-shirt. Then we walked back outside onto the boardwalk to look at the big map, and met the cutest little Llewellin Setter! She was so darn sweet! Some of you may have been around long enough that you remember my Penny, an English Setter and this little girl reminded me so much of my Penny, even though Penny was copper colored.

We opted to start out at the lumberjack camp, which was smart since that is where the trail was that we wanted. We were having a tough time with the map for some reason and were pleased to find the trail right where we ended up. LOL.

There was a little chapel tucked back, high on a hill among the trees, that was so serene and peaceful, and so just beautiful in its simplicity. There is a prayer inside that is so perfect for the surroundings, and for the people that visit, called Nature’s Prayer.

Our Heavenly Father, Creator of all that is nature,
We humbly come to you in the midst of nature’s splendor,
To thank you that as Americans we are free
To worship as we please, work as we please,
And move about as we please to enjoy all that is nature:
Its mountains, its hills, its valleys, its lakes,
Its streams, and the living things that dwell therein;
We pray unto You that someday the world may be at peace
And all men be free to enjoy nature’s abundance.
We ask you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
That we be guided to protect this priceless heritage
Which we, in America, are privileged to enjoy. Amen

It was a wonderful walk through the woods and Wyatt was SO happy to be back outside under a canopy of trees. We have been having a hard time lately finding a place to go with him in his chair! The AllTrails app I used is perfect though, you can use a filter for wheelchair friendly trails which is awesome.

After exploring we knew we had to get back in the car. We were so close to the cabin and had one stop left – a store for food supplies for the cabin. We were all bringing stuff and just sort of sharing food around, as we were sharing the cabin with my dad, my brother Devin, SIL Chrissy, and my nieces Mermaid Girl and Tiny Peanut. My stepmom was supposed to be there too but actually had some medical issues of the non-contagious sort and had to stay home, which was a bummer – and we really missed her!

Anyway, we finally got to the cabin. My brother was already there, and my dad got in just behind us. We spent the rest of the evening figuring out who was sleeping where, unloading the cars, and just settling in. Billy worked as a short order cook in the kitchen making either eggs and toast or grilled cheese for dinner since it was late, and a pizza order was going to take 90 minutes! We all hit the hay pretty early that night.

It was a good day!!

Northern Michigan Memories

On August 16, 2023August 16, 2023 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn family, Michigan22 Comments

If you live in Michigan, chances are you have gone “up north” at least once in your life. Some of us travel about, stay in different areas, while others have had permanent homes that have housed decades of memories, or even rentals that their families have stayed at for decades as well. Some people camp, some stay in hotels, but regardless, you are up north.

We went a few times when I was a kid, sometimes all the way up to Traverse City, sometimes a little bit south of the TC for my grandma’s birthday which was in July. I remember swimming in the lake with my cousins at a rental on Houghton, endless video games in the game room at the Holiday Inn in whatever city that was we stayed in, walking up really hot sand dunes with my mom and dad when my legs were only 4 years old long. (Not the big dune!)

Billy and I always used to head toward Mackinaw or the UP on our trips. We camped, we stayed in a hotel that was really little tiny cabins, we stayed in a big hotel. We walked on beaches, hiked through the woods, visited the Sawmill at Mackinaw at least a dozen times.

We’ve eaten fudge like the fudgies we are, visited historic Fishtown, shopped in Glen Arbor. Spent days in Traverse City, sampled the wines at Mission Point, and visited the lighthouse. Just so much. So many memories that I can’t do them all justice in this post. My dad took me and the family all the way up to the Upper Peninsula in high school when I was considering Northern for college. We saw Copper Harbor, mighty storms on Superior, waterfalls, Paradise, the shipwreck museum, and ate in a restaurant that was the living room of a home. Billy and I have ventured to the UP as well, to Germfask renting a tiny cottage and visiting Pictured Rocks. Thomas Dambo just built a troll up there in Germfask, so we will have to go back!

It’s been fun watching these two through the years. They are so big now it seems! And now our pictures will have tiny Bebe too!

We may never get anywhere like Disney together, but to me these days up north are precious and full of fun. Of game nights, crafting, sitting around the fire. Kayaking, swimming, stories, and laughter. Looking for Petoskey stones (and now I want to find a Yooper Stone!), cedar forests, the scent of conifers, one of my favorite things in the whole world. I always know when we have reached “up north” – when the road at the side of the highway is just lined with all the big evergreens, reaching toward the sky, pointing our way ever north.

Look at that little face!

Thanks for looking back with me!

Dream Night at the Detroit Zoo

On June 6, 2023June 5, 2023 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Michigan24 Comments

We are such fans of the Detroit Zoo! We have been taking Wyatt since he was a wee little baby, and even before he was born, Billy and I would go to the “Date Nights” they would host, which was adults only, after hours, and served alcohol. It was always a good time! Our first real date night after Wyatt was born was actually one of these date nights, now that I think about it! We love going to all of their seasonal events, especially the Halloween night and the Holiday Lights event. But Dream Night was something else, something even more special. It is a night intended for those with special needs, and is limited to a pre-approved 1000 guests, total. It is cost free, everything from snacks to tickets and parking to the special exhibits, and is stress free as well.

I applied early and a few days later heard back that we were lucky enough to get tickets. I knew that Wyatt would enjoy it, and with hardly any other people there, Wyatt would be able to see things easier.

It felt so empty there! I have never been there, ever, where it felt like we were practically alone in the zoo until Dream Night. We pulled up and had our choice of parking spots, which is crazy, even with a handicap tag. There was no line to wait in to enter, and everyone was so pleasant and accommodating right from the get go, greeting us warmly. We strolled through, without having to worry about tons of kids cutting off Wyatt’s wheelchair, which can get a little scary! Kids are kids and will dart, it happens, but I never want to roll over a child’s foot! We could let Wyatt loose without fear! We didn’t though because we didn’t want him rolling away too far!

Our first stop were my favorites, the otters, who were hiding which bummed us out but we will go back and catch them later this summer, and then the reptile house. We were so excited about all of the cool snakes!

Next we wandered over to the tigers, where one of them was cooling off in its pool. It was a hot night, so I didn’t blame it one bit! From the tigers, we headed to Bricklive, which usually is an extra cost on top of the tickets, but was open for Dream Night! It was amazing! We were all blown away by these creations, all created from “bricks” that were very Legolike, but apparently not Legos. The amount of time and bricks that went into these very lifelike animals was mind boggling! The elephant took 25 days (or 600 hours) and 149, 071 bricks, and five people to build. Fascinating!!

We eventually stopped goggling at these animals to go see the real live ones, and continued on to the lions, the rhino, the giraffes, and my favorite, the zebras!! (Wait, did I say the otters were my favorites already? Well, they both are lol)

We moved on to the Kangaroos, which is super cool because you can walk through their exhibit and they get so close, and popped out right by Wyatt’s favorites, the wolves. The male wolf was hanging out right by the front of their huge exhibit, so we got to see him just relaxing and enjoying the evening.

By this point, Wyatt was getting tuckered out. It was 7:30 pm, and he usually likes to be in his pajamas, in bed, and being read to by 8 pm (this kid is an early bird, not a night owl ) and was fading fast on us. He really really wanted to ride the train though, and since it drops us at the front gate, we doubled back to get on it. When we got there though, we had a bit of a situation with his wheelchair. It is a small trainlet, and it can accomodate wheelchairs that fold up like an accordion, or there is a car with a ramp that they tie down the chair. Since Wyatt’s wheelchair folds down from the top, it wasn’t going to be narrow enough to take him out and stick it in with us so we opted for the ramp and tie down. Then we heard the ramp might not be working, but the woman running the train line was determined Wyatt was getting a ride, somehow. She thought if the train came back and the ramp wasn’t working, he could get a personal ride on the huge golf cart. Billy and I had already decided that if the chair couldn’t get on, Wyatt still could – one of us would ride while the other pushed the chair back to the front.

However, the ramp worked and we got all set up and then were told we couldn’t ride in that car with him. I almost passed out for a second when I heard that. I was like, I can’t not ride with him. First, because he will be scared, second because I will be scared, and third, because what fun is it for him to ride all alone?? So I asked if we could leave the chair there by itself, and just let him sit with us, and of course they were ok with it. They were very concerned and wanted to make sure we were happy – the woman who said we couldn’t sit there was just doing her job so we weren’t upset or anything, it just wasn’t going to happen that way. So we left the chair and sat all together and it was perfect. And it was all worth it, as the train was Wyatt’s favorite part of the night. The team of train workers got him to shout “All aboard!” and off we went! He was so ready to go home by the time the ride was over, despite loving every second of the night. Although we did make one more stop, the gift shop, where he picked out an otter t-shirt. (he also loves the otters)

It was a wonderful, magical, fantastically fun night, and I am so grateful that Wyatt was able to experience it! A big thank you to the Detroit Zoo for choosing us and for hosting such an awesome night out for all the families there!

Family Day Out at The Henry Ford Museum

On October 21, 2022October 21, 2022 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn day in the life, Detroit, Michigan15 Comments

On Monday, Billy surprised Wyatt and I by taking a vacation day! We considered going to Greenfield Village but it was cold and then started to rain so we switched plans and went to the museum instead. Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum are two parts of the same museum and we haven’t been to the actual museum in quite a long time. It was definitely time to go back. And they have a special exhibit right now, the Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume exhibit!

We loved it. These costumes designers are so talented, with billowing dresses, perfectly tailored suits, and all the various whimsical fairy tale touches.

Billy and I couldn’t believe how tiny these actors and actresses must be to fit these wee little outfits!

We all had favorites:

Ok so I had two favorites. The costume that Julie Andrews wore as Mary Poppins, and Keira Knightley’s Sugar Plum Fairy gown. Wyatt loved the Captain Jack Sparrow costume, and Billy loved Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent dress.

After goggling over the costumes we moved on to the rest of the museum.

One of my favorite permanent exhibits is the Your Place in Time exhibit. It takes you through the different generations and highlights the different technologies and pop culture of the day. The 80s bedroom was so me. I even listened to Depeche Mode and had a moody James Dean poster. Wyatt is such a music kid – he enjoyed listening to the music of the 50s and 60s, especially The Beatles. And while I might be a Gen Xer, I think it would be really cool to live in the hippie geodesic dome. (not to be confused with the Buckminister Fuller Dymaxion House that is there which is also super cool)

I always have to go visit the William Hopson sign too. His story is so crazy, and romantic to me. Lol. He was also a bit of a looker. He has a page on the Smithsonian site as well – he was a well known and beloved pilot in his day.

Billy and Wyatt were more excited about the trains and cars – and there are so so many. Seriously. I did take this photo of the stagecoach trailer that belonged to the Lindberghs. Anne wrote her novel The Steep Ascent in it!

And in case you have wondered where certain items from history end up, check museums. They are probably there. The Henry Ford has a sort of macabre collection of items within its walls – including the car Kennedy was in that fateful day in Dallas, and also the car Reagan was in the day he was shot as well. It is strange and eerie and sad to view the Kennedy car; I wasn’t alive at the time but I have seen the footage numerous times and can picture Jackie trying to climb out the back very clearly, and it brings that day to life for me, as learning about history should, even the sad and tragic moments. The Henry Ford also has the chair Lincoln was assassinated in, and Edison’s last breath. We didn’t do the whole museum this time but we will go back. We use our membership pretty heavily, and my favorite thing about a membership is that you don’t feel you need to get everything done in one day.

And on that note, we were ready to head home, one of us with a little souvenir.

Field Trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts

On October 18, 2022October 18, 2022 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Detroit, family friendly, homeschooling, Michigan15 Comments

Circumstances have aligned that are going to make going places and doing things much more accessible for us. First, the wheelchair! Wyatt is working on walking but just doesn’t have the stamina or endurance to go very far, so we need the wheelchair until he gets there. And we have one now and life is easier! Second, the pandemic has reached a point where I feel comfortable taking Wyatt into places like museums again. We still wear masks but things are better for us around here. So I was super excited to take Wyatt to the museum!

We rolled up early in the morning., bright and early at 9 when they open. We are get up and go people, we are up early anyway (thanks to early bird boy) and I also like how empty a place is that early so, there we were. The only other people there seemed to be the people going to the Van Gogh exhibit (which I need to get to before it leaves) so we sort of had the rest of the museum to ourselves for quite a while. My mom went with us, as did Billy since he had the day off to go camping. (he headed out after our field trip). We had a great time.

First up were the Diego Rivera murals, the whole point to our trip. Wyatt has been learning about Diego River in art and I was really excited to be able to show him some actual, in person, works of Rivera. He could not believe how huge they were. They are pretty awe inspiring.

After we spent some time here, we moved on to the ofrendas, a special exhibit right now. I wanted all of us to see it, as this month Wyatt and I are focusing on all Hispanic artists this month and I also have some lessons about Dia de los Muertos as well coming up. My mom, Billy, and I were very moved by these personal and emotional creations. They were very elaborate and thoughtful. I was not comfortable taking photos of them for obvious reasons, but there were some parts I did feel it was ok to do so. These ofrendas were intended for public viewing to educate but also still were personal to the artist’s family, so it was tricky.

After soaking in the ofrendas, we wandered around the rest of of that floor. Wyatt was more excited about using his wheelchair than he was about the art and we had to keep him in check – I was slightly anxious my exuberant child was going to knock over a Roman bust or something.

Just a few more, I promise.

We didn’t explore the whole museum this time – I figured that this was enough for this visit and we can back and see the rest later. I also wanted to visit the gift shop before we left to look for Frida, Rivera, or Day of the Dead stuff. I could have poked around in there all day but my guys were getting restless.

The DIA offers a free educator pass to homeschool families which is pretty cool! I applied in September and received mine a few days later. I am looking forward to seeing what they offer!

Our first wheelchair field trip adventure was a success and I am looking forward to our future adventures!

Friends’ Fall Day Trip

On September 27, 2022September 28, 2022 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Michigan11 Comments

Every year for the past seven years (minus the big pandemic years), my friends (Chrissy, Kelly, and Jill) and I go on a fall day trip. This was actually our first fall adventure after big COVID and it was so good to get back out together! We always have such a good time and this time was no exception. Although, our start was a little rough…

Our adventure started in Battle Creek. It…was not what we had been expecting. We read there were some museums and restaurants, a garden and an arboretum, and we were like ok, let’s try it. I knew the Kellog’s Factory was no longer open which was a bummer because I toured it as a kid and it was neat, but we were not prepared for everything to be pretty much closed down on a Saturday. Our first stop was the Welcome Center – which was closed. So we headed for the Leila Arboretum, and maybe since it was overcast and deserted, it was sort of creepy. We all had to use the facilities since we had actually really begun the journey at Starbucks and it had been a drive, but our only option was a portapotty by the side of the road. We were cracking up at how this day was starting off. We wandered over to the arboretum which was a bunch of carved trees. Not really what we expected, and while they obviously took some skill and time and talent, we had been expecting like a maintained garden and arboretum with many types of trees.

After checking out the trees, we drove over to the garden area, which was closed. So we headed to the museum, which I think has been closed for a very long time. We decided it was maybe time to eat since we were striking out everywhere. We went to Clara’s on the River for a quick lunch and drinks and decided over our meals that we were would drive back to Marshall, MI since things were not going as planned. The restaurant was very nice looking, the staff very accommodating, but the food was not great. And sort of expensive for what we got. I paid $17.00 for a small bowl of Kraft macaroni and cheese, y’all!

We finished up and got back in the car to make the short twenty minute drive back to Marshall. It ended up being a great decision! Marshall was hopping, with a Halloween festival and tours and people just all over, and it felt very alive and festive.

We started with a tour of the Honolulu House.

Just ten dollars to tour, and the guides did a a wonderful job! The house was build in 1860, and had a few different owners before going to ruin in the 1960s. The Historical Society scooped it up and began the restoration process, and they have done a beautiful job. It has a fascinating history; it was built by a former diplomat who had enjoyed his time stationed in Hawaii so much that he tried to recreate his life there, here. He died shortly after moving in, and the house was purchased by another family who ended up making some style changes, including adding the popular murals of their day to the walls.

Once we finished the tour we ventured outside and took a look at the porch. However, there was a tour set up there. It was a John Bellairs tour, a children’s book author who wrote The House with a Clock in its Walls. John Bellairs had lived in Marshall and the house that his book is based on is tucked away somewhere in one of the neighborhoods. We weren’t signed up so we didn’t go, but I plan to look it up to see if they are going to do it again.

We had read there was going to be a flea market nearby so we hopped in our cars and drove out of town to check it out. We must have gotten there too late since there were only 6 tables set up, and after a quick wander headed across the street to a place called Casewells Turkeyville. It was a large building chock full of stuff – an ice cream parlor, an arcade, a restaurant, a gift shop – it was huge. I could see kids having a blast there.

After this we headed back into Marshall, and into the little shops that line Michigan Avenue.

I loved that little dresser with a leaf! I couldn’t see us dragging it home though so I left it behind. It said it was a Canadian Maple dresser – so cute! However I did spend quite a bit of time in the independent bookstore! I particularly loved the banned books display. I ended up buying Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen because I loved it so much.

By the time we finished shopping it was time for dinner at Schuler’s. Schuler’s is such a beautiful restaurant inside, however we chose to sit outside this time around since Chrissy and I are not ready to sit in a restaurant yet. And here I share the big news! My brother and Chrissy are expecting a new little baby girl in March! I am so excited to be an aunt again to my newest little niece! So our family is being cautious right now with germs.

Our food however was insanely delicious. I got the English pot roast as did Jill, Kelly got the prime rib, and Chrissy got fish and chips. Everything was fantastic!