Michigan... more to love!

More from our time in Michigan... when I said we were relaxing, I wasn't kidding.  My favorite part of the day is the evening, watching the sunset over the corn fields!  So pretty... we had great, cool weather, without humidity, which was VERY FUN for the Floridians.  I have lived in Florida longer than I've lived anywhere else, so I guess that makes me a Florida Girl now.   

Here's Aunt Randee on the trampoline.  One of my favorite Carly Quotes came last summer when she asked Randee if she jumped on the trampoline all day long when she wasn't working.  Carly is still a little confused that Randee said no.  Anyways, Parker on the tramp!  Carly had a fun time playing with Parker.  He's a happy little guy who looks an awful lot like his Mama and his Uncle Ryan, with the little ring of curls at his neck!  He's almost one and has been walking for quite a while, so it's pretty hilarious to see him cruising around.  He's too little for that!!!

The "other side" of the yard from previous pictures... the building on the left is the indoor pool, the garage is in the middle and Ryan's Parents House on the right... I think Ryan is on the porch listening to the Rays game on the computer!  

2nd to the Sunsets on the Farm, are the Campfires!  Carly might argue that the s'mores come first, though!  Johnny made a nice fire for us...

Amazing sunsets... who needs the beach, right?!!

More of Michigan to come...

Tree Trimming...

...not the Christmas Tree, however.  Although, Michael's is starting to put out Christmas Stuff.  Really??

This is our house and the Enormous Oak Tree that resides in front of it... with some Smaller Tree That Starts With an "L" (according to our Tree Guy) behind it... and 2 more Enormous Oaks (we will call them, "A" and "B" since the Tree Guy did) in the back.  Hitting our house.  In fact, Enormous Oak Tree "C" (in the front) had a branch smacking against the house, hitting Ben's Room every night, scaring him.  His words, not mine.  Well, when Ben gets home from Camp today, he will have to find a New Reason To Get Out of Bed To See What My Parents Are Watching On TV.  (Sorry, Rochel.  I probably should have told you THAT is never going to end!!).

*oh look!  There's the Elusive Platinum Grey Jetta Sportswagen, parked in my driveway:)

... and after the Tree Guy.  He did NOT steal my car.  I moved it so he wouldn't smash it.  Pretty certain my insurance company cringes when I call them.  Tree People did almost drop a huge branch through the window in front, though.  Head Tree Guy had some quite colorful language over that one.  So, good thing I moved my car.  Just saying.

The Big Scary Branch.

Back 

And more pictures all cleaned up...

Michigan

A few pictures from our recent trip to Michigan...  we had a wonderfully RELAXING time.  We had planned to do some hiking and camping and roller coastering (at Cedar Point), but The Foot.  So we just took it easy with Ryan's family, and it was GREAT!  Who wouldn't want to relax on that GREEN GREEN GRASS???? 

Carly having a blast on Grandma's Trampoline.  It's a Hit, that's for sure!

And a view of part of the enormous backyard... that's Ryan's parents house on the left, the center white house is Great Grandma's House, and the building to the right of the trampoline is where Ryan and I usually stay in the winter, The Shed.

The Corn Field, and Isaiah and Ben exploring.  Pretty sure Julean was out there, too, but he's too little to see over the corn!  The kids loved playing out there!

While we were up there, Ryan's brother, Rick had a 5K fundraiser for his ministry, The Chamber.  We all went over to help out.  Ryan and Ben ran the 5K, and Carly ran the kids 1 mile Fun Run.  She made a friend while she was running.  Of course.  She said she finished in 12 minutes, but she was timing herself.  When I time myself, sometimes I finish a mile in 6 minutes.  Just saying.  Ok, kidding... she probably did.

The kids all got medals... Adriana ran VERY fast, so she'd been relaxing for quite a while when these girls strolled up.

The Results Table... I was writing everyone's names and times down.  Very Official Job.  It was kind of chilly and windy that morning, but a really fun event and apparently a nice run.  I, sadly, wouldn't know.

Ben relaxing in Grandpa's hammock.

More pictures to come... 

West Virginia Capitol

Charleston, West Virginia

Our favorite thing about this capitol was driving by the night before our visit and getting pictures with the building all lit up!  I would also like to add, that this picture was taken with my camera outside the panoramic sunroof of our new car:)  

Next morning, we toured for real... lots of walking for the Crutch Girl.  And again, Ryan was our photographer.  I really liked this shot of Ben and Carly walking up the back steps of the capitol... fortunately for me, there was a Handicap entrance.  Albeit with a very steep ramp.  Grrrr.

Inside the dome... that inner circle is a chandelier.

Carly noticed right off the lack of art work hanging in this building.  Most capitols have portraits of their Important People hanging everywhere.  She thought perhaps they had been robbed.  For real.  Just lots of long, plain, marble hallways.

Under a desk in the House... we thought that perhaps my brother Steve forgot to tell us he was a Representative in the State of West Virginia.  This guy has a serious Diet Coke Issue.  

The House and Senate Chambers were decorated a little better, with really pretty scrollwork...

... and the chandelier that hangs inside the dome.

Cute McGregor Children, sneaking up to the Gallery of the Senate, only to find it locked.

The Senate

The view from the front steps of the Capitol... (and the road where we stopped to take the first picture, outside the sunroof.  Did I mention it's a Panoramic Sunroof?)

Ryan and I really loved this stone house... it has a fantastic view, as it faces the First Picture.  Again, with the First Picture.

View from the back steps...

West Virginia is very proud of their State Quarter.

Plain Marble Hallway.

Hidden Staircase leading up to the dome.  Off Limits.

The Liberty Bell (each state was given a replica from the same cast iron as the original)... this is the first we've seen WITHOUT the tacky painted on crack.  Good Work West Virginia.  

Our Second Favorite Thing about this Capitol, the war memorials... and this statue of a female soldier.  Haven't seen that before, either.

And hands down, the best war memorial...

All the names of the soldiers from West Virginia are listed on each section inside... all these portions come together to form a circle with a pool all around the outside and you can walk all around the inside.  It's pretty neat and quiet moving.

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