Wednesday, April 9, 2008

I'm back!


I've been back for a while, but it seems like I've been gone forever. I did have a nice time in Oklahoma City and the group got a lot of things accomplished for work, but I really did miss my babies terribly. Oh, and my husband of course.

So we celebrated by going to the Frederick Meijer Gardens this past weekend to check out the butterfly exhibit, the children's gardens and play area and the sculpture gardens. This was our first time going and we loved it so much that we have decided that we are definitely coming back when everything is in bloom.


We spent some time in the arid garden indoors and it really made me want to go on vacation. Has anyone trouped to a tropical place with their VERY small children? Well, maybe someday soon, right?

Here are Channy and Ava contemplating the cacti.


Let me tell you how hard it was to take photographs in the butterfly exhibit. The exhibit lanes were too narrow for our double-wide stroller so we had to get the kids out and carry them through. They LOVED the butterflies but it is difficult, to say the least, to try to take steady pictures with one hand and holding a wriggling baby in the other. Here's an example...


So, this is the best butterfly shot I could manage.


We also walked over to the Michigan Farm where Channy ran around petting all the farm animal sculptures. He was having a great time running all over the place like an ant scurries around in circles before it reaches its destination. There was a dinner bell at the farm that Chandler really enjoyed ringing. Ava slept through most of this. I guess the butterflies wore her out.


Come and meet the letter people.
Come and visit the family!


Words are made of letter people...
A B C D, follow me!



Okay, so no one joined me in the Letter People theme song rendition, but those sculptures reminded me of my beloved childhood puppet show (it was your typical high-tech 70s children's show). So, I was inspired and threw out my jazz hands to sing the song with abandon. Joel pushed the kids farther ahead and pretended he didn't know the crazy blond woman trailing behind singing her heart out. Oh well. There were some beautiful and fun sculptures in the gardens, but the letter people were my favorite.

This reminds me that spring is coming and also that I have a lot of work to do in my yard.


Stay tuned for some crafty updates as I get settled back into my routine.

Back on the path...

4 comments:

Emily Cole said...

I love this post! It looks like that butterfly place is really cool! There's supposed to be one not too far from here, but we've never been... we may have to plan a trip soon! I love that huge trowel sculpture!!! I really need one in my yard!!! Ha ha! I don't know the letter people song, but that is a really cool sculpture too! The video is really funny too... I kept laughing! Welcome back - blogland has missed you!

Cheryl Arkison said...

I have no idea what song you were singing, but those letter people are damn cool!

Amanda Jean said...

that you so much for your super kind comment on my blog. I appreciate it so much.

I love the letter people. they are fantastic!!!

I used to live in Michigan but never made it to Fredrick Meijer Gardens. looks like a great place to visit.

Emily Cole said...

Uh - how did you get that picture in your header? I can't figure out how to get any of mine to fit!!!