But I'm still trying to get my feet under me on the home front, and the twin toddler sleep situation has afforded me very little child-free time to do anything since we returned on Tuesday. So I'll post about the trip in bits and pieces, starting with our least-favorite memory . . .
The Harrowing Journey
We flew out to Detroit on a Tuesday night, hoping the kids would sleep at least part of the flight. Our hopes were dashed and the hours stretched long on the flight as the Three Crazies attempted headstands on the seats, squirmed and whined, scattered ice, picked fights with each other, crushed crackers underfoot, incessantly played with tray-tables, and peeked over to the rows in front of and behind us.
We paid for three seats between the five of us (the girls qualify as lap children), but the Lord had mercy and Jeremy planned shrewdly in our seating arrangements--and people were understandably leery of taking the window seat next to Josiah!--so we ended up with perhaps the only extra seat on the plane. This was a great boon. We did our best to keep the kids in check and often switched the girls (Jeremy sat across the aisle with one of them--we weren't allowed to sit in the same row with two lap children).
Thankfully the kids never launched into any horrific episodes of screaming, kicking seats, etc. But Jeremy did have to deal with Josiah pooping on the bathroom floor (do you know how hard it is to take kids to the potty in those tiny airplane bathrooms, let alone clean up accidents with them in there?), and his phone dropped in the toilet . . . . and all the above-mentioned shenanigans wore us out. (I don't know how my parents managed the two long flights [plus a layover] to and from Dubai every a year with several little ones.)
But we made it safely to Detroit around 1 a.m. Wednesday and were home abed at the Baynes' by 2:30 a.m. We slept in and took it easy on Wednesday, so our pictures don't really start till Thursday, when we went to Greenfield Village in Dearborn.
Greenfield Village
Michigan welcomed us with gorgeous weather that first Thursday--breezy, cool, partly cloudy. Thanks to the generosity of some friends who let us use their pass, we all got into Greenfield Village (outdoor history museum created by Henry Ford) free and got free passes for the train and carousel, much to Josiah's delight.
Aunt Bobo on the train
Can you tell we're still a little sleep deprived after a rough night-flight to Detroit?
Josiah loved seeing the steam engine and riding the train, but Abby scrunched up her face and did a scared cry whenever we heard the whistle blow--even far across the acres! Even more than the train, the 1913 carousel was a highlight for Josiah and Lydia--but a terror for poor little Abby, who cried through her entire ride. Josiah and Lydia went several times.
Josiah and Aunt Rach
Lydia with Grandma
Abby was happier to watch the others ride
Pa at the roundhouse with an extra hat
Abby
Jeremy got a chance to push the train turntable and check out the engineering behind it
Family picture by the apple orchard!
We stopped by the Firestone Farm, where the kids were delighted with the animals. We saw a day-old calf, some frolicking sheep, lots of roaming chickens, some disconcerting hogs, and other sundry livestock.
Lydia actually kissed a sheep on the lips! It hopped up with its front feet on a fence, and she just leaned down and gave it a smacker--much to the surprise of us all. She's a great animal lover. Whenever we talk about or see animals, she gives them kisses (usually from afar, since she can't always plant a kiss on the animal itself). She kisses all the animals pictured in her books, too.
In contrast to Lydia, Abby only likes animals from a safe distance.
Abby and a rooster
We visited the barn, and the kids climbed onto the hay bales. Abby, who doesn't like stuff sticking to her, didn't enjoy it. Josiah and Lydia did.
We picnicked under a grove of trees, and Josiah found one perfect for climbing.
Josiah and Aunt Bobo
Lydia and Aunt Rach
Rachel and Elisabeth
Jeremy took Josiah to a new playground in the village with lots of fun, innovative play stuff in it (I know, very descriptive). The girls had so much fun running around on the grass, so my parents kept an eye on them while my sisters and I stopped in the millinery shop and tried on hats.
We visited the village square set up with lots of old-time field games, and once everyone was thoroughly worn out, we headed back to the car. Abby and Lydia preferred to pull the wagon rather than ride, even at the end of the day . . .
Abby
Josiah and that beautiful green grass
My Grandma Ellen took us to Greenfield Village every year when we visited Detroit for the summer, and it was fun to return with my own children. It's also harder to hoof it and see everything with little ones along!
Stay tuned for more pictures of cute kids and green country . . .
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