Before visiting Wisconsin, Daddy and Jared visited Bronners Christmas store in Frankenmuth, MI
Bronners Ceiling Train
Devin resting peacefully before his first trip out to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving
To meet Great Grandma Shirley! (or Gigi as she likes to be called)
And here's Jared cuddling with Gigi
Jared & Great Grandma Shirley
Devin & Great Grandma Shirley
Jared & Great Grandma Shirley again
Great Aunt Carol holding her new favorite great-nephew
Jared showing off Fergus, one of his Thomas trains he brings to play with on trips
Jared showing off his sleeping arrangements
Which he got to share with Daddy
Mama holding the D-man in what has turned out to be his favorite comfort position
Such a cute little boy. Look at those eyes! Too bad the picture's a bit fuzzy
Here is the family visiting the Minhas (previously Joseph Huber) brewery in Monroe, WI.
I highly recommend taking the tour if you're ever in the area
Jared playing with a little Thanksgiving gift Daddy picked up for him
My little off-roader
Vroom!
And here we are for Thanksgiving dinner with some yummy Honeybaked turkey.
Note Jared eating Thanksgiving dinner at the table without a booster for the first time!
Devin's there too, in the car seat on the right behind Carol
Devin wiped out from the activity
And now for some cuteness
More cuteness
And super cuteness...I love this picture!
Tickle tickle
There's a little smile
Major cooing for Gigi
Jared and Carol hanging out on the couch
Jared watching TV with Gigi
Carol enjoying a little more Devin-cuddling
While out there, even though we weren't there for very long, we were able to
visit my Great Aunt Tootie (Marion, Gigi's sister) and went out to lunch, so
she was able to meet little Devin
Time to head back home to Michigan. We'll miss you!
On the way out I took a picture of a sad sight, the closed Shakey's Pizza.
This was a nostalgic hit for me, as I can remember going there when we would visit
Wisconsin as far back as I can recall. We're hoping the new owners will reopen
it as a new and improved Shakey's, but that's a long way off, if at all
Alright, back in Michigan, here we are visiting Fodor's Tree Farm. Here is our intrepid
hunter ready to track down a nice pine for the living room
Heading around the bend, I think I see a good one up ahead Daddy
Oh, let's let this one rest for a while, it's got a cool mantid nest in it that will hatch next spring.
Christmas tree hunting
There she is Daddy!
After Daddy cut down the main trunk, the owner's grandson comes up to help us trim it up for travel.
Mission accomplished!
Mama catching a couple boys resting after a big day tree-hunting
Devin hanging out in his playpen
Jared ever watchful and protective of his little brother
Jared, cousin Ethan, Samantha's friend Noel and Cousin Samantha enjoying the ceiling train
Mama exercising the baby boy
Oh yeah, here's that tree we brought in. More to come for Christmas!