Food & Wine's Recommendations in Northern Michigan

Food and Wine magazine had a flattering story about northern Michigan wine country in their May 2010 issue. In a nutshell, these are the places they recommended to taste and eat:

Taste

• L. Mawby (Suttons Bay)
  
• Peninsula Cellars (Traverse City)
• Tandem Ciders (Suttons Bay)
• Two Lads Winery (Traverse City)

Eat

• Carlson's of Fishtown (Leland)
• Cooks' House (Traverse City)
• Martha's Leelanau Table (Suttons Bay)
  

Kaitlyn's Birthday Party

My little girl turned three this weekend!

We had a very small 'Minnie' themed party for Kaitlyn with her friend Olivia and friends/cousins Carter and Kennedy. The kids made bean bags and enjoyed some cake and ice cream afterwards.

It starting raining by noon, so we had the party inside instead of on the deck. The photos start at the end of the move towards to beginning of the day (I do not have the energy to reorganize them all). Enjoy!!

Kaitlyn received a bubble machine and just loves playing in the bubbles. The Minnie Mouse display is for tossing bean bags the kids made at the party.

I think Kennedy enjoys the bubbles too! Super cute!!

Carter, Olivia and Kaitlyn tossing bean bags.

Hi Carter!

Olivia showing us her 'Minnie' bean bags.

Cake time - yum! Kaitlyn is still asking for cake four days later...

Kaitlyn blowing out her birthday candles with Mr. Josh pushing the cake closer (it was quite heavy) and Carter watching.

Kaitlyn and Grandma Linda.

Family shot (mommy is about 33 weeks preggers here).

Kaitlyn waiting patiently to eat her cake. She must have sat in that chair for 20 minutes before guests arrived and we started making bean bags.

Kaitlyn's Minnie mouse cake made by mommy.

Party decorations.

A fun birthday gift before the party. Kaitlyn loves to dig!

She also loves to play in water.

Minnie mouse bean bag target.

Pa Clinton brought home balloons for the party.

The following photos show the Minnie mouse cake in progress...

Fun in Missouri

Before baby #2 arrives, we decided to go visit Pa and Great Pa in Missouri. It was a fun trip for all!

The first thing Kaitlyn did when we arrived was go for a ride with Pa in the golf cart.

On a turtle statue outside the St. Louis zoo.

Let's go have some fun daddy!

Kaitlyn talked about riding the merry-go-round for days leading up to our trip.

The St. Louis zoo has a grand Merry-go-Round (carousel).

Kaitlyn and Pa riding the train - she loves train rides too!

In the children's zoo at the St. Louis zoo, they had a turtle walking around. Kaitlyn eventually patted it's shell.

Instead of riding the turtle, she decided to try this frog...

These are photos from "The Magic House", which is a great childrens activity center in St. Louis. Kaitlyn still talks about it. Below, Kaitlyn and Pa are playing in the bubble room.

Pulling the string to make a bubble wall. It really worked!

Kaitlyn sitting on a pulley while daddy and Pa pull her up and down.

Now Kaitlyn's in heaven - a giant sandbox - yahoo!!

A small pond to fish (magnetic rod and fish) in was a hit too!

Back at the lake house, cousin Evie and Matt gave Kaitlyn an early birthday gift. A princess hair style set and a Kai-Lan book. Great gifts!!!

Mommy and Kaitlyn reading her new book.

Pa Mark, Great Pa Adolph, Daddy and Kaitlyn.

Pa and Kaitlyn eating breakfast.

Breakfast with both Pa's, Uncle Bill, and daddy.

Hi Mommy!!

Thanks for a nice visit!!

Petting Zoo Fun

Today we went to a petting zoo for Kaitlyn's cousin, Carter's birthday party. Lots of one to four year olds checking out the animals and riding some ponies. The petting zoo had lambs, sheep, goats, a camel, llamas, wallabies, deer, donkeys, snakes, birds, macaw monkeys, etc.

The kids got to feed some of the animals too. Carter was a brave kiddo and starting feeding the animals right away, whereas Kaitlyn needed some time to observe and get comfortable before jumping in and feeding them. All the kids were super cute!!

Kaitlyn saying hi to a lamb.

Kaitlyn, Carter and Cameron showing off their stamps for the pony ride.

Quick side trip to swing.

Baby goats.

Carter by the goat pen. He did awesome feeding them!

Kaitlyn on her first pony ride.

Here she comes again on the pony.

Baby Kennedy (Carter's sister) even went for a pony ride.

Kaitlyn and Carter on the ponies.

Kaitlyn feeding the lambs. The zoo gives the kids ice cream cones to put the food in to serve.

Cake and present time for Carter!

Kaitlyn and Carter enjoying some juice. Kaitlyn would not look up for this picture - had to have some of that juice!!

All the kids by the goat pen.

Happy Birthday Carter!!!

Carter and his daddy feeding the lambs.

The next four pictures are hilarious. Carter's mommy and daddy arranged for the kids to find treats (candy, jump ropes, puzzles, balls, etc.) in this huge pile of hay. They all enjoyed it!!

Hi baby lamb... I'm just going to dump my entire cone in your pen for you.

Kaitlyn feeding the goats.

Carter, Cameron and Kaitlyn were giggling as two donkeys chased each other around the yard. Super cute!

One more pony ride before we go home. Kaitlyn only lasted about a quarter lap before she was "all done mommy!"