Pure Michigan, Part IV

So I think this is the fourth year we have gone to Michigan with our friends Colin and Steph.  Well, at least it's my fourth year because anything otherwise would be impossible at this point.

Went to an awesome apple orchard, though all the apple trees were dead due to the drought.

Well, wait, then Finley, how could it have been awesome?

Because the donut tree was not dead and there were PLENTY of donuts. Also did a little corn maize, which was going along smoothly until we lost Ana in the corn maize, literally (we did find her).

Also did this really fun bouncy maze thing, though the girl in the background does not appear to have enjoyed it as much as we did.

Grabbed some coffee...

And some pumpkins...

Then we hit up the Douglas Oktoberfest, which for some reason they associated Oktoberfest with milking cows. I don't get it, but whatever; cow milked, mission accomplished.

Now this is more like it. They had a stein contest. Apparently a German tradition (shout out to Grandpa Lammel, he probably knows about this), you have to hold a very heavy stein filled with beer out in front of you with your elbow locked straight. Last one standing with their elbow locked and their arm parallel to the ground wins.

It came down to a guy visiting from Ireland and the 2-time defending champ. He conceded because he couldn't stare at his beer any longer without drinking it so the 2-timer because a 3-peater. Well played on all fronts.

Weather was a bit crummy so we spent some time inside, but that just meant Halloween activities, paid for and put on by the MLHA Club (for those of you not in the know, that's the Moms Love Halloween Activities Club).

We got pumpkins colored, Ana made carmel apples and we made some ghoulish ghost decorations.

I actually made our family - so there is one of me, Mom, Dad and Mabel. (speaking of Mabel, you don't see a lot of her here because she took a monster nap during all of this).

Then Ana and I took a break from our Halloween festivities and read some books while Colin got on the phone to secure some Baltimore Orioles playoff tickets... always good to see some things never change.

Pure Michigan, Part I

So my Dad was listening to the radio in the car and this commercial came on. (for those of you that don't know, you have to click on the words "this commercial came on" and you'll actually be brought to a page that plays the commercial. Yep, 2010 but some folks still need a little nudge).

For all of you in the Chicagoland area I'm sure you've heard this campaign or seen it on TV... and honestly, it makes you want to go to Michigan immediately, so we called up Colin and Steph and Ana and we went.

And, as usual, there was a lot to do in Michigan. We picked some Jonagolds and some Empire Reds...

Mae even got in on the action...

I ate donuts and drank apple cider...

I rode on a cow ride with Mom...

And caught a sunset with Dad.

And as Tim Allen so appropriately said, "we marveled at the wonders around us... we took in new sights and sounds and we remembered just how beautiful life can be." (I had to stop 14 times as I wrote that, it's just so silly and cheesy, but you know what? It was so true.)

P.S. The state of Michigan can promptly send me $106.78 for that advertisement.

P.S.S. I just uploaded more pictures from Michigan so to see them CLICK HERE.

Part II is coming up in a couple days and it's sure to bring you at the very least, a giggle, but I'm quite certain you'll laugh out loud. I mean... you thought me getting locked in the car was bad?