A Michigan Fall Tradition

It wouldn't be fall in Michigan without a trip to a pumkin farm or apple orchard, or two, or three.  Growing up my parents took us to Bintz Apple Orchard in Freeland every year.  Surprisingly, what I remember most about those trips are the bees. 

So imagine how the memories came flooding back when I went with Mason on his first Kindergarten field trip to an apple orchard, and found us surrounded by bees.  Thankfully Mason was pretty calm about it - even after being stung twice this summer.  The field trip was fun, outside of the fact I had to drive four 5-year-olds from Battle Creek to Potterville.  Mason had fun picking out a small pumpkin, and plucking an apple from a tree. 

 

Next up on the pumpkin farm tour was Gull Meadows in Richland.  I haven't asked him, but I bet Adam's family made visiting this farm a ritual each year.  He says it's so much different than it used to be - it's definitely more commercialized - but still a fun way to spend a morning.  The trick is to get there right when they open so you beat the rush.  The kids always love boucing on the giant bounce pillows they have.  My favorite part is the fresh-from-the-fryer glazed pumpkin doughnuts.  I will never forget when Mason declared them the "best bagels he ever saw" last year. 

 

 

Then last weekend, while I was at my parents' house with the kids, we met Megan, Dan and Julia for a morning at Johnson's Giant Pumpkin Farm in Saginaw.  While it was really chilly, the kids had fun scampering from attaction to attaction.  Wouldn't you know it the only picture I could get of the three of them was while they were all on the wagon on the way out. 

 

Cider and doughnuts, pumpkins and apples - fall in Michigan wouldn't be complete without them. 

Mommy, Wow!

Anyone that grew up in the '80's and '90's can probably finish that sentence.  "I'm a big kid now!"  I know the ad was for Pull-Ups, but that's the song I sing when I think about converting my kids nurseries into big kid rooms recently. 

Mya has her twin bed in her room along side her crib since she was born, so just taking out the crib when she was done with it wasn't nearly as dramatic as the conversion that happened in Mason's room.  We did put the toy box made by my dad to match her furniture in her room.  It's a wonderful little window seat for her and I think she'll really enjoy being able to play in her room.  We left her birdie mobile and some other baby things in her room, so in spite of the crib being gone it still feels the same as it did before.

 

As I mentioned, Mason's room is really where the action happened. Only his dressers are left from what it looked like when he was a baby. Down went the infant safari valances and away went the rocking chair.  In their places are "big boy" things, most notably a full-size bed.  Mason's crib/toddler bed converted to a full-size headboard, which is why we chose it.  The poor kid had been sleeping in his toddler bed far longer than I expected him to and he was actually very excited about his new big bed.  So excited that we convinced him that part of having a big bed is making it every morning.  He's diligently done so, which is more than I can say for Adam and I. 

A wall-hanging made by my Grandma Welsh hangs over his bed (on loan from Colin) and a shadowbox with a picture of his name-sake and Great-Great-Grandpa Mason's pocket watch hangs next to his bed.  He doesn't know how meaningful these things really are yet, but I hope someday he understands. 

So here's the part where I tell you I cried during this process.  You knew it was coming didn't you?  While I was rearranging Mason's room, I remembered doing the same things five years ago before we brought him home for the first time.  And now that's all gone - he his a big boy room and we have a big boy instead of a baby.  That, of course, is what brought me to tears.