What we have learned in Michigan

1- You are allowed to turn LEFT on red.....as long as you are making a "michigan left"
2- You can't turn left on green.....you have to make a "michigan left" which includes driving 500 feet up the road and making a u-turn in the designated area
3- There are price stickers on EVERYTHING. My eyes hurt just looking in the refrigerator.
4- Ticks. They have them and they LOVE our dogs, so nasty.
5- Car insurance rates are through the roof compared to our Wisconsin rate
6- Schools here have Fall and Winter semesters, versus Fall and Spring
7- The sun hasn't been out for more than one consecutive day. Logan actually covers his eyes and exclaims "ahhhh, the sun" when we walk outside on a sunny day.
8- People drive SLOW; but the speed limits are HIGHER...go figure
9- Soda is Pop. Pop is Soda.
and last but not least......#10
We are enjoying it. We couldn't have asked for a better transition and are really getting the hang of things here. It is a beautiful place (where we live) and there is so much to do compared to Port Washington.
So, while some things are weird and different, we have really gotten along quite well so far here. We are truly blessed.

We have been BUSY!

When we first moved here I anticipated long days sitting around not knowing what to do with ourselves......well, much to my surprise, that is not the case! This month has been especially busy with visits from both of our parents, pumpkin farms, midterms and a nice visit home for some fresh cheese curds (and to see family of course) :)

Here are a few pictures of what we have been up to.... (more detailed posts to come)

Logan+Lola+Jack=Love

For quite some time we have watched on as Logan treats the dogs like his siblings, and with the move to Michigan, they have become even more inseperable(by Logan's doing of course). It's common for Justin or I to walk into Logan's room and find both the dogs on Logan's bed staring up at us with pleading eyes, and at least three times a day I have to remind Logan that he is bigger than Jack and cannot tackle him so roughly. Lola has been petted, covered in blankets like a baby, almost choked from his over-zealous hugs around her neck, and her bed time is Logan's bed time. Both dogs have been put in "jail", and have worn leashes around the house while Logan proudly walks them. Now, yesterday I heard Logan making his typical "transformer" noises, and what is he doing? Playing transformers with Jack and Lola, and Lola is a deceptacon, and has been very naughty, (says Logan). After all this, the dogs still follow him around the house. (although they may just be doing that to better their chances of obtaining a dropped piece of food ;) )
















Doesn't Jack look thrilled?

A trip to the Zoo

Before our Zoo pass expired, we were able to visit the Ball Park Zoo here in Michigan. Located in Grand Rapids in the side of a hill, it was a change of scenery from the Milwaukee Zoo and we had a great time!!! My camera was not cooperating that day, but I managed to snap a few shots.

Some of our activities for the day included feeding the birds and the sting-rays, and walking through an exhibit where mini kangaroos are allowed to roam, they were all sleeping that day but it was pretty neat. Of course, Logan loved the wooden train and spent a good twenty minutes playing on it ;)

*First Day of School*

Well, we have been here an official month.
Logan started his Michigan Pre-School career off rocky. (And thats putting it lightly)
However, four weeks in, he is coming home with smiles and tales of new friends and adventures on the playground. Hopefully this attitude sticks, but for now, here is a picture of him on his very first day.

The Other Side

Life on the other side of Lake Michigan is very similar to what's in Wisconsin, except for one awesome thing............

Nothing beats the sun setting over the lake, it is BEAUTIFUL!



































*These pictures do no justice

The Apartment

Here it is in all its 1,100 sq foot glory :
Our first visitors are coming today, Justin's Grandpa and Grandma Schuessler took the ferry over for a little get-away, and will be having dinner with us later this evening :)

No yard? No problem!

When living in an apartment, as we have for going on five years, one must improvise.
We have used our closet as storage for bikes, moved small kitchen gadgets into random places throughout the house, and now, we use our balcony as a fenced-in backyard!

It started with a tub of water ( you know, the sterltite ones used for storing things) and we have now moved on to a bigger one, but this one is filled with.......GREEN SAND!

So, essentially, we have a sand and water table, on our balcony. With a cheap shower curtain underneath to prevent our neighbors from turning into the Grinch, we have found it to work out perfectly! The lids go on at night, Logan is safe and within earshot, and only a *little* bit of sand has made its way unto the grass beneath him :)

And besides, everyone knows that trucks must be buried and then washed fifty times a day right?

Pure Bliss

So, on Saturday we decided to explore the area we live in a little bit, and decided to take advantage of the beautiful day ahead. We loaded up the car and headed to Saugatuck State Park. After a one mile hike through the woods hauling an afternoon's worth of beach toys, towels and a picnic lunch we arrived at the beach.





The beaches here are AWESOME! Beautiful views and imagine Lake Michigan water warm enough to swim in! We had a great time hiking up and down the dunes and you know it was a good afternoon when your four-year old falls asleep on the hike back to the car on a bumpy trail ;)