Auto Show 2013

On January 26, 2013, Jed and I took the kids to the North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center in Detroit. It was a fun outing to see all the cool cars. We took lots of pictures! :) That blue car above was a Bentley. I insisted that we had to visit the most expensive car in the show. One of the Bentleys was $258,000. Wow. I can just imagine it: "Jump in, kids! We're heading to the park!"

 
We take the 'hands-on' exhibits literally. :) 

 Yep, it's a perfect fit! We'll take it!

 Ben is really into silly faces lately!

Sweet ride, boys!

I'm not sure what Eliza was pouting about, but hey- that's a mini cooper driving up the wall!

This was our stroller train chugging through the crowds. Eliza hitched a ride after awhile because those little legs were just way too tired to walk.  (Ben, that weirdo face of yours is a doozy!)

Ah, that's the smile we all know and love! Well kind of... it's a half smile probably because he just finished making a silly face and then I snapped another picture quick. :)

Playing some games at the Toyota racecar exhibit.

Check it - Ben and my faces on the side of that car! That's the future, folks!

Imagination Station with friends - Jan 2013

 On January 18th, 2013, we went to The Imagination Station with some friends - Melody Aanderud (we've been friends for 8 years, since med school), Jen Johnson, Jenn Cranney, and Ashley Pace (another med school friend who lives in Ann Arbor for residency). It's such a shame I didn't get a picture with them. :( Anyway, it was a fun outing. We love that place, and we had great company!

Charlotte is 8 months old.

Sammy loves the water seats. I have to strip him down for it. :)

Eliza on the human hamster wheel. :)

Eliza's 5th Birthday! January 2013

 Eliza turned 5 years old in January of this year!  Yes, I've unintentionally had a bit of a hiatus from my blog, so that's quite a while ago to remember the details, but luckily I recorded the following in her journal, dated Jan 19th:
"Eliza had a fun 5th birthday. We had a special breakfast and in the afternoon 7 little girls her age (from her Sunbeams class at church - the entire class is girls!) came over for a tea party birthday party. First we blew up balloons and I drew a portrait of each girl on her balloon. Then we beaded bracelets with pony beads. We read Tea with Ruby and then sat down at the table for our tea party - apple juice, fishy crackers, & teddy grahams - all served on plastic play tea party plates, cups, and teapots. It was fun! We then read a wiggle book and jumped around on the blowup bouncy castle. We had cake and icecream and opened presents, then said goodbye. It was a fun time! I made 2 daisy flower cakes for her birthday. She is a big 5 year old now!"

 (Above: Clockwise after Sam on the left, Kaija Stevens, Jacy Johnson, Liesel Balmforth, Myli Hamblin, Eliza birthday girl, Olivia Smith, Eliza Metcalf, and Peterson.)

Eliza wasted no time in breaking out her new paints as soon as the party was over. 

Aunt Melanie Gunnell sent her some fun books for her birthday. It was exciting to have a package delivered just for her on her birthday!

We opened family gifts when Daddy came home that evening.