Michigan

This week, Des is back in school after a week off for Easter Break.  What did we do for break, you might ask?  Well...we went to Michigan!!!

We took a trip to visit Great Grandpa and Great Grandma who we haven't seen since Des was a wee 3 months old!

It was a great trip!  Great to see Grandma and Grandpa as well as Aunt Colleen, Uncle Dave, Uncle Rick, Aunt Debbie and the various offspring of the aforementioned.

But, easily the highlight was seeing Grandpa and Des interact!  Here are some pics of the journey!

We had just arrived.  Des and Great Grandpa hit it off right away.  I was super proud as Desmond typically takes a while to warm up to people.  He's spoken to Grandpa via Skype before, but this was the first time they have been together in person since Feb of 2009. 

The same night, we tought Grandpa and Great Grandpa how to play Ninja Turtle Uno. 

 We stayed at Aunt Colleen and Uncle Dave's.  Uncle Dave taught Des how to shoot a real bow and arrow.  It was good for one shot before Des was done.  Apparently, I thought it was cooler than Des did.  Still...made for a good picture. 

Great Grandpa is a master gardener.  He taught Desmond how to plant pepper seeds.  Here, they are obtaining new seeds from a recently eaten pepper. 

Peppers planted and watered!  Grandpa put them up in his windowsill where will we see their progress the next time we Skype.  Grandpa also sent Desmond home with some seeds to plant in Seattle!  

 We hung out with Great Grandpa and Great Grandma on Easter Sunday.  Here are the oldest and the youngest of the Pankow men chilling together in the gazebo after Easter brunch. 

 Desmond got a chance to show Great Grandma his lego building skills.  And, if you're wondering, yes...that is my finger in the upper left.  Shut it. 

 

This would be a prairie dog at the Detroit Zoo where we spent Monday.  It started with a tantrum, so I didn't get many pictures as I was a bit grumpy after the fight.  But, this prairie dog is super cute.  So, here he is in the blog. 

 Monday evening, we went back to Great Grandpa's where Desmond showed off his reading skills by reading Grandpa one of his Lego Super Hero books.  Former teacher Great Grandpa was able to bust out some of the old skilz to help Des with the harder words. 

Uncle Dave and Des had quite a few bouts of Extreme Thumb Wrestling.  Desmond won the championship about 5 or 6 times, I understand. 

Lastly, behold...4 generations of ridiculously good looking Pankow men together in one place. 

Peace!