Our Grandparent Village

By

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September 25, 2016

From the moment our daughter was born I learned quickly that it really does “take a village” to raise a child. It doesn’t mean that you are parenting any less, but it just means that you need to be able to reach out and accept help when needed. Finding your village can be hard, but I know that our village for our children are their grandparents.

When we moved 2 years ago, we moved very far away from my parents. They were our babysitters, took our daughter to appointments if we couldn’t, took her places with them, played on the floor with her, and essentially looked after her as if she were their own. We quickly learned that our daughter thrived off of having the closeness of her grandparents. Frankly, we thrived and survived off of that, too. When we found out we were pregnant with our second I was stressing from the very beginning about who was going to help us with our daughter and myself post c-section. Looking back I stressed for no reason because the moment the words came out of my mouth to the grandparents, they were all hands-on deck with whatever our needs were. Plans were made of when everyone is coming, how long, what they can help with, and instantly my stress went away. I’m reminded in these moments that our children will have something that not every child gets to experience. Not only grandparents that are still living, but some that are so involved. I’m forever thankful that they are loved and cherished this way.

Not everyone’s village consist of grandparents or maybe not even family members. We have met friends since moving and I know I can reach out to them when needed as well. There’s just a different level of comfort when it comes to grandparents. Not only do you need that village for your children’s growth, but your sanity needs it as well. There are moments when you need that veteran parent who knows how to calm your crying newborn. They hold the secrets that the plethora of parenting books and Google searches don’t hold; trust me my dad use to be able to sway our daughter to sleep like a champ and I still can’t figure out how or what he did.

There’s a major sense of relief I’m anticipating as my mom prepares to come stay with us and help with daughter while we welcome her sister into the world. There’s no list, suggestions, agendas, etc. She’s here to love on and keep our busy girl going while we focus on delivery and recovery. As we prepared to welcome our second, I knew that our daughter was going to be in the best of hands and I had no reason to stress. As her “Nene” says “Don’t leave me any list or directions, just let me handle it.” That’s music to my ears.

Mock Fantasy Fall Draft

By

aubreymoon

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September 22, 2016

Growing up, I thought it was unwritten and not discussed that everyone’s favorite season in Michigan was summer. After being cooped up all winter, it’s that time to get outside, soak up the Vitamin D and wear tank tops. But as I get older, those around me seem to get more excited for fall.

And what better way to get in the Fall spirit and kick off every Michigander’s favorite season, than talking Fantasy Football? Well the DMB version of Fantasy Football… our Mock Fantasy {Fall} Draft! This is where you’ll find a list of everyone’s favorite fall activities ranked by: overall excitement, ability to be enjoyed as an individual or family, uniqueness to the season and pure joy.

…And with the number one overall pick in the 2016 Detroit Moms Blog Fantasy Fall Draft, the DMB’s select:

Cider Mill (Excitement: 8, Enjoy as a Family: 10, Uniqueness to Fall: 10, Joy: 9, OVERALL: 9.25)

A true family outing that has everyone excited for Fall. Whether you go for the fresh cider, warm donuts, apple picking or all of the above, cider mills (or apple orchards if that’s what you call them) are a MUST DO for the fall. While they typically open in late August and run through the holiday season, Saturdays and Sundays are guaranteed to be packed with lines up to an hour long for those fresh & warm donuts and a gallon of cider. You’ll find a list of our favorites in our Ultimate Fall Bucket List here.
(TIE) College Football (Excitement: 10, Enjoy as a Family: 8, Uniqueness to Fall: 9, Joy: 9, OVERALL: 9)

Most people in the Midwest have been waiting since New Year’s Day for the College Football season to start once again. It’s another reason to look forward to the weekend as we spend all day Saturday glued to the TV, if you’re lucky enough, in the stands cheering on your alma mater. It’s a fun family event that never seems to last long enough. Who are you rooting for this season? {Go Spartans!}

Photo credit: MSUSpartans.com
(TIE) Foliage Tours (Excitement: 7, Enjoy as a Family: 10, Uniqueness to Fall: 10, Joy: 9, OVERALL: 9)

Though it is unlikely to be on the top of the to-do list for anyone under the age of 20, heading Up North from Southeast Michigan is definitely a sight from mid-to-late September until the last leaf falls in October. Need some guidance as you take your family or friends to your favorite winery? Check out Pure Michigan’s Fall Colors Tour.

High five to anyone that plans a wedding in a beautiful fall setting! Pictured here at Michigan State University’s Botanical Gardens.
Eating Fall treats (Excitement: 8, Enjoy as a Family: 8, Uniqueness to Fall: 10, Joy: 8, OVERALL: 8.5)

Cider and donuts and S’mores, oh my! Nothing may feel more like fall than the treats we enjoy. Maybe you’ve been waiting all summer long for your first sip of a Pumpkin Spice Latte or maybe you prefer a slice of apple cake instead, one thing is for sure, fall treats don’t come around long enough.
Tailgating (Excitement: 8, Enjoy as a Family: 7, Uniqueness to Fall: 8, Joy: 9, OVERALL: 8)

While some might think that tailgating goes hand-in-hand with football, it probably isn’t as family friendly as the game itself. Depending on the time of kickoff, this fall-favorite can last a few hours or take up the greater part of your Saturday. Here’s to hoping many of our fall Saturday’s temperatures are mild, sunny and without precipitation.
Outdoor Activities (Excitement: 7, Enjoy as a Family: 8, Uniqueness to Fall: 7, Joy: 8, OVERALL: 7.5)

Whether you’re looking forward to a bonfire, backyard football or apple picking, this is the season to be outside. The heat and humidity have {finally} left us and it’s the perfect weather for outdoor activities; It probably doesn’t hurt that the scenery isn’t terrible either, with the ever-changing leaves and the ability to plant some mums, the entire family is able to get out and enjoy some fresh air before we’re stuck inside all winter.
Wardrobe Change (Excitement: 8, Enjoy as a Family: 1, Uniqueness to Fall: 8, Joy: 7, OVERALL: 6)

What is more comfortable that a sweatshirt, jeans and boots? The answer: nothing. Fall is the best season for practical clothes: they’re comfortable yet still stylish. You likely don’t have to wear a coat and can still accessorize. The only downfall to the fall wardrobe change is that it’s not something that’s enjoyed together as a family… unless you buy coordinating outfits, of course!

So there it is, your 2016 DMB Mock Fantasy {Fall} Draft. We hope you’re as excited for the first day of Fall {September 22nd} as we are!

How To Painlessly Prepare Kids for Sports + Activities

By

Mary

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September 21, 2016

There comes that time in your child’s life where you want to get them involved in some fun activities. You may have visions of your child running across the soccer field with a big smile on their face—but then all of a sudden that is wiped aside when they are too busy picking flowers on the sidelines. It happens to the best of us where we want to get our kids onto the sports field or activities, and they just aren’t ready yet. So how do you know?

First and foremost I speak from experience when I say to recognize their personality. Don’t put your three year old onto a soccer team because it’s what you want as a parent. Don’t enroll your four year old sweet little princess into dance class for the entire year because you’re dying for her to wear a cute tutu. Do recognize that age is not the only factor here as you have to know their personality.

Recognize What Your Kid Is About and Adjust Accordingly

If you’re dealing with a mature kid even for their age, then you may be just fine. The reality is though that most of us can see that resistance, stubborn streak, or tantrum waiting to happen. If you put your child into a class or team that they’re not ready for then you’re setting both of you up for disaster. You don’t want to be picking up your darling child from the floor or trying to bribe them to get into the water—trust me it won’t work!

Start small because you can always build your way up. Put them into a starter team or just take a few lessons. A mini swimming lesson course, a sports sampler geared towards their age group, or a beginner version of soccer, dance, or any other activity is by far the best way to go. It saves you money and ensures that you both leave with sanity intact!

It’s a fun time to let them try new things, and you should. Their interests and tastes are going to change about a million times over, and you have to roll with it. Though they may have some natural skills, if you force them into T-ball at four just because they’re eligible, you may be in for a very unpleasant surprise. They may be running the other way, crying, and begging to go home because they just aren’t ready.

Look for cues like their ability to handle a structured activity. See how they handle a preschool class or other related activity. Go in with realistic expectations and at a young age look at this as nothing but an experiment in socialization.

Prepare For Anything and Go In With The Right Attitude

Nobody wants to be the parent on the side of the pool begging for their kid to get into the pool. Nobody wants to deal with the parent who is putting their kid into the activities that they did as a kid, and who is therefore trying to recapture their youth.

Make it all about fun, for anything competitive at a young age will scare them off. Let them dictate what they are ready for and make it an enjoyable aspect of their life. Take all pressure and expectations out of the equation, and just enjoy this time together. Start small and build up—there is plenty of time for them to become a world class dancer or football player. For now just let them dictate, let them be young and have fun, and go in with an open mind and an ability to laugh at the sometimes insane antics in young activities!

5 Tips to Combat Morning Chaos

By

kellylong

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September 21, 2016

There’s nothing more stressful in the morning than commotion. From missing homework to discovering there isn’t enough peanut butter left for packing lunches – the chaos is enough to make your head spin, and you haven’t even made it to work yet! You were probably the last one to make it into bed, and most likely the first to open your eyes. A relaxed morning is important for everyone in your family, especially you, Momma!

Here are some tips on making your mornings a little more efficient:

Plan Ahead – Make lunches/snacks, pack backpacks/diaper bags and extracurricular activity bags the night before. Make sure that homework, permission slips and library books make it into school bags, too – those things that always come up missing 5 minutes before you need to pull out of the driveway. Get everything you can together (shoes, coats, bags), and near the door, or in a specific locations, so that everyone knows exactly where to find their belongings.
Set a Nighttime Routine – Evening routines make mornings a lot smoother! Incorporate laying out school clothes for the next morning into your nightly routine. Let your kids know that they are expected to get dressed, with hair and teeth brushed before it’s time to go into the kitchen/dining area for breakfast. This way, everything is done in the same order every morning and the chaos of going back and forth between bedroom, bathroom and kitchen is eliminated.
Take Care of You – Get yourself ready first. Of course this means you have to start your mornings a little earlier, but you’ll be so much more relaxed if you can do your makeup without your 5-year-old asking if she can wear your burgundy lipstick to school, or trying on every single one of your perfumes. Use this time to catch up on the morning news, weather and traffic. Do your hair, pour yourself some coffee, take a deep breath – then wake up those sweet little bedbugs – it’s time to get ready for school!
Forget Your Phone – Instead of using your phone to check the time, which will probably lead to a distracting text, phone call or Facebook notification – use the clock on your wall or stove. This will also be a good opportunity to get your kids in the habit of using the clock on something other than their tablet to manage their time!
Ten Minutes – Leave yourself and your family ten extra minutes for unexpected delays when planning your morning. Life happens, but at least you’ll have a few extra minutes to deal with unforeseen situations – and they won’t turn into chaotic situations.

What do you do to ensure that mornings with your kids are free of stress and arguments? Have you tried anything that doesn’t work to combat the chaos? Share your tips in the comments section below!

5 Things My Kids Have Made Me Hate

By

annieyeoman

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September 17, 2016

My kids have shown me what true, unconditional love is all about. I seriously don’t know what or who I have ever loved that could hold a candle to the type of insane, overwhelming adoration I have for my little boys. However, these same angelic children have brought new hatred into my life. In the almost four years I’ve been a parent, they have made me hate things that I never could have imagined hating. Things that prior to children, I never even thought about. Things like…

1. Balloons

My kids go nuts over balloons. They love them. Balloons are EVERYWHERE and everyone somehow thinks they are awesome gifts for toddlers. I’m pure evil if I refuse to allow possession of the balloon, so I usually grit my teeth and allow the ~~jerk~~ sweet person handing them out to give one to each of my children. For the next ten hours I have to remind them to, “keep the balloon out of your mouth!” or “stop throwing it behind the tv!” Inevitably, something tragic will happen to one of the balloons and the battle begins for the other one. They scream, fight, and wrestle over it. I threaten to pop it if they can’t share and soon everyone is crying and cursing. (Well, me mostly.) Finally, I am able to get rid of the evil air pocket while they are sleeping or someone succeeds in popping it, causing a major meltdown for all involved. Balloons. Yuck.

2. Bath Time

Before I had children I thought that bath time would be the most fun part of my day as a parent. I envisioned sweet chubby toddlers gently splashing in mountains of bubbles. I imagined drying and powdering cooing babies and then rocking them as they fell asleep, tranquilized by a relaxing, magical bath time experience. What I quickly learned is that bath time sucks. I’m out of breath and patience by the time I get the kids undressed and into the water. There is the battle of how the water is waaaayyy too cold and then waaayyyy too hot, followed by violent splashing and cups full of water thrown over the side of the tub turning the tile into a skating rink. The kids refuse to sit down, they slip and slide all over the place and will not stop drinking the bath water! After begging for cooperation and preventing twenty-six near fatal head injuries, I drain the tub. The same children who ran from me screaming while I wrestled them into the water, now howl bitterly that they don’t want to get out. After crying for the next twenty minutes, they decide they need snacks before bed so they end up going to sleep dirty and sticky anyway. It is no wonder my kids only bathe three times a week!

3. Clothing Hangers

Talk about a necessary evil. I have to have them or all of our clothes would be on the floor, but I seriously despise hangers. My kids are drawn to them like magnets. There are only a few things hangers can be if left in the hands of a three year old: Drumsticks or weapons. Weapons seem to be the choice for my boys. They whack everything in sight including each other, use them for sword fights and pretend they’re guns (which I don’t encourage or even know how they figured out.) Only after I’ve yelled enough about not using them for weapons, do the hangers turn into drumsticks. I try to hang up clothes at night or during nap time just to avoid the violence and noise.

4. Fruit Snacks

They are sticky, messy, loaded with dyes and sugar; and since my 21 month old swallows them whole by the handful, a choking hazard. Fruit snacks are a form of addictive kiddie drug that I can’t seem to get away from. I try hard not to buy them but somehow the kids get them from other sources. Soft, damp gummies end up stuck to clothing, in their car seats and mushed into skin folds of my corn syrup addicted sons. Nothing makes them happier and nothing makes me feel like I’m spoon feeding them poison quite like a bag of fruit snacks.

5. Candy/Toy Machines

They put them at the entrance and exit of every store and restaurant in existence. These machines cause nothing but grief and upset for parents everywhere. The candy is stale, overly priced and always ends up spilling out of the dispenser onto the floor. The toys are cheap plastic choking hazards inside of other choking hazards, as the plastic containers are smooth, cylindrical and impossible for kids to resist mouthing. And my kids (yours too!) would rather have half a handful of broken stale candy from these mother-loving machines than an entire king sized candy bar from the checkout lane. Somewhere, an evil genius is laughing at our expense all the way to the bank, parents. Quarter by quarter…all the way to the bank.

Have your kids driven you to hate something?

The ONE Thing I Let Go of For Easier Mornings

By

Jessica Maurer

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September 15, 2016

The start of school can bring some stressful mornings. The rush to get out of the house in time is a constant battle for many families. I realized last year that letting go of control over one particular area really helped things run smoother in our household.

A lot of moms secretly (or blatantly) have a little extra rush of excitement when they find out they are having or just had a girl. The thought of dressing up your own personal baby doll in all those pink frilly dresses and adorable matching sets flood your brain. After all, little girl clothes are just soooo cute – and plentiful! For the first 2 years or so, you have total control of their wardrobe and how they are presented to the world.

And then, they develop an opinion of their own.

Of course, this comes from their developing personalities which is a wonderful thing and what makes parenting so great after all, but it also brings with it some battles for sure. When they are younger they are still pretty heavily influenced by your opinion and it is relatively easy to steer them in the direction you want them to go. As they get older, and more opinionated, it gets harder.

We have an early start elementary school so our alarms go off at an hour no kindergartner should have to experience and through her first year we would get into arguments over what she would wear to school at least once a week. Compound that with extremely limited time before having to run out to the bus and you get lots of added stress in our household.

We tried choosing clothes the night before but she would always change her mind in the morning and once she has it in her head, there is very little I can do to rationalize with her, especially in our stressful time constraints. She put together some truly crazy outfits (in my opinion). She loves a frilly tutu, refuses to wear anything that fits ‘loose’ on her and has no regard for pattern mixing. She will wear jeggings and knee high boots in July and sleeveless princess dresses in January.

Catching fireflies requires leg warmers, fancy gloves, and a big bow.

I finally realized one day that it really is just my opinion that some of the things she chooses don’t look good. I realized that for her, how she dressed was already a big part of her self-expression. Who am I to judge her? She is a very creative girl and that is highly reflected in her fashion choices; this was something I should be celebrating instead of stifling.

So I let go of control over her clothes. I let her decide what she wants to wear. What she wants her friends to see her in. What she feels comfortable in to spend the day learning. And it has made a huge difference in our mornings. Of course, I am still her mother and it is part of my job to teach her skills like putting together a respectable outfit, but now a gentle suggestion that maybe a solid shirt would go better with those zebra leggings and polka dot skirt instead of a floral print has replaced the yelling and insisting she change before she leaves the house. Sometimes I even see her consider my advice then she disappears into her room to (quickly) change.

Now the only time I force her to adjust her clothing is if it is ridiculously inappropriate for the weather. While I still secretly shake my head at many of her choices, the bottom line is the way she dresses to express herself gives her confidence and that is much more important than me forcing my conservative style on her. Plus the comments we get from older women when we are out are always good for brightening my day – clearly they get it, there is no taming my wild child. Besides, I now have a younger son who doesn’t give me much push back on clothing choices (yet) and boy clothes are waaaay cuter than I realized.

Pumpkin Patches Around Detroit

By

Courtney

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September 14, 2016

October is quickly approaching in + around Detroit, along with a bountiful crop of PUMPKINS!

We have so many wonderful orchards, farms and cider mills in Metro-Detroit offering u-pick pumpkins from their very own pumpkin patches. And while we’re waiting for that first crop of pumpkins to arrive – typically late September to early October – there is a TON of other fall fun to be had! Check out our list below, and plan a weekday or weekend of fun with family and friends to your favorite pumpkin patch around Detroit or check out a new one.

You’re sure to find that perfect jack-o-lantern to carve, and have a day filled with fun and adventure to remember for years to come! HAPPY PICKING!!

Livingston

Spicer Orchards

10411 Clyde Road, Fenton, 48430
Open daily, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. U-pick hours end at 5:30 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
$2 admission for children over 2, adults free. $6 corn maze. Fall Festival Weekends through the end of October include: u-pick pumpkins and fruit, hayrides, large farm play area, donut & cider production, train & pony rides, bounce house, face painting, farm animal area and more! Credit and debit cards accepted, cash preferred. Vendors may only take cash.

Macomb

Blake Farms

17985 Armada Center Road, Armada, 48005; or
5600 Van Dyke, Almont 48003
Monday- Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
Pumpkins, $.39/pound
Fall Festival, September & October: $6.95/person weekdays, $8.95/person weekends. 2 years and under free. Train & pony rides also available! Pumpkins, apples galore, cider, hard cider, haunted attractions and more! Visit amazing website for daily updates.

Miller’s Big Red Farms

4900 32 Mile Road, Washington, 48095
Open year round, Monday- Sunday, 9 a.m. -7 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
Family fun area $5 adults (16+), $10 kids. Smokehouse BBQ, farm to table seasonal produce & a petting farm are just a few highlights!
Check the website for Pumpkin Picking updates!

Stony Creek Orchard & Cider Mill

2961 West 32 Mile, Romeo 48065
Salesroom open daily, 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., call for u-pick schedule
Website & Facebook Page
FREE admission! Cider pressing, moonlight hayrides, handmade pies, local honey. If you love antiques, they are on display here as well! Call for admission pricing: 586/752-2435.

Westview Orchards & Adventure Farm

65075 Van Dyke, Washington Township, 48095
Monday- Friday, 10 a.m. -5 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
U-pick pumpkins available late September – October 31st, check website for updates! $.49/pound.
Fall Farm Fun including a 3-acre playground, petting farm, obstacle course & more:
- FREE for children 30 inches & under. $4/child, $2/adult for basic farm fun.
- Weekend pricing: $9.50/person, children 30 inches and under, free.

Oakland

Cook’s Farm Dairy

2950 Seymour Lake Road, Ortonville, 48462
Monday- Saturday, 9 a.m. -9 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. -9 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
October Weekends: hayrides & pick-your-own pumpkin! Donut, and small glass of chocolate milk are included with every ride. Hayrides are offered continuously throughout the weekend during business hours. Large groups and parties are welcome to schedule a hayride in advance! Visit the cows, pet the animals, take home some of Cook’s famous ice cream (fall flavors include Pumpkin Crunch & Caramel Apple)!

Diehl’s Orchard & Cider Mill

1479 Ranch Road, Holly, 48442
Open daily, 9 a.m. -6 p.m. until October 31
Website and Facebook Page
$3 Weekend Hayrides, September 3rd-October 24th; Pick a pumpkin for $7 beginning in late September. Corn maze & pony rides for $5. Homemade donuts, petting zoo.
FREE parking and play area.
Children 3 & under, FREE.

Erwin Orchards & Cider Mill

61475 Silver Lake Road, South Lyon, 48178
Late September – October 31st from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
Pumpkin picking open all through October until 6 p.m.!
Weekdays: u-pick pumpkins, wagon rides, corn maze, goat walk, trike trail and more family fun.
Weekend activity also includes a petting farm, bounce houses, fresh kettle corn & musical entertainment.
*Cash or Check ONLY

Long Family Orchard, Farm & Cider Mill

1540 East Commerce Road, Commerce, 48382
Open now for fall fun! Pumpkins late September, check website for updates.
Website and Facebook Page
Pumpkins, an 8-acre corn maze, goats, pumpkin bounces, playground, big and little sand boxes, pedal karts and more. See website for pricing and more information as it becomes available.

Mitchell Farm

3404 Mitchell Road, Holly, 48442
Market open daily, 9 a.m. -6 p.m.; Fall fun – weekends only – in October!
Website
Pumpkins, hayrides and play area are open during weekends in October. Indoor & outdoor play areas, perfect for our unpredictable Michigan weather!

Oakhaven Farm

7515 Grange Hall Road, Holly, 48442
Harvest Days Celebration starts October 3rd, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
Pumpkins $.40/pound or visit the Little Tyke Pumpkin Patch for pie pumpkins, $3 for pumpkins 7.5lbs & under.
Weekend fun includes bounce house, horse-drawn hayrides & food. $3 admission, 2 years and under are FREE. $6 for HUGE corn maze admission, ages 4 and up (all children under 13 to be accompanied by an adult).
*Cash or check only.

Upland Hills Farm

481 Lake George Road, Oxford, 48370
Harvest Festival, every October weekend, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
$9.00 admission (under 2, FREE) includes: magic show, farm show, hayride, visit the animals, milk a cow and a walk on Storybook Trail. Pumpkins sold by size; Moonlight Hayrides, October weekends 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Wayne

DeBucks Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch

50240 Martz Road, Belleville, 48111
September 17th-through October 31st
- Friday, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Saturday, 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Sunday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
18 acre pumpkin patch with free wagon rides into the fields. New 2016 corn maze! Admission is $12, 24-months and younger free, seniors are $10. Buy tickets online here.

The Pumpkin Factory at Belleville

48651 Harris Road, Belleville, 48111
October 1st – 31st:
- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m
- Monday 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
Pumpkins are $.40/pound, corn maze, haunted house, pedal carts & Pumpkin Factory Express pricing here.
Free admission & parking, credit cards accepted.

Washtenaw

Alber Orchard & Cider Mill

13011 Bethel Church Road, Manchester, 48158
September 6th – November 20th:
- Tuesday – Friday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
$2 hayrides, $5 admission for 7 acre corn maze. FREE animal viewing, straw maze, cider press viewing & trip to the pumpkin patch & kids play area. Pumpkins individually priced.

The Blast Corn Maze

6175 Daly Road, Dexter, 48130
September 24th – November 5th:
- Friday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
U-pick pumpkins & lots of fall family fun with 3.5 miles of corn maze trails! Check website for pricing updates.

Coleman’s Farm & Corn Maze

12758 Jordan Road, Saline, MI
Open September 10th
- Monday – Thursday, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Friday 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Sunday, noon – 9 p.m.
Check the Facebook Page for more updates & pricing
Pumpkins, 3 professionally designed corn mazes, and more. Fun for all ages!

Donahee Farms

6055 Tower Road, Plymouth, 48170
Open daily, 10 a.m. – Dusk
Website and Facebook Page
Over 80 acres of pumpkins! Tons of fall family fun including: tot u-pick area, playground, moonwalk, hay maze, pumpkin painting, animals and games. Cider, donuts and more! Pumpkin prices per pound.

Plymouth Orchards

10685 Warren Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
September 3rd – November 6th, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., market open until November 23rd
Website and Facebook Page
$3 per person hayride to the pumpkin patch, kids 3 & under free. Pumpkins priced per pound.

Three Cedars Farm

61475 Silver Lake Road, South Lyon, 48178
Open September 2nd for the season!
- Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
$5 for hayride to the u-pick field & corn maze. Pumpkins priced per pound. $5 for the Barn Yard Play Land & Three Cedar Challenge, kids 3 and under FREE.

Wasem Fruit Farm

6580 Judd Road, Milan, 48160
Open daily until November 1st, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Website and Facebook Page
U-pick pumpkins and apples, cherries and stone fruits available, as well as cider and donuts. Please visit website or Facebook page for updated pricing information.

Wiard’s Cider Mill & Apple Orchard

5565 Merritt Road, Ypsilanti, 48197
Fall fun, September 10th – October 30th
Pumpkin Picking, weekends in October, starting at 11 a.m.
Website and Facebook Page
$9.75/person Wednesday – Friday, $16.75/person Saturday & Sunday. 23 months and under free. Includes play area, petting farm, mini golf, hayrides, bounce houses & much more! Cash or charge only.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: I am My Mother After All

By

Lauren Cadorin

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September 13, 2016

Lately I’ve been picking up on little habits of mine that are all too familiar. It started when I realized that I’m addicted to Diet Coke. Then I noticed the way I wrinkle my nose when I’m fixing my hair. And then I found myself developing a fierce (and mean!) mama bear attitude. Oh. My. Gosh. I am my mother.

I find myself transforming more and more into my mom everyday. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. My mom is the most amazing woman I know. However, if you told my teenage self that I would one day become her, I’m not sure I’d believe you.

I talk like my mother. I go overboard on holidays like my mother. I decorate my home like my mother. I dress like my mother. Heck, I even borrow her clothes.

What’s the worst quirk you’ve picked up from your mother, you ask? Oh that’s easy – the empty threats. I can’t even begin to count how many times I heard “you’re grounded when you get home” growing up? And guess what – not me, my brother, nor my sister have ever truly been grounded in our lives. And as ineffective of a parenting tactic that the empty threat may be, I still find myself doing the same thing with my toddler. “If you don’t eat those chicken nuggets, you’re not getting anything else the rest of the night!” HA! Like my mother, my bark is far worse than my bite.

Mirror, mirror on the wall – I am my mother after all. And guess what? I don’t care who knows it! I hope that one day my daughter will be as proud as I am to become her mother. Because I hate to break it to you, sweetie pie, but it happens to the best of us!

We Call Her Grandma Angel

By

Amy W.

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September 12, 2016

She died before the boys were born. She was only 57 – the perfect age for a Grandma. I get physically ill when I think about what role my mother-in-law could have played in my boys’ lives: all the memories that they could have made, all the laughs they would have had and most importantly, all the love that they would have felt from her. But as they say, life isn’t fair. And on this one, my kids were robbed.

So began my quest to keep her “alive” in their minds. Admittedly, we are not avid churchgoers. But we do talk about God, Jesus and Angels with the kids. So we call her Grandma Angel. We tell them that her favorite color was purple, she never met an animal that she didn’t love, she loved to make trifles, and that if anyone farted, she would laugh so hard she cried. We show them the dolls and knick knacks we inherited from her house. Sometimes, just telling stories and showing pictures isn’t enough.

One year, we walked in her honor with my father-in-law and brother-in-law at a Diabetes Walk at the zoo. It seemed perfect on paper- she had suffered from diabetes and loved animals. But it didn’t feel right, so we didn’t do it again. The walk moved elsewhere the next year anyway.

We talked for months about getting a brass butterfly with her name on it for the Butterfly House at the zoo. Eventually, we did it. Now we have beautiful pictures, but have never seen it in person. Sometimes, life really gets in the way.

Purple Flowers and Cupcakes

Purple flowers and cupcakes work. They feel right for us and for her and as a bonus, the flowers last more than a few hours. Every year on Mother’s Day, I take the boys to buy purple flowers for Grandma Angel. They sit in the heart of our home – on our kitchen table. We do the same thing on the day that she died and on her birthday. On her birthday, we also get purple cupcakes.

The boys call them Grandma Angel’s flowers and Grandma Angel’s cupcakes. They know why they are purple and they think it is fun. Each time, they argue over what shade of purple or type of flower to get. Every birthday, and with all the seriousness in the world, they debate whether it is okay for a boy to eat a purple frosted cupcake (the .verdict is YES as long as there are no pink sprinkles.) I like to think the flowers last longer than flowers should, The best part though, is that during dinner on these heavy-hearted days, the boys ask a question or request a story about Grandma Angel. So we tell them, and we laugh.

Recently, on the night before kindergarten started, my not-so-little boy stopped me dead in my tracks as we talked about how he didn’t know anyone at his new school and whether he was scared. He admitted he was scared but told me that he wasn’t too worried because his Grandma Angel is always with him and can see him from heaven, even when he was at kindergarten. My eyes welled with tears and he added “and she’s probably carrying some purple flowers.”

The boys have never met their Grandma Angel, but her purple flowers and cupcakes leave her footprint in their hearts.

What traditions do you have that keep the spirit of a grandparent alive?

Unconditionally Grand

By

Meghan Simonie

-

September 12, 2016

Grandparents have such an important role in the lives of all children. It is shown in the unconditional love, laughter, and joy shared during each and every meeting. I was lucky enough to grow up with all four grandparents, growing special bonds with them in very different and unique ways. However, it wasn’t until I had children of my own that I realized just how important the role of grandparents, and now great grandparents were in the life of a child, and even more importantly, vice versa.

Both my parents and my in-laws will tell you that becoming grandparents was absolutely amazing. You can see it when any single person asks them about any of their grandchildren. Before they even begin to answer, their face instantly lights up. The smile is completely genuine and full of excitement. We are lucky enough to have both our parents help with daycare so both my husband and I can continue to work. My daughter and son genuinely enjoy getting to spend so much extra time with their grandparents.

The most interesting discovery for me was seeing my daughter’s relationship with both mine and my husband’s grandparents. Every Thursday she informs my mom that they will be going to see great grandpa Donohue (my maternal grandfather) that day. She is greeted like a celebrity at his assisted living facility. She hops on to the front of my grandpa’s walker and he pushes her from room to room while she chats it up with each resident. She has been gifted a harmonica from one resident that she regularly plays along with my grandpa.

She also acts as Assistant Exercise Therapist, walking around the circle tapping the knees of the residents that are refusing to lift their legs to the music’s beat. My other grandma (paternal side) recently was moved into the same home. My daughter now gets to visit them both. She informs me that Grandma Sarb likes to brush her pretty hair. To see a room of residents, that all suffer from some form of Dementia, light up when they see my daughter, truly makes me feel blessed not only to witness the relationship my daughter is able to have with her grandparents, and great grandparents, but the joy one little person can bring to a room full of strangers.

Up until the day he was born, we had a completely different name picked out for our son. It was on the day of his birth, we looked at him, and just knew, we were going to name him after Poppy, my husband’s grandfather. Poppy passed away just 1 week after. It was a great feeling knowing Poppy was still around to know his namesake would be carried on. While our son won’t know Poppy like our daughter was able to, he is able to carry his name with him. Having to experience death for the first time, even only at two years old, I know my daughter does not fully understand what death is, but I know she does understand that person is gone. She has mentioned that she misses Poppy and one day even told me that she knows he is watching her from the roof. I looked at her confused and she explained that her Mimi (my mother-in-law) explained that Poppy is always with her and is now with Grandma up in Heaven. I smiled and realized that in my two-year-old’s wonderful imagination, Heaven was this beautiful place up on the roof.

I have such amazing childhood memories of times spent with my grandparents. But, it is in times and moments like these that I realize these memories are not just reminiscent of great times but they helped to shape who I am today and are helping to shape who my children will one day become.

Detroit Mom

Our Grandparent Village

Mock Fantasy Fall Draft

Cider Mill (Excitement: 8, Enjoy as a Family: 10, Uniqueness to Fall: 10, Joy: 9, OVERALL: 9.25)

(TIE) College Football (Excitement: 10, Enjoy as a Family: 8, Uniqueness to Fall: 9, Joy: 9, OVERALL: 9)

(TIE) Foliage Tours (Excitement: 7, Enjoy as a Family: 10, Uniqueness to Fall: 10, Joy: 9, OVERALL: 9)

Eating Fall treats (Excitement: 8, Enjoy as a Family: 8, Uniqueness to Fall: 10, Joy: 8, OVERALL: 8.5)

Tailgating (Excitement: 8, Enjoy as a Family: 7, Uniqueness to Fall: 8, Joy: 9, OVERALL: 8)

Outdoor Activities (Excitement: 7, Enjoy as a Family: 8, Uniqueness to Fall: 7, Joy: 8, OVERALL: 7.5)

Wardrobe Change (Excitement: 8, Enjoy as a Family: 1, Uniqueness to Fall: 8, Joy: 7, OVERALL: 6)