Ben's first Tigers game

We took Ben to his first Tigers game yesterday and all I can say is that I wish going to a game was like that when I was a kid. We really only spent the first three innings in our seats. After that, we walked around the park, got some merchandise, had some snacks, Ben practiced pitching and we rode the ferris wheel of baseballs. While on the ferris wheel, we found out that the kids get to run the bases after every Sunday game. So straight to that line we went. It took a while since the Tigers went into extra innings (and sadly lost). Once the game was over and the line started moving, it all went pretty quick. He had a blast! On the way out, Ben got a game ball from a police officer! Last but not least, it was off to The Pancake House for some pumpkin pancake dinner. Beat that! :)
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Click here to see all the pictures
(slideshow)

Our first Geocaching adventure

So what kid would say "no" if you asked him if he wanted to go hunt for treasure!? Ben was like, "Hell yeah!" (not really). Little did he know that his dad would drag him deep into the woods of Stony Creek, off in the wrong direction over fallen trees, under low branches and through more pricker bushes than any of us want to remember. The GPS got us close, but I was having a hard time with the last 200 feet. Which as you might guess, is pretty much the most important part of the trip when looking for a Tupperware container under some brush. Once we reached a swamp that looked to have no good way to get around, we decided it was time to go back to the car. Ben was getting too heavy for either of us to carry any more, and we were worried that any more pricker bush scratches would result in a visit from child protective services. Luckily, we managed to find our way back toward the path (with help more from Monique than me). Just as we were about to walk the last little bit back to the original trail, I blurted out "Hey, wait a second... I think it is this way!" Now mind you, this was probably the 20th time I had said this. So who knows why Monique and Ben decided to follow me, but they did. So down the hill we went, and I gave Monique the GPS while I carried Ben. I wasn't sure how accurate the GPS in my phone was going to be, but Monique kept telling us the "distance to target" reading... "30ft... 18ft... 10ft... 3ft... 0ft" (slight pause)... "Here it is!" I can't imagine it being more accurate. If I only had been a little better at reading it a half an hour ago! You wouldn't think that we would be as happy as we were to see Tupperware filled with paper and trinkets after all that, but it was a great find. And we learned enough that I'm sure we'll do better next time. Here's a link to the geocache we went after. We're in the "Cache logs" on April 27 under the name "modave crew." Ben took the little soccer ball, and left two coins. And of course... there were pictures. (slideshow)
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