Backyard Cricketing Fun...

September's weather was lovely in Metro Detroit. It meant the children and I played some exciting games of cricket in our back garden. I have so many fun memories of playing cricket with my dad in our back garden back in Cape Town, and Riaan is so enthusiastic about playing cricket with me. I hope that he will carry these memories forward. :) Here, Riaan advances down the track to face a fiery delivery from Anya!

Anya bowls to Riaan.

Riaan bowls to Eliza. We were playing at a nearby park. :)

Visiting Mounds State Park...

Nearly eight years ago we visited Mounds State Park just outside Anderson, Indiana, on a drive to visit friends in Michigan. Earlier this month, on our drive back home from Daviess County, we stopped for lunch at this same state park. It was good to stretch the legs and be surrounded by nature and ancient natural history. 

Bronnenberg House, built by German settlers in the 1840s.

Candace and the children on a bench. We have a similar photo from 2016's visit.

Eliza surveys the Great Mound.

Riaan reads about the smallest earthwork at Mounds State Park.

It was a beautiful day to visit!

Hummingbird Moth...

This unusual creature may resemble a hummingbird in flight, but it is in fact an insect. It is the snowberry clearwing, although more commonly known as a hummingbird moth. We spotted it as it was buzzing quickly along - enjoying the pollen from a garden verbena on our recent trip to Indiana. :)

It flew quickly from flower to flower - making photography rather challenging.

Daviess County Visit...

We visited Daviess County, Indiana, for a visit at the end of August. We went specifically to take family photos with all of Candace's immediate family - as a gift for her parents. It was a good trip, and we were able to see lots of family and friends. The children were particularly sad when it came time to say our goodbyes and drive back to Michigan.

Lego ship that Riaan and I made.

Small dragonfly.

Farmer's Market in Washington.

Watching SA defeat New Zealand in rugby at the Cherry Ghost Coffee House.

Pretty backdrop for family photos.

With Anya during family photos.

Apple cider press fun.

Riaan takes a turn on the apple press.

Pretty skies above Amish country.

The children having 'barrels of fun' with their grandfather.

A rare moment - I made a feline friend!

The children were quite sad saying goodbye to Garfield, the farm cat.

Lego Aircraft Carrier...

Riaan built this super cool aircraft carrier using his own mind - no instructions needed here. :) I love seeing the growing creativity of all three of our children!

Riaan holds his creation.

The bow of the ship.

Michigan Monarchs...

Two monarch caterpillars that we found on our milkweed transformed to beautiful butterflies last weekend. They were the first monarchs that we found in our garden since moving to Michigan. We watched the amazing process right before church on Sunday morning. :)

Camouflaged caterpillar hiding in the milkweed blooms.

One of the two monarch caterpillars.

Hanging from the top of the cage - shortly after transforming from caterpillar into chrysalis.

The chrysalis turns dark as the butterfly prepares to emerge. The orange of the wings is clearly visible.

Dangling under the remains of the chrysalis. 

An amazing biology lesson!

The butterfly pumps fluid from its body to its wings.

The other monarch emerged shortly afterwards.

Resting in a tree a few hours later. :)

Touch-A-Truck...

We took our children to a Touch-A-Truck event at a local church earlier in August. There were construction vehicles, large semi-trucks, a logging truck, a tow truck, and emergency vehicles. The children loved exploring all these interesting trucks - as well as making the hooters/horns sound on each vehicle! :)

Riaan in a construction vehicle.

Riaan and Eliza explore a bulldozer.

Eliza takes charge!

Large semi-truck.

Dearborn Police cruiser.

Heavy-duty tow truck.

Logging truck - displaying its pneumatic crane.

There was even face painting. Riaan is a triceratops!

Date Cycles...

Friends of ours have been kind enough to watch our children for a couple of hours here and there, so that Candace and I can have some much-needed dates. One activity we love is to go for a cycle together. This past Saturday we even popped by a local coffee shop. :)

Coffee shop stop on our cycle. :)

Sunday Afternoon at Port Huron...

We visited beautiful Lighthouse Beach, Port Huron, on a very windy Sunday in August. There were rough waves on this southern portion of Lake Huron - so all we did was paddle and walk along the beach. Despite the conditions, it is always worthwhile visiting the lake shore. :)

We both love the coast. :)

Looking for pretty pebbles.

Riaan and Eliza paddling in the waves.

The lighthouse at Port Huron.

A tanker waiting out the rough weather in the safety of open water.

A cargo vessel far out in the lake.

Gull hovering above the waves.

Canadian police helicopter doing exercises above the channel...

In partnership with this police patrol boat.

Rough waves pound the Canadian side of the channel.