Grandma & Grandpa Reyher come to town!

The highlight of this week was a visit from Grandma Ginne & Grandpa John. While Big Momma and Grandpa Tom headed south to Oxford, Mississippi for the Oxford Conference for the Book, we were lucky enough to have Daddy's parents step up and into our wacky routine. They arrived on Wednesday night just in time to see us off on our first genuine family biking adventure on a ten-mile route winding through the neighborhoods of Ferndale, Oak Park and Royal Oak bypassing the Detroit Zoo and a local park providing some good swinging and sliding opportunities. Grandma spoiled little man with a new toy each day and Grandpa taught him how to commandingly conduct an orchestra. On Thursday and Friday, we all walked to a nearby park and Atticus held onto Grandpa's hand the whole way and then was treated to a swing ride on Grandpa's lap.

Saturday, Atticus had a play date with a gaggle of girls. Turns out, all of the pediatric residents on the floor at Royal Oak last month have girls (4 total) ranging in age from 1 to 5 years old. We all got together at the kids' play area in the food court of a local mall and let them have the run of the place. After some initial shyness, Atticus warmed up to the crowd. He particularly liked the potato chip slide, climbing onto the corn cob and hanging out beneath the hot dog bun.

Sunday, we trekked out to Dearborn to the Henry Ford Estate & the Henry Ford Museum. There was lots to see at the Museum--literally all manners of trains, planes and automobiles. Grandpa, Daddy and Mama got involved in crafting the perfect paper airplane for Atticus to pilot. Let the record here show that the girl plane was the only one to hit the 20' target. After a late lunch in Dearborn, we said our goodbyes to Grandma Ginne and Grandpa John. It was great to have them!! The weather was beautiful outside so we headed downtown for a stroll along the riverfront and a peak inside the downtown Marriott. Atticus loved the water and the sculptures in Hart Plaza. We're hoping the enthusiasm for both is long-lasting...

Firsts for this week:

• signing for "owwwie" was new this week and already the boy's taking advantage using it every chance he gets for a sympathetic response
  
• new eats included a black bean burger, an unbounded enthusiasm for hummus and a newfound proficiency sipping from a straw