The Gardens and Fireflight with Grandma and Papa

Today was a gorgeous day and we decided to go hang out at Meijer Gardens in the morning. Mom and Dad have only been to see the butterflies and it's always freezing out, so today they got to check out the OUTSIDE part. Rainah showed the around the Children's Garden and Papa showed her how to douse Grandma with the water squirters.

After enjoying the gardens we headed home, had some lunch, and packed up to head to Muskegon to the Unity Festival where Fireflight was playing. We got there and had to wait in line for about an hour (thanks a lot, Jill!), and once we finally got in we found Jessica who was just finishing setting up the merch table. We walked around, got some yummy eats, and hung out to watch the bands. Rainah had a great time and it was so great to see Jess. Unfortunately we weren't able to talk with the rest of the band as there was a HUGE line of people waiting for autographs- we're so happy they are doing so well! Here's a few photos from the day (I wasn't allowed to take my DSLR into Unity Fest- I was yelled at last year for using a camera like that... this year they had signs everywhere... what's up with that???):

That is one big horse

Rolling down the hill

Fireflight taking the stage

Sweet, quiet, Uncle Justin

Rainah dancing

Phee

Uncle Justin

Fireflight Rocks the Coast

Today Rainah and I headed out to Michigan's Adventure for "Rock the Coast" to see Fireflight play. We got to the park around 2 and met up with Jill, Tina, Jess, and Justin, who had just gotten off of a very short roller coaster ride. Rainah wouldn't go on anything by herself at first, so we went on some of the smaller rides with her, then went over and "helped" Jessica set up the merchandise. Rainah loved the carousal and we ended up going back on that quite a few times. Everyone was excited to go on Thunderhawk, but it wasn't running during the first part of the day. After getting set up, it was finally running, so a bunch of them went to ride that. Rainah and I walked around and I got a few photos of them on the coaster.

After that we headed back over to the wave pool where the bands were playing, grabbed some dinner, and watched the show. Rainah had a great time and was so good! She had lots of fun running around with Aunt Jill and Jessica and was crashed out in the car not long after we took off. Despite the cold and the wind, we had lots of fun and it was good seeing the band and Jess!

When I told her it was time to go, Rainah came running to me in this get-up

Jess, Rainah and I riding "Winky the Whale"

Rainah's favorite of the day - the carousal

The ride everyone was waiting for

Patiently waiting while everyone was riding the coaster

Getting ready to start

The audience (in the wave pool)


Justin

Glenn and Wendy

Dawn

Rainah rockin it (on top of the After's equipment)

The line for Fireflight's autographs after they played (not sure who else was left to listen to the next band!)

Unity Festival in Muskegon

Yesterday after our fun at the Kent County Youth Fair, we headed out to Muskegon to see Fireflight play at the Unity Festival. We weren't sure how she would do, but figured we'd try it out. Because we were with the band, we got in before the gates opened and the kids got to play on the playground that was there. It was set up great, and they had an area with games for older kids, and an area for younger kids, complete with bounce houses, games and prizes. Rainah's always up for the bounce house, and had a blast jumping around with her cousins. She played a few games and won a coloring book, after which she spent a good 20 minutes asking me for crayons so she could color... I finally got her to forget about that by throwing her back in the bounce house. We walked around a bit, got some food, danced to some music, and finally, Fireflight came on. Don watched Rainah so I could take some pictures, but a few minutes into it, security came over and asked if I would come with him. He said they needed to check out my camera. Then someone else told me that camera's like that weren't allowed and I was going to have to go turn it in to Lost and Found and pick it up later... it had something to do with the band's riders. I told them that I was with the band, and they had to go and get someone else to come talk to me. I explained to him that I was with Fireflight and he said that I'd better not be screwing with him or he'd be pissed. Then he said that I would have to come behind the fence to take pictures so that people in the audience knew I was with the band and that was why I had the nice camera. So, whatever. I took a few photos, but everyone else I was with was on the other side of the fence, so I put it away.
Rainah had a great time and did surprisingly well. We left Muskegon a bit after 10 and she didn't even fall asleep until we were about half way home. We had a great time! Thanks again, Justin!






Building with daddy


Fishing


Awww; cousins




Hanging out during soundcheck


Watching uncle Justin play








It's been a LONG day!