The trip to Lansing takes about two hours -- short enough, a quick stop off is frequently considered over a weekend, when something interesting pops up, that way.  The caveat to that timeline, however, is not on game day -- when hoards of youngsters are busily texting down the highway and rear ending one-another, which isn't as fun as it sounds.

 

The state museum had been advertising a celebration of apples, that we thought to take in, a.m., before heading to the Potter Park Zoo, after lunch.  Being a game day, however, travel time was increased 125% as we inched around the mangled vehicular remains that littered the road.  The increased and idly-locked traffic became problematic for small bladdered passengers.  Fortunately, Ari was spending the entire day with "Fall out, boy!"  So the boys were able to explore alternative accommodations without too much humiliation:  A great deal of bathroom anxiety was likely shed, that day.

 

We finally arrived after lunch, and stopped immediately for lunch, at a wonderful little restaurant called, "Fork in the Road."  When food is the highlight of one's trip, it is indeed a good trip, and it was, their unique and fresh compilations a great rejuvinator after the long trudge. 

 

We tried to convince the boys to forgo the museum, but they wouldn't hear of it:  The apple celebration consisted of each getting to peel and core an apple (with a mechanical peeler/corer), smash the results, then enjoy a small cup of cider.  This was a wonderful experience, and certainly well worth the four hours of idling through dead dinosaur goo over patchwork pavement -- we assured ourselves there must surely have been more, if only we'd arrived sooner, natch.

 

As usual, the boys wanted a quick spin through the museum, and, as usual, Will took over the old school classroom.  When he was three, he very seriously instructed family and strangers alike, sternly admonishing all back to seats if they stood.  He was quite the hit, several people taking videos of the proceedings.  He's loosened up quite a bit, since, dismissing us almost immediately -- though, ulterior motive in hand, as he needed to use the restroom... 

 

 

 

So went the museum...

 

We have never been to the Potter Park Zoo;  being the capital Zoo, we throught we'd swing through:  Hmm.. 

 

The chickens were nice.

 

 

The boys also got to brush a goat -- during which a fellow brusher stubbed her toe, struggled to leave the pen, and an hilarious debate ensued, as to whether an ambulance should be called, or if amputation was going to be needed.

 

The rest:

 

A sleeping, bat-eared fox

 

 

A Willaroo

 

 

A stately King Vulture!

 

 

Penguins, in an outdoor exhibit...

 

 

A wallarue-ing his lonely imprisoned existence.

 

 

The sign on the exhibit says, "Snow Leopard." 

 

 

Will's dismissal:

 

20130914 140457 from Daniel Endicott on Vimeo.