Thursday, September 16, 2010

TuTu is Hawaiian for Grandma

After Maine, we spent a few weeks back in Arkansas with the heat (90 days above 90 degrees) and humidity and decided that our trip to Maine went so well, we should spend another week away. This time we headed north to Michigan, to see Jack's other grandmother, Bonnie, who now goes by TuTu (which, I'm told, is Hawaiian for grandmother).

Bonnie lives in picturesque Grand Haven, and her home, which she calls Waikiki East, has a great view of Lake Michigan. Bonnie has an amazing collection of shells and coral (illegal?) from her travels to Hawaii. Jack got to learn a new word "shells" and how some are to be touched, and some not touched (unless TuTu breaks down and says "ok, just once").





Bonnie's friend Jim B. hosted a birthday party for TuTu on his boat with a few of her close friends, and later took us up the Grand River, and for a quick run into Lake Michigan. Jack says "safety first" and sports a great life jacket provided by his uncle Jimmy C.
Jack got to sit on the bridge, blow the horn, and wave to the tourists on the Grand Haven pier.
Da drove the boat, and after being relieved by Captain Jim, had a few relaxation beverages.

TuTu had a very active schedule planned for Jack that included, among other things, a trip to the Myer Sculpture Garden, where Jack ignored the sculptures and gardens and focused on the boats and moats exhibit, and concentrated on pouring water all over himself. No worries, TuTu saw that coming, and brought extra clothes.
Another stop on TuTu Tour 2010 was the John Ball Zoo where Jack learned the difference between the two ends of a goat, how long to chase a chicken, and that a turkey poop takes a while to get off your fingers. The zoo was fun and Jack got to see "gwen-gwins" (penguines) swimming in an underwater tank, and a "robot" (guy in a scuba suit cleaning the tank).