Wisconsin Trip 2016

We've started the tradition of visiting Wisconsin every summer now. I look forward to future years where we can continue this tradition and take our kids skiing and swimming in the lakes. Coming to Wisconsin brings back so many wonderful, carefree childhood memories. I'm glad I can share some of them with my kids. Here's a recap with lots of pictures.

Day 1: We flew into Madison. The flights went well. Both kids slept on the planes. We purchased a CARES harness for Ashton to help her sit better in the seat and it was the best buy ever! Once we arrived, we met up with my sister and an old friend from high school for dinner at a restaurant with a carousel next to it. Ashton loved to ride the pink elephant. On the drive home, my parent's van had a small issue so we ended up getting home close to midnight. Thankfully the kids fell asleep in the car so it wasn't too bad.

Day 2: Visited my grandma. She turns 90 this year so I know her years are limited. I am grateful she can see my kids and play with them. Ashton loves visiting her as my grandma always has treats for her. That afternoon, we drove up north to see my step-sister and her two kids who were camping for the week. We played with cousins and went out to eat.

Day 3: We drove over to Green Bay and went to Bay Beach Amusement Park. We met up with my friend, Janet, and her two girls. Her oldest and Ashton are a month apart so it's fun to see them together. We had a wonderful morning there. That evening, we went to dinner with my aunts and uncles.

Day 4: Aunt Trescha came! We spent the afternoon with her and celebrated my mom's birthday. Ashton got to help stain the playground my parents are building. We had a family dinner and bonfire that night. Then we played cards at home and Ashton learned "Slapjack" (which really became Slapface. By the time we left Wisconsin, Ashton could distinguish the all the face cards by their letter) and loved it.

Day 5: Church day! Church with two kids by myself is a challenge. Ashton desperately wanted to go to nursery though so we made it! The ward has changed so much that I only know a few families now. Ashton enjoyed nursery so much she didn't want to leave. That afternoon, we picked berries in my parents yard and built houses out of Lincoln Logs.

Day 6: We met up with my cousin, Lisa, and her daughter to paint pottery. Ashton chose a teacup for her project. She lasted about an hour, which I expected. It turned out really cute and I hope to take Ashton back there next year to see how she improves her painting skills.

Day 7: We went to the Leigh Yawkey Art Museum for their Toddler Tuesday. I love this program and wish we had something similar in Texas. Ashton likes making all the art projects and my mom met us there for her lunch break. That night, Ashton got to take Molly the dog to the dog doctor! She loved it!

Day 8: Visit to the children's museum. Always a hit with the kids. Got ice cream at Briq's and visited a park.

Standing up while holding on to something by himself! He's getting too big too fast!

Day 9: We stopped at the library for storytime and then went swimming with Megan and Lisa in the afternoon.

While we were there, Ashton caught many tadpoles in my parent's ponds. Papa helped with the swimming pool net.

Day 10: I was fortunate to head out to camp, where I spent my summers from 2005 to 2009. I worked year round two of those years as well. I haven't walked around camp since I worked there in '09. It was great to show Ashton around and she loved all the playgrounds. Maybe one summer I'll enroll her there for a week. Then we went to Megan's house to play and Ashton loved that.

Day 11: We went up north to Jim Peck's wildlife zoo. Ashton had no fear for any of the animals. That's my girl. Tanner enjoyed it too. Trescha came up with us as well. Ashton loved playing with the baby bunnies and feeding the goats.

Day 12: Church again. We met up later with my cousin, Amy, and her husband at the splashpad. Everyone had a blast.

Day 13: My parents had the day off so we wandered up north to Laona and rode a train to an old logging camp. Ashton loved it! She especially enjoyed playing with the kittens in the barn. Played cards with Aunt Lynn and Uncle Bill again in the evening. Tanner surprised me by transitioning from crawling to sitting up several times this day.

Full size steam engine. It was really cool.

Day 14: Visited a park and packed. Ashton convinced Papa to play guitars together.

Two big smiles! (If only the computer wasn't on...)

Day 15: Travel day back to Houston! It was more eventful than I would have liked. In Madison, some drunk guy tried to get through security with no boarding pass. He kept pushing the TSA agents around and it took 10 minutes before someone handcuffed him. That was terrifying and a first for me as we were about five feet from the guy. Then our flight to Houston was four hours delayed so our day was a little longer than anticipated. But we made it safe and sound. Now the planning begins for next year!