Wisconsin!

After 2 long years, we finally made it back to Wisconsin for a visit to Grambo & Grandpa Uwe.

Wisconsin can be pretty hot in late July - luckily, the Wirth Aquatic Park is just minutes from Grambo's house.

They have showers...

...and jets to run through...

...and even a big spout that dumps continuous bucketloads on your head!

Lucie Bean preferred quieter pursuits, mostly involving pouring water from one stolen receptacle to another...

...splashing in the shallow end...

...and taking walks with her favorite person, Daddy.

They liked it so much, in fact, that we went back the next day and did it all over again.

Grambo also made sure that Brennan & Lucie got their fill of some classic Midwestern summer experiences.  She put a giant watermelon in the refrigerator, and cut up big slices to eat on a hot afternoon.

They weren't sticky one bit.

There was also lots of playtime on the backyard swing-set.  Grambo was a real sport for endless rounds of "push me higher", while Daddy and Grandpa disappeared for long stretches of updating the wi-fi and arguing with the cable company.

There were even rare moments of sharing the double swing and actually playing nicely with each other!

They got the grandparents all to themselves one night, too.  Mommy & Daddy went out to dinner to the slightly disorienting but not unpleasant Cooper's Hawk Winery - imagine some marketing team has decided to recreate Napa Valley in a shopping mall restaurant. (Who am I to judge?  The place was packed at 6:30 on a Thursday)  Grambo & Grandpa took the kids on a field trip to spot frogs in the pond, had a nice dinner at home, and then went out to Kopp's Frozen Custard for dessert.  

Grambo even has a pirate ship water table that kept Lucie busy for ages, if not dry.

Bren got in on the action as well.  Playing in the yard was much more fun than, say, going to the Apple Store with Daddy and Grandpa.

Finally, the Internets was declared acceptable, and Grandpa was allowed a popsicle break.  With any luck, we'll be able to catch up via FaceTime now, and Grandpa will finally get to stream season 1 of Game of Thrones.

They weren't sticky one bit.

Brennan and Lucie had a great visit - and it was great for me, too, seeing them enjoy the summer time things I remember from my childhood.  I even caught them some fireflies in a jelly jar!  (we let them go after a little while) They loved the warm weather, all the toys, and, especially, playing with their grandparents (and I loved getting hour to just read a book on the patio).  We got as far as the end of the driveway when Brennan said he missed Grambo & Grandpa's house.