We loved our time in Michigan - the lake, the fireworks, the yard, the LEGO, and most of all, Gangi & Grandpa Marshall - and there were a few tears shed by some of our party as our plane taxied* onto the Bishop International runway (not to name names, but their first names start with "B" and "A"). But a short plane ride to Chicago and a short drive to Brookfield later, all was right in the world again:
Brennan made his THIRD return trip to Wirth Aquatic Park, the splash pad by which all other splash pads are judged. And this time, Lucie was big enough and brave enough to fully enjoy it, too.
Which of course meant she followed Brennan everywhere, causing him no end of exasperation, and the occasional retiring in a huff to a lounge chair.
Where Lucie then joined him.
Just happy to be here, folks.
They eventually got their differences sorted out, enjoyed some junk from the concession stand, and enjoyed the rest of their morning.
After drying off, Grambo & Grandpa Uwe took them to Toys R Us, a store we've hidden the existence of from them, and they each got to pick out a special toy. Both came home with LEGO sets that would in no way fit in our suitcases, which I guess is what I get for choosing to stay home and read A Few Seconds of Radiant Filmstrip.
Of course, no stay in Wisconsin is complete without:
watermelon!
swingset time!
We returned to the Milwaukee Zoo, since Lucie loves animals, and was only interested in eating the zoo map the last time she was here. She's come quite a long way, although still prefers that someone else does the walking:
Grambo suggested we try out something new this trip: Sky Zone!
It is more or less impossible to take a focused picture of the kids at Sky Zone, so this will have to do.
For those of us who have never had to face down a house full of antsy children through a long Wisconsin winter, it may not occur to you to go to a giant trampoline covered room. Turns out, they might be on to something - Bren & Lu went to bed, made no encore appearances for "just a litle bit of water", "I just want to show you one more LEGO", "just one more hug", or any of their other BS, conked out in minutes, and slept all night.
We also had a good time getting frozen custard at Kopp's, discovering Brennan has his own chain of grocery stores in Wisconsin, and playing with cousin Seth -
All too soon, it was time to get on our flight back to San Francsico. It was so great to have sunshine, fireflies, thunderstorms, and special time with grandparents. We're missing Wisconsin, too -
- and cursing the fog.
* Full disclosure: there may have been more tears shed by everyone when our plane taxied into O'Hare and we realized we left the iPads in Linden.
