Monday, September 24, 2012

Wisconsin

The end of Summer was upon us, and it was time for our trip to WISCONSIN to visit our family! Dad left town for Minnesota early in the week, but promised us that he would meet us in Wisconsin at the end of the week.  Mom, Macie, and I spent the days before our trip having some girl time at home!  When the big day finally arrived, we were more than prepared thanks to Mom and Uncle Will's due diligence (they thought of everything from food to entertainment, etc.)

Our plane flight to Wisconsin went was without incident.  Dad had made sure we got seats in the bulk head so that we had extra leg room and no chance of kicking ANYONE'S seat.  Mom was glad he had made that choice, because it proved to be the perfect set up.  Thanks to Mom's smart packing, both Macie and I had food, a movie, and everything we needed to make the flight a success.

We landed in Wisconsin, and were SO excited to see Grandma Joanie and Aunt Dot at the airport.  We took a short drive to Appleton to visit with Dad's cousin and her son Brayden. He was a little overwhelmed with Macie and I

When we arrived in Marshfield we quickly unpacked the car and headed straight for the park! Uncle Shawn joined us for some playground fun and couldn't get over how big Macie was, and how much she could do on her own.



Wanting to walk through the zoo before it closed at dark, we took off to see some animals.


Macie was fascinated by the big Geese in the pond and kept hollering at them.




I enjoyed seeing all the animals, but enjoyed taking silly pictures with Uncle Dangley the most!




On the way out we stopped at the big bear to see who was the tallest...to my dismay, Shawn was the clear winner...



We had a great first night at Grandma Joanie's house, and were so happy when Grandpa Jerry dropped Dad off at the house- we had missed him a TON!

The next morning we took Bam for a walk with Uncle Shawn before heading to Fleet Farm to buy some fishing poles!!!!  Uncle Shawn had been waiting for a long time to show off his fishing skills on his fancy boat!


 Shopping at Fleet Farm was a blast- I picked out a pink Barbie fishing pole, while Macie chose a purple Fairy one.  On the way out we were surprised to turn the corner and see Grandpa Jerry!!!



Fleet Farm Rocks!!!!



After a quick cat nap, we loaded the car and took off for the lake.  Macie and I were really excited to finally be in the boat!


Uncle Shawn took off fast, and we all LOVED it!!!



After a few rides around the lake we docked at a play area where Macie and I ran around.


On Saturday August 25th we woke up and celebrated Macie's 3rd Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She got to plan the WHOLE day, so she spent the morning watching her favorite movie "Fox and the Hound."

When the movie was over Macie and I spent some time with Dad while Mom, Grandma, and Uncle Shawn snuck out to retrieve a few birthday treats.  They returned home with balloons and a cake, and boy was Macie surprised and excited!!!!!!


The whole family gathered around and sang Macie the birthday song.


When the song was over she tried really, really, really hard to blow out all the candles...

After a few tries, she managed to get the job done.


She shoveled and shoveled until her little tummy was stuffed:


After a short nap, we took Macie across town for her second major birthday request: to walk on train tracks.

We don't know why she was so excited, but boy did she have a good time!




After she got her fill of the tracks, we drove over to the park where we looked at an old train engine,


and played in the grass.

That night we took Macie to McDonald's for some fun on the climber, but got a little more than we bargained for.  Due to Dad's disgust, he has demanded that we NEVER go to a McDonald's again...

The next morning the family got up early and went out for some Sunday fishing on the lake.



Macie and I were excited to be back on the boat, and even more excited to be using our fishing poles!




After prompting Uncle Shawn to "go fast" he hit the gas, and we all shrieked with excitement!!!!!





Since I am a BIG 5 year old, Uncle Shawn sat back and let me take the wheel to drive the boat:



Macie and I had a few casts into the lake, but had no luck.  We realized that fishing requires a lot more patience than either of us have...


Macie was fascinated by Uncle Shawn's earth worms- she insisted on holding them...


It turned out that Dad had the big catch of the day using my Barbie pole of all things...



Mom couldn't stop laughing at Macie's interest in touching the fish- I wanted to stay as far away from those slimy things as possible...



The following week we spent our time in Marshfield enjoying the town with our family.  We did a lot of outdoor activities!

 One afternoon while Dad and Uncle Shawn were frisbee golfing, Mom took us on a nature walk.

 

We loved the suspension bridge and had a blast running back and forth as it swung.




The next morning we spent time at home catching up with Grandma and Uncle Shawn!!!


 On Tuesday afternoon the family went to the local bowling alley.  It was the first time Macie and I were big enough to carry the bowling balls on our own.  Mom and Dad were so proud that they got us our very own lane!!!




Uncle Shawn and Dad gave us some bowling tips,



and boy were we proud of ourselves!!!

Dad turned out to be the big champ, throwing a 200+ game!!!!

The next day we laid low, spending time at home with Grandma and Bam!  We had a blast at the park, and met some fun new friends. 

 





 


 During nap time that day, Mom took me to get my very first spa pedicure:



I sure felt fancy!!!
On Thursday the family went to the county fair- there was SO much to see and do.  Macie was thrilled to find a train ride,


and I was super excited that they had a roller coaster!

We spent the afternoon riding all sorts of carnival rides:





That evening we met Grandpa Jerry and Cindy at Mom's favorite restaurant in Marshfield- El Mescal.  We had fun stuffing our faces and spending time with Grandpa and Cindy!



The next morning we went over to Grandpa Jerry's house to play with all his toys and say goodbye. 




In the afternoon Grandma Joanie and Mom took us back to the fair so that Dad and Shawn could enjoy some man time on the lake.



 Macie and I spent almost half an hour lapping the dragon roller coaster.


 Here we are in action:



Both of us really enjoyed the big slide, and took many turns on that as well.



We both rode our first ferris wheel ride, and discovered it wasn't scary at all!




After a few rides on the Harley's,


Grandma Joanie treated us to some fair food; we ate snow cones, corn dogs, and french fries!!!  Afterwards our tummies were full, so we posed for some pictures before getting back on the rides.



We stayed at the fair until dark, and went home to rest up for our big day at Jellystone.

On Saturday Dad and Uncle Shawn went out to the lake for the day while Mom, Grandma, Macie, and I packed up the car and drove down to Jellystone Park to visit Carter, Cooper, and their new baby brother Carson.  We were SO excited when we got down their with the boys!!!!!!!!


The park was REALLY cool, and Uncle Dave took us on a tour in his golf cart.  There were lakes, pools, slides, rides- you name it; it was a kid's paradise!!!!!!!!!!


After lunch we all went down to the lake to play on the beach.  The water was a little too cold for us west coast girls, but we still had fun.








After swimming, we rinsed off, ate a snack, and took a walk to ride the train!!!

 Carter and I walked hand in hand, glad to be spending time together!




While waiting for the train, Macie and I had a blast being silly with the boys.

 


The train ride was awesome- it took us all over Jellystone Park!!!!!!!!!



 By the time we got on the train, poor Cooper was so tired that he fell asleep as soon as we left the station...



On the Way back to the cabin we stopped to pose with Yogi Bear!!!



We had a BLAST that day, and were SO sad to say goodbye to our family.  We were very grateful that the Prechel's invited us to spend the day at such an amazing place!

The next morning we woke up and had to start packing.  Mom dressed us and sent us out the door to play while she cleaned up the house.  Mom just couldn't get enough of Macie- she looked SO grownup...



 When the truck was gassed up and loaded, the family piled in for the long trip to the airport.  We sat in the back with Grandma and had all sorts of fun!!!!



At the airport Macie and I tried to be as helpful as possible...




On the plane, Mom and Dad set each of us up with a movie, and we snuggled into our seats- two happy little girls!

 

 

When we tired of movies, Dad tried to coerce Macie into sleep- that didn't work AT ALL...


Instead, we tried to find cool sights out our windows as we flew over the Arizona desert.




It didn't take long for us to reach our destination.  Uncle Will met us at the airport, and drove us back to the house.  The car ride home was a little somber- both Macie and I missed Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Shawn, Bam, and the rest of our family in Wisconsin.  We had such an amazing time with all of them, and can't wait to see them again soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!