Jack’s weekend – Day 2

The cornerstone activity of our summer float weekend at Jack’s is the Saturday float.  We all don our life preservers, drive upstream a couple miles, wade into the Wisconsin River, and float our way down to Jack’s.  Here’s our 2011 crew in the obligatory pre-float photo:

08-06-11_Jacks_131Michael is either playing with Andrew or abusing him.08-06-11_Jacks_122

 

This year’s float took a little longer than normal, and we should have brought some sunscreen on the river for a mid-trip re-apply.  Oh well!  08-06-11_Jacks_139

Such a cute kid:)

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After the float, there’s reading and napping.08-06-11_Jacks_135

Maretta brought her new spinning wheel, and here she’s letting Sylvie help her work the treadle.08-06-11_Jacks_152

Mid-afternoon, Jack to me and Dad and Matt up the hill to take a look at the prairie.08-06-11_Jacks_155

There’s no place like Jack’s prairie.  I just love it!08-06-11_Jacks_165

The big bluestem grasses are tall.  You can see the bluffs across the river in the distance.08-06-11_Jacks_168

Some bee balm.08-06-11_Jacks_170

Prairie, oaks, and the river beyond.08-06-11_Jacks_179

Back at home, Maretta’s spinning.  Actually, in this case, she’s taking two strings of yarn and winding them together.  That’s called plying.

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Her new spinning wheel is so beautiful.  I love watching her change fiber into yarn!

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Saturday night, we took our jambalaya up on the hill for dinner again.  08-06-11_Jacks_187

As the sun set, the moon became brighter in the sky.08-06-11_Jacks_189

Good food, a fire, and a beautiful (bugless!) evening.08-06-11_Jacks_191

Bev was approaching a significant birthday, and Jack wrote a declaration for her, which he read with some pomp and circumstance amidst much laughter.08-06-11_Jacks_197
And so ended our second day.  We played Trivial Pursuit well into the evening, and woke up with cozy kids in our tent.

Weekend at Jack’s – Day 1

Ahh, summer!  This picture of Andrew with his smiling watermelon says it all.

On Friday, August 5, we started the day with a big breakfast and then we headed on the river for our first float of the weekend.  When we got back, Terry and the kids broke open the first of the watermelons.

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Smashing a watermelon on concrete and digging it apart with your hands is a strong Babler/Haller tradition.  In this case, however, it looks like a knife was used.08-05-11_Jacks_015

Mmmm watermelon!08-05-11_Jacks_017

Pictures of me are mostly curtsey of Joe!08-05-11_Jacks_029

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Maretta-with-the-short-hair and Bearded Kyle.
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Here’s dinner – Macho Salad.  yum.08-05-11_Jacks_037

That pan’s full of delicious corn bread.08-05-11_Jacks_051

Tom and the kids.08-05-11_Jacks_059

We ate dinner outdoors up on the hill.  Here’s Andrew giving a sweet kiss.08-05-11_Jacks_082

There’s Matt.  We were glad that he was able to join us this year.08-05-11_Jacks_087

Maretta and Sylvia.  Not sure what Sylvie is doing here except perhaps displaying how her thumb bends back just like Daddy’s.  Natural selection:)

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Enjoying our dinner with some bourbon slush and watching the sun set.08-05-11_Jacks_094

Kids in motion.08-05-11_Jacks_099

Lots of laughter.08-05-11_Jacks_100

Our summer crew is a big one, so we tend to sleep out in our tent.  It’s fun to camp with the kids!  We had some big storms, but we didn’t blow over, and somehow the kids are now a little less afraid of thunder.  Excellent:)  08-05-11_Jacks_110Stay tuned for Day 2!

Bryan’s trip down the river

I know that it’s September now, but take yourself back to early August.  I’ve got some catching up to do on blog posts, starting with our weekend trip to Jack’s house.  This blog post is brought to you by the fact that Sylvie’s still in Texas (I’m writing here on Sept 6) and Andrew’s in school.  Oh the blessed quiet!  How I’ve missed you:)

To set the stage…it’s Thursday evening, August 4 – around 80 degrees.  Bryan just got back home after a week with Andrew in Texas.  On this day, we’re all packed and heading out to Jack’s house for our family’s annual Wisconsin River float weekend.  Joe’s flying home from DC.  Maretta and Kyle are driving down from St. Paul.  Michael is coming from work in Dodgeville.  Terry, Tom, Bryan, the kids and I are all driving from Madison.

The car is full of amazing food, our camping gear, flowers, the kayak, and a happy crew.  We’ve extended the weekend by a day.  Turns out that driving out on Thursday night instead of Friday night makes the whole weekend feel so much more expansive, relaxed, and wonderful!  On our drive out, we stop at Peck’s Farm Market like always.  Then we drive out to the bridge in Muscada where Bryan unloads his kayak and camping gear and heads to the river for a solo overnight paddle.  The weather was a little rainy, but as we parked, we saw this lovely rainbow.

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There’s Bryan putting in at the Muscada bridge.08-04-11_Jacks_005

 

He’s heading down river 30 miles or so to Jack’s house.  Goodbye!

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Bryan brought his camera with him and took some fun images of the sandbar on which he camped.

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Nothing like watching the sun set over the water.

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Here’s a campfire he made.08-04-11_Canon_045

Beautiful!  Bryan’s sure enjoyed kayaking this summer!  I was glad he was able to get out on the river and explore a new (to us) section of the Lower Wisconsin.  08-04-11_Canon_046I’m writing this in early September.  We just got home from an overnight canoeing trip we did with Andrew where we covered some of this same section of river.  It’s so tranquil and lush.  I feel peace just being there:)

Dreaming of world travels

A few weeks ago, Bryan, Andrew, Sylvia, and I sat around the dinner table, and we started brainstorming places in the world that we would like to visit.  Bryan pulled out a paper and pen, and here’s what he documented:

  • Go to Africa and get a house…maybe for a couple years (Andrew)
  • Go to China or maybe even Asia (Andrew)
  • Ride a yellow horse (Sylvia)
  • Tanzania (Althea)
  • Horseback riding trip (Althea & Sylvia)
  • Australia/Great Barrier Reef/New Zealand
  • Costa Rica
  • Other side of the world (Andrew)
  • Riding on a kangaroo (Sylvia)
  • Alaska
  • Hawaii (Althea)
  • Philippines (Andrew)
  • South Korea (Bryan)
  • Brazil (Andrew) – Natal city (at this point, we were looking at a globe)
  • Russia (Andrew)
  • Egypt (Althea)
  • Norway (Bryan)
  • India (Althea and Andrew)
  • Canada (Bryan)
  • New Mexico (Andrew)
  • Algeria (Andrew)
  • Argentina (Andrew)
  • Fiji (Althea)
  • Thailand (Andrew)

Wondertime magazine (may it rest in peace) published an article several years ago about a family who saved their money and took a year-long round-the-world vacation.  I think I prefer the idea of occasional trips rather than one gigantic one, but the story has stuck with me.  Here it is (Around the World in 52 Weeks).  The same magazine (oh how I loved it!) had a story about a family who traveled all over Africa with their baby.  Again, inspiring!!

Exploring different places and cultures is something that Bryan and I would both like to do with our kids while they are growing up.  I hope we’re able to put some plans into action so that we can make some of those traveling dreams reality!

Lake house

The weekend of July 22, we joined our neighbors, Kathy, Brett, Alivia, and Rayna at Kathy’s family’s lake house in Waupaca.  A really great time was had by all.

There’s something so quieting about the pace of life in Northern Wisconsin.  On a lake.  In the summer.

Here’s a slide show of the weekend!

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There’s the blondies, hair kissed by the sun.

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In the evening our first night, the kids all played on the pier.

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I have a picture of Andrew and Alivia from 2009 that I love.

Alivia and Andrew Here’s the 2011 version.  While Alivia was gazing at me with her amazing yes, Andrew was being a ham…

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I love the way he’s looking at her in this picture.

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Here’s Rayna by the birch trees in amazing evening light.

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This is Andrew and Kathy and the pooch Freya enjoying the sunset.

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Water time! We spent all day on the water.

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Here’s the view from the shore to the floating dock where we spent the day.  Andrew and Alivia and Rayna jumped and jumped and jumped off that dock.  I kinda wish I’d had my camera to document the wonderful water play.

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Mid-afternoon, we went for a boat ride on the pontoon boat.  The big kids read, Rayna napped, and we all enjoyed this beautiful chain of lakes.

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Here’s a view back to Kathy’s dad’s house from the water.

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And the sunset…

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Thanks, guys, for inviting us out for the weekend.  We had a wonderful time.  Kathy, it was great seeing where you grew up and getting to experience a place that’s been such an important part of your life.  We’ll join you back there any time!

Silly faces

We’re never going to be able to run for public office.

Here’s one of the things our family does for fun…take silly pictures of ourselves with the phone.  Greetings from us to you from Door County!

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Door County beach play

In early July, I had a great assignment to travel up to Door County to photograph Rutabaga Paddlesport’s Door County Sea Kayak Symposium.  We’d had that weekend blocked off as a potential family vacation in Door County, so we combined the two.  Bryan took care of the kids while I worked, and then I joined them for some outings to beaches and playgrounds.  It was a great weekend!  One of the highlights was sitting around the campfire as a family.

Here are some photos (taken with my phone since I was “camera’d out”) of Bryan and the kids playing in the water at Sand Bay Beach, which was just down the road from the Wagon Trail Campground where we stayed.07-09-11_iPhone_012

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Here’s one of my favorite pictures from the summer:)

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Here’s a picture of the kids asleep in the tent.  Such cuties.

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On Sunday, before we left, we visited Newport State Park.

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The beach was a lot rockier, but we found lots of crawfish exoskeletons, which made for some fun hunting.

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There was a spot where the sand was almost like quicksand.  Andrew and I had fun letting our feet get swallowed up.

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Homeward bound.  Two tired kids!

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Memorial Day weekend at Tom’s

Tom’s new home in Lone Rock on the Wisconsin River is going to be a great spot for our family.  Since it’s only an hour away, we can make a quick trip.  There’s a huge sand pile that the kids are having fun playing in (dressed or no).  The river is right there for paddling or floating adventures, there’s  new outdoor parks to explore.  It’s fun.

Then of course, we can just hang out indoors, which is great because since it’s not home, it’s just a nice change of pace.

Here, on Memorial Day weekend, Tom is reviewing Andrew’s first writing of one googol (that’s 10^100; 1 followed by 100 zeros). 10,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000.

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I closed Sylvia’s fingers in the door.  They were a little bloody and bruised, but OK.  It was sad, but a good opportunity to remind both kids what a terrible idea it is to place your hand on a door frame.  Sweet girl.  Here, she’s chilling with some ice and poodle and paci.

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We visited Tower Hill State Park.  The weather was on the sweltering side (in the 90s), but the kids did well.

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Andrew has magical powers to help bring Sylvie out of her downer-moods.  Here he’s cajoling and sweet-talking.

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She doesn’t seem to be responding…

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Ahh, but there she is!  The door opens, and she leaves the gloomy humdrums behind.  Thanks, Andrew!

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What is this in this cave?  Why, it can’t be..

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YES!  It is two ferocious BEARS!  Just look at their claws!

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Up at the top of the hill, looking out over the Wisconsin River valley, with Spring green to the left.

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Andrew was a little tired and got a lift down the hill from Tom.  Lucky lad:)

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Bryan kayaking on the Wisconsin River

Bryan’s been having fun getting out on the water in his new fabulous kayak.  On Memorial Day weekend, he brought his boat up to Tom’s place and spent a couple hours paddling down the Wisconsin from Spring Green to Lone Rock.

Here’s my kayaking guy pre-trip.

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The kayak traveled on top of the car.  Bryan took all the straps off.

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Then he flipped it off the “J” rack

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and carried it down to the water.

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Easy as pie, right, hon?  Do you like it when I stand here photographing you incessantly?  Huh, huh, huh?

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Such a beautiful day for a paddle.

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He sets the kayak down on the beach,

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gets his PFD and paddle,

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Settling in…

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And he’s off!

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Toodles, Babe:)

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He met us back at Tom’s really quickly.  Love that paddling man:)

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May trip to Wichita – Part IV: Visiting with Julie, Jerry & crew

On Saturday evening of our visit in Wichita, we visited with our good friends, Julie and Jerry Anderson.  Julie and Bryan were good friends and neighbors as kids.  Her husband Jerry is a great guy, and they have two little ones – Grayson (6) and Carter (2).  On this visit, Julie’s parents, Janie and Van Buchanan, joined us too.  It was a lot of fun to see friends!

Here’s the whole gang with a little balance-the-camera-on-the-truck trick.

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When we visited last year (see post here), Julie and Jerry were just about to put their house up for sale.  So it was great to see their new beautiful home!

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Before supper, the boys all hung out in the living room.

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The boys getting ice cream.  Grayson’s a big Jay Hawk fan.  Takes after his parents, uncles, and grandparents I think.

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This little Carter dude was so adorable. I couldn’t stop taking pictures!

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After dinner, we headed out to the driveway where the kids all played with bikes and balls and chalk and the hours sped by.

Love this new picture of Sylvia skipping along in the sunshine.

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One kid pushing, one kid riding.

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Wait, what?!  Two kids riding.

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Grayson’s quite a biking force.  This kid’s got good physical acumen.

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There’s Carter with his Grandma.  So nice that they get to spend so much time together:)

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Andrew and Carter played some t-ball.  I think we can consider the evening a rousing success since neither of them walloped the other in the head with a ball or bat.  There were a few close-calls!

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Sir Carter-of-the-adorable-eyes.

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The boys played with the soccer ball for a while.  Grayson’s a skilled boy, and he shows a lot of focus and drive to play.

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Another one of Janie and Carter.  Too cute!

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There’s Julie with Carter and Jerry in the background.

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Look at that beautiful boy:)

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After dinner, Sylvia made a bee-line for the costumes <aside: warning – if we come to your home, Sylvie will find your costumes.  even if you thought they were just your clothes.>

Sylv and Grayson took a break from coloring for a sweet pic.

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Noting that the four kids were in the same location for the first (and only) time during the evening, I ran over to get an Anderson/Dotzour kids photo.

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So glad that it worked that we were able to all be together.  Whenever Bryan and I get to spend time with Julie and Jerry, we always find ourselves wishing we had more opportunities to play and hang out together.  Oh well, we’ll take what we can get!  Thanks again, guys:)