Wisconsin Lew's

The kids and I are back from our epic adventure to G'pa Lew's and G'ma Annie's. We had such an incredible time. I return home grateful for many things, but I am specifically grateful for fireflies, a landscape rich in beauty, songs about pancakes, and people with wide open hearts full of love.

On the plane ride to Wisconsin we were tight on space. Zi finally (fitfully) fell asleep in my arms as we were landing. I was pretty sure I would not make it out of the flight without a black eye. It is just unbelievable to me how aggressively physical my boy can be - is that they way with all boys?

Eden was so patient and so helpful, always making me so proud.

This is on the second flight to Wisconsin, the kids were pretty much rock stars on the flights.

LK Pic - as soon as we arrived in Wisconsin G'pa Lew swept us away to this magical place called Ellas where the kids ate ice cream, rode the carousal, and played with all the toy tables inside. Such a brilliant plan! Thanks G'pa Lew!

Each table in Ellas was different. Some outfitted with trains, some with marble mazes that you could operate. In addition there were all sort of mechanical toys on the ceiling. The place was such a trip - perfect for kids!

Madison Zoo

It was only day one and Eden was already fading from staying up late to see the fireflies.

LK Pic

LK Pic - another carousal ride at the zoo

An Eden Pic which beautifully captures the essence of the room Lew and Annie created for her. She loved it all so much that she wanted to bring the whole thing home with her.

 Tom & Louise's

Lew and Annie took us to their dear friend's Tom and Louise Pease house out in the country on our second day. The kids (mostly Zi) raged against the car ride, repeatedly explaining to us that he was "all done" and wanted "out, OUT!". But once we got their the kids were happy and loved running freely in the open space.

ZiZi with Jack the cat. He is obsessed with all animals but most recently he is very enamored with cats.

Eden's first real experience swimming in a lake. She has played in lakes before but never really immersed herself and swam. I was surprised at how hesitant she was, almost as if she was scared - only thing I can figure is that she must get that from her dad who having had grown up learning to swim in the ocean is also quite critical of lake water. Hopefully we can break Eden of this thought process before its too late (;

This is a beautiful property we visited where Tom & Louise's friends live and had just gotten married.Built by an organization called Gimme Shelter.

LK Pic

Looking for frogs in the pond

LK Pic - Pictured: Louise, her sister Nancy, Tom, & Annie. Tom grilling up the chicken that he raised. We are eating out in front of a porch the kids and I slept in that night. I have decided that there is no better place in the world to sleep than in a porch - pure bliss!

Eden standing in front of the porch.

One of the views from the porch.

LK Pic - Tom Pease singing his pancake song to Eden, and although Eden was slightly stone faced throughout the performance, when I asked her that night what the best part of her day was she told me it was hearing Tom play the pancake song, and she also said she wished she would have brought her guitar so she could have sung with him. (:

LK Pic - roaming the Pease property looking for cows.

LK Pic

Knee deep grass

Saying good-bye to these generous people that we won't soon forget and hope to someday spend time with again.

Eden Pic

LK Pic 

LK Pic

Trying to catch fireflies

Got one!

4th of July

4th of July fruit bowl with G'pa Lew

Eden won the cake walk!! And she repeatedly proclaimed that is was the best part of her day! (:

Getting ready for the egg toss which thanks to an incredibly strong egg and a lot of good luck we came very close to winning as well. 

LK Pic - Best picture ever from the egg toss! Thanks G'pa Lew for capturing the moment!!

The next several pics were taken at Lew's cousin Peter's house. Peter's mother came to live with Lew's father's mother as a young woman during the war (thanks Lew for the correction(:). Lew's grandmother became a mother figure to Peter's mom during that time and because of that (from what I understand from Peter's daughter Emily) the family became very close and thought of Lew's grandmother as their own grandmother. We had such an incredible time visiting with these guys. They had two adorable kids very close in age to Eden and Zi and they all got along so well! 

Heading out on the pontoon boat looking toward Peter and Mimi's beautiful house.

Jordan with Eden and Zi headed out on the pontoon boat to the local swimming spot.

LK Pic of Lars and Sara on the boat. 

I love these pics of Annie and Lew

Zion was thrilled to be on the boat! And whenever I ask his what his favorite part of the trip was, he keeps telling me "boat".

Eden getting ready to jump. Which she did over, and over, and over again!

LK Pic

These girls were unbelievable together!

Fishing off the dock.

LK Pic - everyone assembled to watch the fireworks on the lawn.

Uncle Lars and his lovely girlfriend Sara

We drug the kids to their first ever firework show. Eden was actually thrilled (despite being dreadfully tired) and is still talking about it to this day. Zi on the other hand was bummed. It was too loud, too bright, too late, poor little buddy.

LK Pic of Fireworks (:

Last Day

This was the first time I have ever seen Zi successfully blow bubbles!! Normally he just eats them. 

Eden and G'pa Lew taking in the scenery at a beautiful park. This could have been such a better pic but I had Zi asleep on my lap on the park bench. This was day five of baby sleep deprivation warfare and his little body finally said enough is enough.

LK Pic - at a little splash park before leaving on Friday. Such a perfect place for the kids to run free!

LK Pic of Zi at splash park

At a park set adjacent to the splash park. 

We ended the trip the way it began - at Ellas for ice cream and a carousal ride. The kids both had "Superman" ice cream which is likely their new favorite ice cream in the world.

Saying goodbye at the airport. It was so quick I could hardly get a pic. But goodbyes are never fun to prolong.

We had the best flight home. Somehow I was able to get us into the two seat row on our 1st flight and we had three seats to ourselves for the long second flight home. Zi fell straight to sleep before the plane left the ground at 6pm and slept all the way through the entire flight, then basically kept on sleeping the whole car ride home and all the way till the next morning at 6:30am (8:30am Wisconsin time). I guess it's safe to say that Zion was pretty beat up which is why he was beating us up so much while we were there. But he also had an incredible time filled with adventure and so much love. I can't wait to hear about his memories from this trip in the years to come. Eden's memories from her trip to Wisconsin when she was his age were of mosquitoes, fireflies, and thunderstorms. It will be interesting to hear what Zi will attest to about this trip, if anything, I suppose only time will tell...