Greetings From America's Dairyland!

Oy. Got a little behind there... Time to catch up.

We took our first family road trip with both kids a few weeks ago to visit our friends Stacey & Jeremy in Madison. We were a little anxious about bringing both kids on a long trip and trying to mix in kid fun and adult fun but everything went really smooth and we had a really good time. The drive out there kind of went like this...

For some reason I busted out laughing every time I looked back at Violet sleeping with her little lips and double chin.

We stopped in Menomonie to look at a couple of our college houses and be nostalgic. Then it was off to Madison. For a long freeway drive you can't beat the scenery and rolling farm land of Central Wisconsin. One of the highlights of our visit was the farmer's market in Madison -- the largest in the country. It stretches for blocks around the state capital.

We took a brief tour of the capital building and I can tell you that Henry urinated all over the pristine marble tile floor of the state capital. All in a day's work for this young chap...

Mmmmm.... Donuts...

They pretty much have everything that you could possibly imagine there and a whole lot more, including a respectable contingent of street musicians. I won't even get into the cheese thing but I will just say that they have that covered too. We came home with a variety of cheeses, a big ole' thingie of brussel sprouts the size of a small Christmas tree, and two sixers of a Madison micro brew -- Hopalicious it's called.

We also went to Ella's Deli & Ice Cream Parlor ,which may be the best restaurant in the world for three year olds. You might just have to check out the website. They have a whole bunch of animated and motorized displays of superheroes and miscellaneous kid's stuff made of paper mache that go back and forth on trolley lines across the ceiling. There is a Beatles diorama and a tribute to the Green Bay Packers. Most of the tables had glass tops with stuff underneath like Pez dispensers and baseball cards -- that kind of stuff. The chocolate malts were elegant, although I was disappointed that they didn't give you the little extra left over in the metal cup which is customary elsewhere. I wish you could see the ceilings... Here's Violet. The woman can flat out eat. I had a cherry coke and an open-faced Reuben sandwich that was both challenging and delightful all at once.

But the kicker was the carousel. Here's mama and Violet.

Mama was flabbergasted that I let Henry have his own horse and judging from the look on Henry's face, I think he was surprised also. Jeremy looks on as I hold Henry's had for balance and reassurance purposes.

Henry has dance class with Grandma Sue on Tuesdays. The Tuesday before Halloween was an open house for the parents and the kids were urged to wear their costumes. The night was filled with comedy both intentional and unintentional. Unfortunately, the pictures turned out a bit dark. I don't recall the exact name of the maneuver. However, below is a photo of Henry in mid-stride mastering a complicated step in his soft ballet shoes and Batman costume.


Henry mugs for the camera as Grandma Sue puts the class through the paces...

Henry had to be separated from this guy once because they are total trouble makers when they sit next to each other. Below, they discuss dance and general skulduggery.

Halloween night - We gave the kids some festive cupcakes. It seems like a post a picture like this about every two weeks. The messy eating pictures never get old.

One day a couple weeks back I had a day of a bunch of driving around out to St. Joseph and over to East Jesus and back so I decided to take Henry along with me so he could get a feel for the gig and spend a day with his pa like old times. On the way back to the office from St. Joseph we were able to stop and see Great Grandma Evi for a while for a cup of coffee and a visit. Henry and I decided to wear matching business attire which amused my wife to no end. It was a business casual revolution.

Here is the assembled cousin posse on Halloween. We drove out to our folks places and then out to a nearby subdivision for trick or treating.

This guy was really festive about Halloween and had his yard all tricked out stuff. He offered me and my brother a beer, which was thoughtful. Henry got all amped up on suckers.

Here is Henry with cousin Jada...

We don't really use the baby gate anymore. Violet has subsequently mastered the stairs and now walks up the stairs with her ultra long body using the railing like a big girl... She must be having a little growth spurt because everyone has been commenting on what a huge beast she is.