Bible School, Boot, Baraboo

Ryan ran away during picture taking.

The week of FIRSTS and LASTS - Bible School, Boot, and Baraboo.

What a week. Let's begin with bible school for Laura and Ryan. 

On Monday, Laura had a doctor appointment for a foot injury - we'll get to that in a bit, but Ryan was a true champion at bible school. This kid is a roulette wheel of emotions and attitudes. We never know how he's going to respond. Luckily, first two days of bible school have been great. He's excited to go, does well there, and then sings songs at home that he'd learned. Mom and I are looking at this as a mini-dose of life at Pre-K.

Now about that foot injury. L injured her foot at the last day of basketball camp. Figures. No bruising and not swollen - only pain. She had an x-ray at the clinic and the technician and doctor found something abnormal on a bone but needs a podiatrist to determine what that is. For now she's in a boot and will be reevaluate by a podiatrist next Monday. 

Booty, Boot, Boot.

Finally, we say goodbye to Grandma M's house in Baraboo. 

I vividly remember my first visit. We walked in and Mom quickly introduced me but then suddenly ditched me. I found myself trapped in the tv room with a talkative Uncle P. for the majority of the morning. It was uncomfortably hot inside with lot of people. Everyone was chatty but very nice. Around noon, we went to a Circus Parade. That's about the extent of my induction into the greater M. family.

Over the twelve years, I have watched the family openly accept new members (externally [aka marriages/relationships] and from within [aka babies]), saw a few go (death/divorce), but one thing remained the same - the commitment and excitement to see each other. Very special. 

As I alluded to, the house will host its final gathering before welcoming a new family. Best wishes to the new homeowners and may THEY find the tiger hiding in the backyard woods. 

Bittersweet.

Beer, Sweat, and Tears

On Christmas 2015, Sue and Scott purposed a two-day family event to celebrate the life of Grandma Olley on the one-year mark of her passing. It turned out to be in the form of pool time and pub time.

"Family times are the best of times!" - Auntie Sue

POOL FUN
Day One brought splashy fun for both kids and adults at Auntie Sue's pool. Laura has come a long way with her swimming. She can jump in without a life jacket and dip her head underwater with confidence. Ryan likes the water toys to scoot around the pool.

PEDALPUB
Day Two brought the celebration to NE Minneapolis for an intimate experience with the "Bike with the Barrel!"

The PedalPub is a fun way for adults to get some exercise and wet the whistle on suds while touring Nordeast on a big Dutch-made bike. 

No joke about it, the PedalPub is not an easy joy ride. I was definitely "feeling the burn." No question, you'll sweat! Thankfully, we stopped a few times for a breather, a beer, and a snap of snuff (even Mom tried it).

• Tony Jaros - Drank a "Greenie"
• Gasthofs - Inhaled Snuff off of a snapping board
• Betty Danger's Country Club - Dinner and a few more drinks

Family Fun

Sisters

Gassed!

Date Night with Matt

"Matt, the score is..."

At Christmas, Matt surprised Laura with a gift to attend a WNBA game with him this summer. This was an appropriate and timely gift since Laura was excited to begin basketball camp.

Game Day.
We started the day with lunch at Tuggs on Saint Anthony Main - an old stomping ground for Mom and I. Fun to be back in the area.

Post lunch we dropped off Matt and Laura at Target Center for the Lynx game.

The rest of us went back to Matt's apartment, toured his building, and then stopped by Lakes and Legends Brewery for a game of Sorry and a flight of beer.

Laura had a great time watching the Lynx breeze to a 20+ point victory and spending time with Uncle Matt.

What to choose... What to choose?

Oh looky here. A flight and Sorry = everyone wins!

Hotly Contested Foosball Game

Pool without sticks

Where is Pablo?

View of the Basilica at sunset.

Fishing Trip 2016 - The Mouse House

This year's Canadian Fishing Trip will be remembered more for the accommodations than the fishing. Well, that's not completely true. Our two boats caught more "big" walleye (20" plus) than I can ever remember. Heck, I finally caught a walleye over 25" - a goal I have been chasing for 10 years. With all that said, the lodging defined this year's trip.

Cabin on Tug Channel - LOW.

Our group arrived Saturday afternoon at a cabin on the Tug Channel on the Lake of the Woods. No one was there to greet us or unlock the cabin. Annoyed, we didn't want to lose a day of fishing, so we decided to head out and check in later.

Several hours passed, and the cabin remained locked. No note was displayed or directions given. Nobody from the resort showed.

With nightfall quickly approaching, we could have traveled to the main lodge but it was an hour away and navigating these waters in the dark is dangerous.

Somehow, one of us found a way inside. From that moment, my trip dramatically changed. The cabin was SUPPOSED to have a TV, functioning appliances, running water, etc. None of it worked. Eventually, management sent technicians to fix the water, appliances, and other issues. But what was discovered next ruined my trip.

Mouse poop EVERYWHERE. TONS of it. Inside drawers, in the sink, on the counter, in beds...EVERYWHERE. So disgusting. I was uncomfortable, on edge, and didn't sleep that night.

Despite all that, I made the best of it. The scenery was beautiful, the food was great, and hanging out with the guys was so much fun.

In the second half of the trip, we moved camp to Redwing Lodge, the resort we stayed at last year. Unfortunately, this cabin didn't have enough beds, so I was assigned to the couch bed. At this point, I had enough. Tired, sunburned, and fed up, I didn't want to endure four more nights of this, so I threw in the towel. Jeremy was heading back to the cities, and there was my chance to get out of Dodge.

This brief taste of the 'olden days' puts into perspective what our forefathers endured and what we take for granted today. I have the utmost respect for those pioneers who lived on the prairie 100, 200, 300 years ago.

Jeremy shows us how to make and eat Walleye Ceviche. I did not participate in this!

A bear taking advantage of a berry patch. We saw this bear run and stand up.

Doesn't look like it, but this is the largest walleye of the trip. 28 incher.

The outside deck was an incredible place to hang out. Notice the garbage on the roof. With bear and raccoons in the area, the roof is the best method for disposing trash. 

Lakeside campfire. Absolutely beautiful scenery.

Stunning view from our cabin at sunset.

Brian lands a 24" wally.

On Saturday, the muskie opener, Max lands this 47" gator. Incredible.

Rick with his runner-up 27" walleye.

For an unknown reason, the cabin had a creepy doll. We named it Oscar.

Daycare Reunion

Our former daycare provider's daughter is about to graduate from HS this week. She had her grad party yesterday and many came out to support and celebrate with "Shell." 

A Reunion

There were a few familiar faces - now much older - at the party. 

Here's a flashback picture of Laura's first year at this daycare. The bottom picture is from the grad party. 

As you can see, Ryan, Grace, Audrianna weren't even born at the time of the first pic and look how old they are now! 

2011 - Aiden (Blue Shirt), Laura, CJ (Brown Shirt)

2016 - (front) Ryan, Laura, Audrianna, Gracie-peanut; (back) Aiden, CJ, Carla

This Is The Life

"This is the life."

Over Memorial Day weekend, we had spent a few days at G&Gs house. Obviously the kids were excited to see G&G but, of course, Ryan had another motive - fishing.

Ryan received a "big boy" fishing pole and tacklebox from Great Auntie Sue and family a few weeks earlier at his birthday party. He could not wait a single minute to try it out. He begged to try it in the driveway. Unfortunately, a month earlier, with his old pole, he repeatedly aimed at the tree in the front yard and we put the kabosh on driveway fishing.

Fast forward to Memorial Day.

Ryan and Laura went to the dock and dropped their lines into the water. A few minutes later, Ryan's bobber submerged and we yelled, "You've got one! Reel it in." He slowly reeled in a small sunfish. And then another, and another. In a casual tone/voice, he said, "This is the life. Fishing."

Ryan cautiously touched the sunfish. By the end of the day, he wanted to touch its eyeball. Gross.

Then Laura caught on fire. Catching 8 fish in 20 minutes. BUT screamed every time a fish was on. "AHHHH, it's heavy!"

In that hour stretch, Ryan reeled in 9, Laura 11.

I reminded them that fishing is not always this active. Many times you sit and wait. Patience.

Next time, my goal is to teach Ryan how to 'set the hook' instead of slowly reeling in the line.

Nevertheless, great family experience.

Laura nervously admires her Sunny.

Ready to drop the line.

Boat Ride

Driver in Training

Gymnastics Olympics

Laura competed in the annual Spring Olympics. She did a great job at vault, bars, beam, and floor.

Grandma Barb surprised Laura with flowers.

Joey came to watch Laura.

Everyone's a winner.

What are you thinking?

"I need privacy!"

While many of us would have chosen a bedroom or bathroom as a location to read in privacy, Laura selected a leaf-less tree.

Doubling Up On Undies

This is the most astonishing occurrence of all. Ryan came home from daycare, immediately went to the bathroom and discovered - just then - he wore two sets of underwear that day.

Egg Decorating Contest 2016

2016 Champ

The annual family egg decorating contest resulted in an unlikely winner.

The champ goes to a little girl who was so nervous that she passed on cake and treats!

Watch the video below and pay attention to Laura covering her eyes and turning away as Jane, the judge, repositions the eggs on the tier.

As uncle Matt would say, "Goobers!"

SNAP. SPOT. KICK IS UP AND IT'S...

While other parents teach their kids how to read and write, I'm cultivating a placeholder.

I didn't "Walsh" it. This kick is goooood!

Superhero Stories Told By Ryan

Three's a crowd

I am willing to admit that I made a mistake. Who would have thought 14 months later we would still be dealing with Ryan's bedtime issue!

Quick rewind: December 2014, I made the decision to take down the crib and upgrade to a big boy bed. The following 4 - 5 months, Ryan refused to sleep on it, preferring the floor. Not to mention requiring someone to accompany him.
 
Today: Our munchkin has graduated to OUR bed. Both Mom and I sort of like having this snuggle buddy with us but the kid has grown and it's now tight quarters. For every warm snuggly moment, we have to experience:

• Space. Ryan rotates, flips, twists and turns throughout the night, pinning Mom and I to the edges of the bed. 
• Kicking. Ryan goes to extreme measures by jackhammer kicking to create room. 
• If that doesn't work, he will stab you with his knife-like toes.
• No Covers. I often find myself frozen with the covers down by my knees. 
• Sass. Unwanted commentary about the sleeping conditions. "Dad, you breathe loud and your mouth smells horrible!" 

Perfect example: Last night Ryan came in at 12:50am and made his way into the middle of the bed. With my arms at my side, he placed his right leg on top of my left arm.

In a serious/annoyed whisper:
Ryan: Dad, stop touching my leg!
Dad: My arms are at my side. There's no room.
Ryan: Go find room somewhere else!

I then laid down the law in a half-ass manner: "That's it. When you turn 4, no more sleeping in Mom and Dad's bed."

Nothing like kicking the can down the road to get your point across!

Creativity!

Laura is one of the most creative kids I have ever met. This statement comes with one major stipulation - as long as there are no directions, she does it by herself, and no one watches. She is deathly afraid of criticism.

Hockey Girl - custom skates, stick, and puck.

Every morning, I have the privilege to listen to Laura be Laura. Raw and pure! With her bedroom door shut or partly open, I can hear her build things, teach imaginary students, count money, draw pictures, organize rocks, perform plays, write letters/rewrites pages from a book, and sing songs.

Rarely will she show us her work but take a step into her bedroom and you will get a glimpse her personality. Awfully amazing!