Wisconsin

Jim, the kids, and I left Ohio and drove to Wisconsin on a Thursday afternoon.  It was a pretty smooth drive.  We spent a short weekend in Wisconsin, visiting with family, and watching my nephew, Brady, get baptised.  On Sunday afternoon we went to the airport and flew back to Idaho.  Here are a few pics of our time in Milwaukee.

I wish I got a better picture of us visiting with my brother, Todd.  We stopped to visit Todd at the group home he lives in in Wisconsin.  He loves milkshakes, so we stopped to get him one before we got to his house.  He gulped it right down first thing.  Then we took Toddy for a walk, and after Jim took Todd for a car ride where I guess they had a dance party together.  Later, I asked Toddy to show me his room, so he grabbed my hand and took me right to his room where my kids and Todd fought over his toys!  He seemed happy to see us, and I loved spending time with him.  We had a little talk with Tralee and Hunter before we got to Toddy's, explaining how special their Uncle Todd is, and how he might sound and act a little different, but he's a perfect spirit inside.  They did great visiting with Uncle Todd.

The house I grew up in.  I was here from 1st grade until my junior year of high school.

On Friday morning, I left Jim with the kids and drove to the Milwaukee Art Museum.  Beautiful!

Another photo of MAM

My kids playing on their cousin's swing set.  There are some HUGE willow trees on the property.

Brady and Tralee sword fighting.

Just us

My Nana and me.  She made a yummy brunch for us while we were there!

Brady sword fighting with Uncle Mike

More sword fighting at Nana's

My Nana has this oil/light thing hanging in her entry way.  I believe it was a gift from my dad.  For as long as I can remember, this lady has been hanging there with raindrops surrounding her, greeting people as the walk into Nana's condo.

Aunt Mary and my cousin Kevin coloring with my munchkins

Nana and Tralee

Later on, back at Jimmy and Amy's house; Haylee, Brady, and Tralee put every pillow, blanket, and a huge love sac at the bottom of the stairs and then started jumping off the top stair into all the fluff.  I remember doing the same thing with my brother (Haylee and Brady's Dad) when we were about their age.  Funny how history repeats itself through the generations.

Tralee leaping into the pillows

Brady's turn

Here's a pic so you can get a better idea of what the kids were jumping into.  There's even a giant stuffed teddy bear in there.

Relaxing in the pillow fluff at the bottom of the stairs

Brady, Jimmy, and Haylee after all the jumping was done

Just hanging out

Brady and his Caterpillar.  Haylee and Brady have them for pets.

Brady and Jimmy before Brady was baptised

Uncle Mike, Aunt Mary, and Nana at Brady's baptism.

We had a great time visiting our family in Wisconsin.  We were just sad our visit was so short.