It's been a month but it's been a damn good one

Stacey and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in May. We left the kids with Gramma K for a few days and decided to head into my favorite vacation state within driving distance, the state of Wisconsin. There's a lot of mountain biking in Wisconsin and some of the best camping I've ever experienced, but to Stacey's chagrin (yeah right) we left the bikes at home and the tents and sleeping bags as well. I always say there's nothing better than waking up in the cool crisp air of the outdoors, making coffee and a pound of bacon. But, a suite at the Mill Creek Hotel would have to suffice. Our first stop along the trip was in the town of New Glarus. Home of the New Glarus Brewing Company. They're famous around these parts for their Spotted Cow beer, but after this I'm not sure which of their beers is my favorite. It's hard to beat a vacation that starts with lunch at a place that has handles for their whole line up and some of the best potato salad on earth.

I'll take one of each please and I don't mean the sampler platter. Honey, you're driving from here.

We weren't exactly sure what town we were going to end up in for the weekend. We were originally planning on Door County, but since it was raining and cold we cut the trip in half and stopped in Lake Geneva. Lake Geneva Wisconsin, if you've never been there is like an Okoboji for Chicagoans. We don't really fit in there, well, I don't (you see, most of the people there are stylish and classy) but Stacey does. Regardless, there's good food and drink to be had at mostly reasonable prices and it's a town you can park your car when you get there and not touch it again until you leave and that's something I like.

Our Lake Geneva choice worked out well for friends of ours in the Chicago area that were going to meet us in Door County. Instead of a 4 hour drive for them, it was only two to meet us in Lake Geneva. Jason and Abbie Clary joined us for the weekend. I've been friends with Jason since 1993. We've managed to stay in touch over the years and reunited when Stacey and I moved to IL in 2001. Around that same time, Stacey started working with Abbie at an architectural firm. We introduced Jason and Abbie and the rest is history. They have 3 wonderful kids and still live in the near west burbs of Chicago giving us a great landing place and a helluva a good time when we travel there. Which has turned out to be practically never. But that may change soon.

Jason, me, Stacey, and Abbie

Me and the Mrs.

Our 10 year celebration was wonderful. We had a great time and can't wait to do it again. Thanks to the Clary's for joining us and thanks to Grampa and Gramma K for taking care of the girls while we took off.

Speaking of the girls, a couple weeks later we decided to do something rare on a holiday weeekend. We decided to stay home for Memorial Day weekend. It was a great time to just hang out around the house on Friday night and Saturday. We just kinda hung out and grilled and played and all that good stuff. On Sunday, the weather kinda sucked so we decided to make a return trip to the Missippi River Museum in Dubuque. The girls really liked it and we had fun seeing all the animals and fish and displays.

Silly faces

A little more serious this time.

The alligator is eating Mara

Oh no you dihhunt girlfriend.

Mara and the bighorn.

Grrrrr. We both know they don't growl, but Ellen doesn't care.

After the museum we were undecided at the moment whether we were going to head for Stone City to eat dinner or stay in Dubuque to eat. Stacey frequents Dubuque on business and we ended up eating at a place next to the river called the Star Bar. It had a nice patio, a good beer selection, and a great kids menu. Great, Great, and Great.

The evening had the feeling of a celebration so Ellen started us off with a Cheers.



And mara followed up. As the photos show, Mara was taking it easy with an ice water while Ellen was kicking back the white stuff.

Ellen was a bit mushy that evening.

Mara and I (and her skunk) watched the boats and the trains across the river.

We had a very nice dinner and I got to have a couple beers. It started to get cold so I gave Mara my polo shirt and we headed for home.

Stacey and our girls.