Trip to Wisconsin

Last week we made our traditional end of the summer trip to Wisconsin to visit family!  Notice Kayla was sporting a jacket . . . she started off the trip with a slight fever, but we managed to make the best of it until she was on the mend!

Somewhere in Iowa I got the brilliant idea to turn the middle seats around so the kids could play games together . . . well, that lasted for 10 minutes.  Didn't try that on the return trip:)

We finally made it and had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa -- and Bryan's brother's family and sister's family!

One day we took a trip to Chicago!  It was the first time the kids had been downtown in a big city -- so it was fun to see all of their reactions!  Our first stop . . .the Willis (Sears) tower!

We were super grateful -- there were basically  no lines, and we got right to the top!

It was a little overcast, but still could see plenty!

Tyler trying to get an up close look!

The big attraction there . . . THE LEDGE!  You basically walk onto a glass platform . . . and hope it continues to hold you up!  It was a little daunting, I must admit!

A little selfie 103 floors up!

Pretty sure some of the members of our family were holding on to the walls for a little extra support!

After a quick lunch, we walked to Millennium Park.  Walking past the hall where Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays brought lots of memories . . . haven't been there since college days when we would make the 3 hour trek to hear them!

Kayla was the only one that got her feet in the water . . .the weather was BEAUTIFUL . . . but it would have been a little chilly to be drenched!

Having fun at the "bean!"

After that, we walked (and walked, and walked, and walked) to the Navy Pier.  It was fun to walk along Lake Shore Drive!

It almost put the kids over the edge when we realized we had to get over the Chicago River before we actually could arrive at the Navy Pier!  Good photo op, though!  We did a lot of walking, and they were troopers!

Getting ready to hop on the Ferris Wheel!

 Even though there was plexiglass around you, my palms still got a "little" sweaty!

 We walked to the end of the pier . . .

...and then decided we needed to take a cab back to where the van was parked!  Good investment!  It was the first cab ride for the kids -- so even that was an experience!

We drove to Water Tower Mall -- and the boys headed to the Lego Store while the girls went to the American Girl Store.

Kayla and Tyler spent their allotted vacation money in Chicago . . . but Joshua decided to hang on to his . . . he has an iPod in his sight!

And this was the aftermath . . .

We stopped at one of the Overpass Oasis things on the way back to Milwaukee -- and the kids thought it was cool to be eating Taco Bell as the cars passed underneath!  I don't think we could have packed anymore into one day, but for our first venture into Chicago, it was a success!  Great family memories!

The next day we headed to the one and only Wisconsin State Fair.  Here we were watching the cattle judging -- brought back lots of good 'ole 4-H memories for Bryan and myself!  Neither of us knew what in the world they were actually "judging" so our time here was brief as the kids were bored to tears!

We caught some fun shows -- a dog trick show (hard to see, but the dog jumped over all four people!)

 This guy was funny -- never talked during the whole thing -- only motioned!

And of course we made a contribution to the State Fair by playing one game a piece -- thankfully each of the kids picked a "you always win at least a small prize" game so there were no tears!!!!

Lots of time with "the twins" -- Bryan's brother's girls.  

The weather was just beautiful all week -- couldn't have asked for better temps!

The legos are always a hit at Grandpa and Grandma's!

And the claw machine.  Bryan happened to mention several weeks prior that he used to have a claw machine in his office in Topeka.  Well -- the kids just wouldn't leave it alone and kept begging for him to get it out (and we weren't even sure the dumb thing still worked!).  Well -- he brought it alone as a special "vacation only thing" and wouldn't you know the crazy thing worked.  I think that perhaps Bryan enjoyed it just as much as the kids:)

One of the days we visited the Jelly Belly warehouse in Kenosha with Bryan's brother's family.  Here we are --- all ready to go on the "train!"

There "might" have been a fair amount of jelly bellies purchased:)  At least the tour was free!

And this was our last stop in Wisconsin!  After we went to church with Bryan's parents on Sunday, we buzzed into McD's to grab lunch to eat on the road.  It ended up NOT being a quick trip at all (trainees????), but I had to take his picture  because this was the McD's he worked at growing up. Thanks for humoring me dear! What a great fun week it was!