Heading Home

After a fun-filled two weeks in Wisconsin, it's finally time to head back home!

Visit with Carrie & Jackson

We were glad to squeeze in a quick visit with Carrie, Jackson and Paul before we had to head back home. Jackson taught the girls how to do sparklers for the first time! Sienna, Jackson and Isabella

Another Visit to the Zoo!

Ever since we watched the alpaca give birth at the zoo last week, Isabella has asked to go back and see the baby alpaca. We had one more day in Milwaukee before it was time to head home, so we went back to the zoo with Nana. Since we have a pass to our local zoo in Providence, we were able to use our pass to visit the Milwaukee County Zoo for free again. It's such a great deal!

Sadly, we learned that the baby alpaca didn't make it. This was a hard thing to explain to Isabella. One of the zoo keepers told us that they get a list of all of the animal births and deaths at the zoo, and the baby alpaca's birth and death date were the same. She wasn't sure what had happened. I wondered if something was wrong because the zoo keepers ran off with the baby alpaca right after it was born. I figured that they would have let the mother care for the baby right away.

This time the girls had pony rides (something we didn't do the week before when I was by myself!). Nana is a softie!

We also went to the sea lion show. We learned all about the differences between sea lions and seals. I always wondered...

Of course, the girls wanted to feed the goats again.

We ended our visit with a ride on the carousel.

Elijah, Isabella, Sienna and Nana

Back to Nana and Bobu's and a Trip to Kopp's

After another couple of fun days at the cottage, we headed back to Nana and Bobu's house. My friend, Mindy, met us for lunch when we were on our way home! It was a quick visit, but at least we got to see her!
In the afternoon we got together with Sarah, Noah and Caden again for some playtime, dinner and frozen custard (like soft serve ice cream-but better!) at one of my old high school hang-outs, Kopp's!!

Caden, Noah, Sienna and Isabella enjoying their custard.

Noah couldn't eat his drippy ice cream cone fast enough! Check out his hand!

The aftermath of Sienna's frozen custard experience-a chocolatey face and skirt!

Here I am with all of the kiddos.

We were so glad to get together with Sarah and her boys twice during this trip!!! We live too far away!

Wildwood Wildlife Park

Today we spent the day at the Wildwood Wildlife Park in Minoqua which has many animals that the kids could pet and even feed.
Isabella liked this giant rabbit.

The girls could have spent the entire time holding the baby bunnies!

Isabella has the same wingspan as a red tailed hawk.

Sienna's wingspan is the same as a peregrine falcon.

Here is Wisconsin's state animal, the badger!

There was a whole area where we could pet and feed deer that roamed free. This albino deer was friendly.

Isabella felt the deer's furry antlers.

Isabella and Sienna spent a long time feeding the birds. I'm not a huge fan of birds swooping around my head, so Elijah and I checked out some other animals while Nana stayed with the girls in the aviary.

It's hard to see, but Sienna has a bird on her popsicle stick, too.

We had to spend some more time with the bunnies before we left.

Sienna checked out the tortoise, too.

At the end of our visit, Nana gave each of the girls a couple of dollars to either ride the train or to buy a new stuffed animal (since Isabella asked for one-even though she already has a million). Without hesitation, Sienna chose to ride the train. After lots of careful thought, Isabella finally decided to buy a stuffed red wolf, but she had to contribute some of her own money. Every single decision that Isabella makes is only made after much contemplation. Sienna, on the other hand, always goes for the instant gratification! If you remember from Elijah's birthday celebration, Sienna was done with her cupcake long before Isabella even chose one!

Elijah waved at Sienna every time she drove past us on the train.

Elijah rode the bouncing deer with Isabella, and he cried when his turn was over. Luckily, he got to go for a second ride with Sienna. He's our go-go boy!

Northwoods Children's Museum

In all the years that we've been coming to Northern Wisconsin, we never knew that there was a great children's museum in Eagle River...until now!! My mom and I took the kiddos to the museum for the afternoon, and we were glad to find this little-known treasure!
Isabella rode the wooden horse.
Elijah spent the most time driving this boat.

Sienna experimented with a giant bubble.

Elijah had fun picking carrots and asparagus out of the garden.

There was a cozy "reading tree" where you could dial the number on the front of a book and listen to the story. Elijah just liked pushing the buttons.

Sienna listened to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Isabella checked out the farm animals.

Elijah enjoyed the campfire area.

The girls really enjoyed the hospital area and loved taking turns in the wheelchair.

Sienna gave herself an eye exam.

Elijah took a spin in the wheelchair, too.

Put Elijah behind the wheel, and he's happy!

Our little maestro!

Sienna asked to pick corn after her birthday. I don't know of anywhere that we can pick our own corn, so this might have been her only opportunity!

It looks like Elijah will take after his dad and do his own ironing some day!!! His future spouse will thank me!

Elijah found his way back into that boat again. This time he discovered the bell.

Elijah took Nana for a spin in the ambulance. We had to tear him away from here when it was finally time to leave.

Check out Elijah's arm pumping dance moves! He was jamming to a campfire song.