Pumpkin Time

It was a gorgeous mid-October weekend with plenty of sunshine and temperatures near the mid to low 70s. We ran our normal routine, including a massive garage sale at an indoor storage unit, where we managed to pick up a nice pair of snow pants for Merrick. On our way to the Sanctuary for a hike we managed to score some very nice pumpkins that were sitting for sale. Put the money in the can type of business and the kids couldn't have been more pleased. Most of the animals in the sanctuary were feeding, which is always good for watching. We were able to watch the two river otters play in the water and wrestle around. Sadly the cougar had died (18 years old) since we were there last and the exhibit now held a fisher. The fisher itself is still a cool animal. We were also able to feed the deer, strange as it was because it was a doe season in most of the state. Sunday was a bit of grocery shopping and then the carving of the pumpkins. Sophia was meticoulus about getting every string portion of gourd from the inside, while Merrick was less interested after he drew his face on the pumpkin for me to cut out and wandered off to play in the leaves. Nap time and Packers games took place before a trip to the bike trail to roller blade and bike for the kids, as well as some munching on rose hips and wild grapes. As most weekends, not a bad way to pass a couple of days.

June in October

The gods of weather have certainly smiled on us this weekend and we tried to get outside for recreation as much as possible. Saturday was mostly domestic and yard work time but we did find time to put the finishing touches on Merrick's Tommy Gun for his halloween costume (1920's gangster, Sophia will be a Flapper). As well as spending what seemed like an inordinate amount of time on Sophia's social studies project. We did managed to sneak over to the Buzadny Fish ladders in Kewanee with some friends. The king salmon and brown trout are coming in from the lake to spawn and we watched their desire and urge filled plights as they jumped up each ladder towards the spawning grounds. Massive fish and plenty of turkey vultures and an eagle soaring above the watery buffet. The fish head to the spawning shed to be milked and their eggs/sperm are then trucked off by the DNR to various fisheries to restock the Lake. The kids were able to touch and hold the fish as well as make t-shirts by painting fish and then pressing the fish to the cloth of their shirts. On Sunday we made our way over to the local Frisbee Golf range and had a nice walk in mid-70 degree temperatures and played about a third of the course before the kids had had enough. The kids seemed to think to object was to race to be the first one to the hole and were in toss and run mode.

Small game gang

After a Saturday that was mostly a bust for both weather and activity, with the exception of baking an apple crisp and chicken soup, the kids, dogs and I headed out to the woods for a little hunting. The weather was great, about mid fifties and sunny with the leaves nearly 30% changed, a virtual painters palette of warm tones in red, orange and yellows. The recent rains had subsided and left an earthy organic smell to the woods. On the way to the county forest we had to first 'rescue" somebodies hunting dog. I figured the dog was lost, no collar and making a bee-line for the busy highway we had just turned off from. She was an older dog and apparently not far from weening her own pups--maybe why she was running away. She quickly came to the truck and did what she could to get into the truck. Not wanting to appear to be kidnapping somebody's dog (who was undoubtedly armed) I made her follow along side the truck for about a mile and a half before we found the women looking for the lost dog. With a wave and thumbs up the kids and I continued on down the road. We needed to take some practice shots with the BB gun before heading into the woods and just because we were on the trail that was apparently no excuse for the constant barrage of questions, singing, screaming and/or humming to stop. As always I knew I was just taking the gun for a walk in the woods and as such had chosen the lightest one I have. With enough idle chit-chat and banter on the trail to fill two church picnics I was more than surprised to look up and see a grouse looking back at me. It wasn't a sporting shot or even a long shot but it did put a bird in the Sophia's game pouch. Merrick it turns out is more than happy to carry the spent shell. Cleo, as I should have guessed, did not like the sound of the 20 gauge and high tailed it down the trail until the sight of the dead bird brought her back for some jumping and a mouthful of feathers. Tony was still just confused as to what he did to have to leave the couch. We did bump into one other hunter. Our return home was also timed pretty well as we came across the 172 bridge at the same time the f-22's were doing their fly over to signal the start of the Packers game, as such they also did a fly over of us as well. Again a pretty good fall day.

Really Diggin' the Weekends

Bright Skies and crisp mornings mark the coming of Autumn, but we were not to be forced inside. We headed south Saturday morning to Neenah, for the annual Quarry Quest. The open up a large active quarry for kids to come and play on and with all of the equipment. The lines are long for the parents, but barely noticed by the kids as each line is accompanied by a large sand pile complete with buckets and shovels. When the parent reach the front of the line the kids are treated with a rides working back hoes, dump trucks, bulldozers and other CAT vehicles that I can little fathom their role in a quarry. It is huge event and is really well thought out, I was very impressed. The kids are all dressed in orange work/construction vests and keeping track of your own kids is a little like finding Waldo. We hung out until lunch time and them headed toward Famous Dave's. We didn't bother ordering anything for Merrick front the meat palace. A brief nap for all and then we were on the bikes and heading down the bike trail to Celebrate De Pere. Good music, great community and beers in the street. We even took a shuttle across the bridge to the SNC campus and partook in their activities. The bridge goes over on of the Fox Rivers Dams and Sophia found great humor in all of the word play that is possible when near a dam. She thought there were some big dam waves and a lot of dam water and we impressed at all of the dam ducks just hanging around. We capped off the night with some movie about a super agent gerbils or guinea pigs and Sunday was mostly a domestic duties day, although the kids did find time to but out Lisa's high heels. Over all still a pretty good weekend.

Just a day in the life

Ok so I a might be raising criminals at the very least mindful antiestablishmentarianists.

Monday I asked Merrick how school was he told me he didn’t like school, I told him well you have to go to school, this is his story verbatim, “I do not have to go to school. I can break the glass with my head and run into the parking lot. Then I will stay on the sidewalk and look both ways when I cross the street. I will be home when you get home. I will just wait for you on the toilet.” His plan seemed well thought out for a three-year old.

Today is picture day for Sophia and she wanted to wear a yellow dress, but Lisa said it is just too cold out for the dress (beautiful dress by the way). Sophia came back down in green Khaki pants and an all black t-shirt. Lisa said she looked as militant as could be. Viva la revolution, I can really put off their teen years for a while.

Fight the Good Fight

I love the change of seasons, but this summer has been quite fun and we are holding on to it with a death grip even as the leaves start to change color and the mornings grow so brisk. We are trying to spend as much time outside as possible if for no other reason than daydream fodder in late February. We sneaked out mid-week for some canoeing and fishing, on a lovely little lake. Lisa slayed the bass and the kids pretty much just worked their way through the snacks. We found a little time to check out the improvements at the Zoo, a couple of new environments and a nice little restaurant. The badger even gave us some nice opportunities to watch him and the new pronghorns were out as we headed over to feed the giraffes. For the second time this summer we also made it to the 17th hole in mini-golf before getting rained out. This time of year however the rain was big cold drops and we had no interest in playing any hole except the very last hole as it was in a cave. I always feel like such a leader when playing golf, as there are so many groups behind me. The days will drift towards October and apple picking, but until then we will hold on and the kids can continue to play "bubble ball" where Sophia blows bubbles and Merrick tries to crush them all with his bat.

Summer draws down

Summer comes to an end and school starts for the kids and me. We held on to vacation with a death grip and managed to squeeze in one more camping trip at Hartman Creek State Park. The weather was alright, although a good size storm came through on Friday afternoon. When we returned home we learned that the same storm create a deluge of nearly 3 inches of water in little more than an hour and a half, complete with jet skis and canoes in the down town streets. For us the it was just some heavy rain for a twenty minutes of so, enough to soak the campfire wood. The campground had more kids in it than any campground I have ever been in. The site across from us had three little girls and the kids quickly made friends which lead to bike rides and a lot of hopscotch/sidewalk chalk. Showed Sophia how to play solitaire with real cards rather than on a computer screen. As she ran out of the camper to use the restroom in the middle of her game she hollared back "hey dad pause it." The dogs were along for this trip, much to their chagrin, so Lisa and I took turns with the kids at the beach as the dogs were not allowed. The built sand castles, romped with the other kids and collected a multitude of snail shells. We also sneaked out for a little geocaching, but the mosquitoes were pretty thick when bushwhacking was required, and we didn't log a single find-except for a pretty good wild apple tree. The return home also brought the beginning of school for Merrick and then Sophia's first day shortly after. Everyone is adjusting back into the routines of the academic year.