Wisconsin Dells: Out of the Water

Well, we are home from our annual late winter/early spring Wisconsin Dells trip. We usually go with 4 or 5 families, but our numbers have dwindled over the years. This year it was just us and the Hawleys. We are still trying to plan another trip for a time when some of our move aways, who are still within driving distance (Kentucky and Minnesota) can rejoin us. All move aways not within driving distance are also welcome to fly out and join us. We miss you all! On the way home, Alyssa was crying about all the friends who have moved away since we've lived here. She was inconsolable because The Hawleys are also moving in a year. She kept telling me she didn't understand why Mike couldn't just stay here. We need dentists here too. I told her I have wished for the same thing, but even though we can't seem to hold on to any of our friends, we are so happy to have met so many people cool enough to cry over when they move.

I actually didn't take the camera out much, but somehow I still have more pictures than would be appropriate for a single post.

So, let's mix it up a little, and look at the dry side of the Dells.

Aside from splashing it up at the waterparks, we have a good time hanging out at the condo, playing games, eating the best ever cinnamon rolls from a local diner, eating the best ever fudge from a local candy store, taking old time photos, and eating at 5 star restaurants, 'cause we're classy like that. Actually, while the rest of the aforementioned activities are tradition, the swanky restaurant was a new idea, hatched from the brains of Seth and Mike. They had a 15% off coupon for the steak house and thought we couldn't let it go to waste.

So, we walked in with our 15% off coupon clutched tightly and found ourselves in a fancy candlelit eatery. We were in jeans and ball caps and I think they must have wanted to send us away, but they swung open the doors and rolled out the red carpet. They placed our napkins in our laps, and sent their shirt and tie wait staff to answer to our every desire. Never mind that they tucked us away from the dining floor in the board room. No lie, I even took a picture to prove it. Could you blame them though? Who brings 6 kids to a restaurant like that? Luckily, we eat out often enough (in lower class establishments) that our kids minded their p's and q's. I even heard some excuse me's and please's and thank you's floating in the air.

I made a fool of myself by snapping pictures, but I was so amused that I just couldn't help it. Look at my silly steak that cost more than my kidneys would on the black market. And wait until you see what Seth ordered. Here is the cast at dinner.

Sorry some of these pictures are so fuzzy. I am noticing that a lot lately. I think my camera is on it's last legs.

A closer look at my pretty baby

I look like a cross between my mom and Grandma King in this picture, which would be okay, but I look like they would if they turned in to zombies. If you ever see a good picture of me, please blow it up to poster size and send it my way.

Violet, so cute, right? If you think this is cute you should check out the Hawley's blog to see their old time photo. Just ridiculous.

Sorry you are fuzzy Jen, and that I didn't notice the head of lettuce Annie was modeling.

Mike and Mimi

After dinner we went back to being loud, obnoxious, and feasting on oranges and sandwiches back at the cabin.

The kids had the whole upstairs to themselves, and behaved as well as you could have hoped. They had the time of their lives.

Did I mention that the Dells is like Vegas for kids? Jungle gyms and arcades and candy shoppes galore. And of course water slides at every turn. And since we always go during the off season, we pay about what you would pay for one day's admission to Disneyland, for a family of 5, and we get to stay 3 days, all entertainment included...unless you get a hankering for 5 star dining. Pretty crazy deal though.

Anyhow, we had a blast, as always. My kids will tell you that Wisconsin Dells is their favorite place to go. Here are a few more random snaps of the non-water parts of the trip.

This picture actually comes from an attempt to get a picture of all the kids on the stairs waiting to leave for the waterpark, but Mimi kept sitting on Alex's lap and he kept running away. It resulted in lots of funny pictures, but I will limit myself to just this one...where Mimi won the battle.

Mimi was running the other kids through the lobby on a luggage cart ride. Of course the action shots are too fuzzy to post, but here is a picture to remind me of the chaos we brought with us everywhere we went.

Be back later with the water shots....and our old time photo, if I can get my scanner to work. We got a new computer recently and I am re-learning everything it took me the last 10 years to figure out on the old computer.