Our Fourth of July holiday was fun. And HOT. 101 degrees of heat and humidity. It’s 87 degrees this morning. Yes, it’s 6:50 a.m. I’m melting just sitting here.
I took the kids to Sunset Lake to go swimming yesterday. What else is there to do on day like that? Not much. We skipped the annual Independence Day parade in Stevens Point because of the heat index warnings for our area. I couldn’t bear the though of lugging two kids, a cooler full of water and lawn chairs to sit in the sun for an hour with a hundred other crazy people. So beach day it was.
My dad came along with us and the boys built sand castles with him. Owen was by Poppa’s side the entire day and wherever my dad went, Owen followed.
The water was super warm, which is surprising because Sunset is a spring-fed lake. These bodies of water are typically colder than average. I’m thinking that 101 degrees warmed it up just fine.
After working up an appetite swimming we grabbed a few pizzas on the way home and had dinner with my mom and dad at their house. We got home at 7:30 and the heat was still pretty irritating. I had to go sleep in the basement just to stay cool. I’m really thinking we need central air.
Summer Highlights: Copper Box at St. Anne’s Parish Festival
I have been having a wonderful summer. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous the last few days. I am amazed at what sunshine and gentle breeze can do for one’s mood. I’ve noticed I’m much happier when I get my daily dose of Vitamin D. Could be that lack of sun in winter months makes me a lot more crabby and depressed.
This weekend was so much fun. My husband left Friday morning for a fishing trip out of town with his buddy. I know this sounds mean, but I was actually looking forward to his going away for a few days. He works very hard at his job and it’s not always roses when it comes to marriage and raising a family. He needed time away and I need to hang out with the boys doing things together their dad isn’t really into. For example, the boys and I love going to church picnics. Doug will go with us if we ask him, but he’s not a fan of Polka music (We are! We LOVE it!) and he’d rather be gardening or fishing or watching the Brewers game.
Saturday afternoon Dawson, Owen and I picked up my parents and headed out to St. Anne’s Festival in Wausau. One of our favorite bands, Copper Box, was playing that evening. We went a little early so the boys could play carnival games, jump in a bounce house and visit the little petting zoo they had set up. My kids had such fun! The bounce house was the highlight of their night.
We had some awesome church picnic food (burger, fries, hot dogs and of course, popcorn!) and walked it off by visiting the playground adjacent to St. Anne’s School. The picnic also hosts a slow-pitch softball tournament and it was nice to watch a few innings. I really miss softball. When my dad still ran his tavern he sponsored a few teams and we always attended the games. Seeing this tournament brought back some fond memories of my teen years. Those were the good old days.
Copper Box started their show at 7:30 and the boys and I danced the night away. My dad and mom had fun, too. Grandpa took both kids for a few spins around the dance floor (on his shoulders!) and Owen and Dawson were so fun to watch.
Michelle and Danny Jerabek of Copper Box sure know how to entertain. We just love them. We first saw them in Pulaski at Polka Days last year, and they were featured on Molly B’s Polka Party (on RFD-TV) which we watch all the time. Dawson and Owen love them, too. We bought their CD and got Danny’s autograph, too. So much fun. I’m so glad we went!
Dawson and Owen had spent five days at my parents’ house over Christmas break. They finally came home today and Doug and I were very happy to see them. We loved having the time away to get things done around the house, and my mom and dad love spending time with their grandsons, but it was awfully quiet while they were gone.
Owen was mad that Poppa and Nonna didn’t stay for awhile after they brought him and Dawson home, but I managed to distract him with a game of Angry Birds on my new Kindle Fire. Big mistake on my part because Dawson (who loves everything that resembles a video game) managed to take over the Kindle and has kicked my butt with the high score. It’s amazing how technologically advanced my kids are.
I gave the boys a bath and they got dressed to go to the New Year’s at Noon celebration at the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum in downtown Stevens Point. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but it was their first visit since they moved to their new location. I was amazed at how awesome the museum is now. Owen was fascinated with all the exhibits, but the Grocery Store was his favorite. Dawson loved the News Anchor station the best.
We had a very good time. They did a New Year countdown at Noon that was quite noisy. Owen freaked out when all the kids began honking their noise makers so we moved off to the side to calm him down. Dawson and I loved the champagne, which was really ginger ale. We had a toast and then the boys continued to play for a bit.
The CWCM is having their 1st Anniversary in their new building and we might go back to celebrate at their party on January 7th. Plover and Stevens Point locals are encouraged to attend. It will be great fun and admission is just $1 per person.
Later tonight we’re heading to the YMCA to celebrate the new year with some fun, games and swimming. The boys are super excited. We can’t wait! Happy New Year, everyone!
An Amazing, Supreme, Ultimate Family Vacation Dream
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I have a confession to make: My family has never been on a “real” vacation. It’s true. Hard to believe, I know.
Of course, we’ve taken weekend trips to Milwaukee for Brewers games and visits to the zoo, but we’ve yet to buy plane tickets and make kennel arrangements for the dog.
With two small children it’s difficult to make travel arrangements that would require vacation time and hotel accommodations. I’m a natural worrier, too. I’m the type of mom who frets over all the things we’d need to take along just to keep the kids occupied during travel time, and the thought of containing my very energetic boys on a plane terrifies me.
All worrying aside, my family’s ultimate vacation would be a Disney Cruise. Since my husband and I never went on a honeymoon (are you sensing a pattern here?) I think a family cruise is the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone.
Doug and I have always wanted to travel to the Bahamas and as luck would have it, this is one of the destinations a Disney Cruise can offer. I can almost imagine the sunshine and warm weather and spending time as a family without worrying about work and school and other household duties.
We’d choose the ship named Disney Magic, which includes a day trip to Disney’s own private island, Castaway Cay. I’ve read that this island is 1,000 acres of gorgeous white sand beaches and that families are treated like royalty. Picture my family walking on the shore, collecting shells, laughing and running and partaking in adventurous things like swimming, snorkeling and Banana Boat rides. Dawson and Owen love anything to do with water and Doug and I would have to drag them to bed at night.
There are tons of activities onboard, too. Disney character visits, Broadway-style live shows, 3D showings of Disney movies, and the youth clubs that offer age-appropriate fun for kids of any age.
My husband would be amazed with the dining choices considering that he’s a foodie. I imagine a buffet as long as the ship and he’d be 20 pounds heavier by the time we got home.
I think my favorite part of the cruise would be the babysitting service offered onboard, giving me time to check out the spa to steal some Mom-time — and the thought of hiring a babysitter in the evening so that my husband and I can check out the nightclubs and lounges on the ship would be the icing on the cake.
A Disney Cruise would be a dream come true; an amazing adventure and opportunity to create family memories that last a lifetime. If money were no option I’d book the trip right now. Alas, I’ll settle for a cruise around the neighborhood with my favorite people. Any time we can spend together is wonderful.
What would your Ultimate Family Vacation be?
Don’t forget to enter the “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, for a chance to win your own ultimate family vacation. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
Dana began her Mom career in 2004 with the birth of her first son, Dawson, aka The Doodlebug, and little brother, Owen, was born in 2009. She spends her days putting out fires, climbing mountains and chasing monsters. More About Dana.
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