May all your Days be Circus Days

Today we took the girls to the circus in Green Bay.

This is the second year we have taken them and I hope to make it a tradition until they are too old to enjoy it.

We had such a great time.

We picked the girls up at the Gas Station just off of Highway 41 at 8:30 and took off for Green Bay.

The doors open at ten and you have an hour to walk around the floor, ride animals, get clown autographs, and get your souvenirs and food.

Kids get into the circus free with the purchase of an adult ticket, but we more than make up for that with all the things we purchase once we are there.

This year both girls wanted to ride a pony which is a bit cheaper than an elephant like last year, so that was good.

Tiz enjoyed all the clowns, but Soli kept her distance.

:Like Grandpa, like Soli.
Soli struck this pose after John stood like this.
So cute.

 What circus is complete without snow cones,

 Popcorn,

 and a funnel cake!

Both girls were so into the circus acts.

Some of it was very intense.

I think we all had a memorable time!

Last night John and I attended the first ever St. John's GALA.

It was so much fun.

We came home with a number of nice items from the silent auction.

There was great conversation, yummy food, and all the Miller Lite one wanted.

I hope they make it an annual event.

All in all, a near perfect weekend for us.

36 years ago, I had my first baby!

Happy Birth day to me.

Happy Birthday to Courtney.

36 years ago, just after Ma Ingalls gave birth to Grace, I gave birth to Courtney.

Today we celebrated all the joy she had brought to our lives.

Today we also got to spend the day with Soli and then later with Tizita.

We took Soli to the children's museum in Appleton and had the best time with her.

She is such a joy!

After we tired Soli out at the museum, we surprised Tiz when we picked her up at school and then took both girls to Cherry Berry for a treat.

After that, we had cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to Courtney.

It was a great day!

Our weekend snow shoeing Adventures in Oconomowoc and Lake Mills

We have found two more great places to snow shoe in the area.

On Saturday we went to Oconomowoc.

Started at Fowler Park on Fowler Lake.

At first if was pretty cold with the wind in our faces, but we changed direction and got ourselves warmed up.

We crossed Highway 67 near Spinikers and then went out on  Lac La Belle.

We must have put in about three miles.

It was a great adventure.

We found this little guy out on the ice.

 Episcopal church where Mary Linsmeier used to be located back in the day.
I subbed there a few times.

 Fowler Lake

 Here is where we crossed to Lac La Belle

 Lac La Belle

Here is an island we found on our adventure.

On Sunday, we went over to Korth County Park in Lake MIlls.

what an awesome place to snow shoe.

There was a cold wind, but as long as we kept it at our backs we were okay.

 Don't let that pretty blue sky fool you, it was cold when the wind was in our faces.

 We made it out on Rock Lake.

 We also found the Glacier Drumlin Bike Trail.

 It sure look different in the winter than when we ride our bikes here in the summer.

 The steep hill was so much easier on snow shoes than on a bike.

 This is actually the top of a big hill, but it is hard to tell that from this picture.

We got to blaze our own trail in this wooded area.

A much needed rest after our three mile adventure.

Since we have taken up snow shoeing, I don't mind the winter as much anymore.

In fact, I think I will be sad to see it go.