Fun and Games at Home

After some complications at the airport, I made it home from New York on Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday evening I commented to Mike that somehow during my short vacation I forgot how exhausting motherhood is. During the next three nights, we celebrated Mike's birthday, said goodbye to his mustache, had another party night with games, had Friday night twister and super hero adventures. And Ariel perfected the finger holding walk.

WANTED

In dire need of good music. I am burnt out on the 5 radio stations- 3 christian and 2 country we get here in the middle of Wisconsin. After reading Sara's blog on old music (fight for the right to party) and Mandy's blog looking for running music, I feel inspired to request new music. I know some of you are major music buffs and would love to know what you have on your iPods. I am tiring of my Coldplay and Beastie Boys. The lengthier list the better!

I just got back from New York City yesterday. Couldn't sum it up better than this logo other than adding how crazy I am about my New York friends!

Glinda the Good Witch

My friend Emily in Rochester gave us the McDonald's Madame Alexander dolls Wizard of Oz collection a few weeks ago. I think they were intended to be for Ariel to play with when she got a little older. Well, my boys played with them the entire 3 hour drive home from Emily's house. Lucas still plays with the dolls on a daily basis. This got me thinking it would be fun to have the Marion family dress up in the theme of the Wizard of Oz. Ariel could be a little Dorthy, I could be the Wicked Witch, Isaac wants to be the Tin Man, Mike the Scarecrow, and I was thinking Lucas would enjoy being the Lion. Boy, was I wrong. Lucas insists on being Glinda the Good Witch. We have now talked about it a hundred times. Mike and I told Lucas that the Lion could have a magic wand like just like Glinda. He wasn't having it.

It seems kinda wrong for a mom to dress her little boy out as a beautiful queen/fairy/goddess or whatever she is and have him trick or treating. Today he wants me stop what I am doing and make his Glinda costume.

Devil's Challenge

Our family drove to the Dells Friday night. Wisconsin Dells is a town in Wisconsin comprising mostly of Water parks and Hotels. It boasts the World's largest outdoor and America's largest indoor water parks. We visit the Dells quite frequently and are quickly becoming water slide junkies. Saturday morning Mike participated in the Devil's Challenge Tri in Baraboo, WI which is 18 miles outside of the Dells. We heard it was record setting cold that morning. The water looked amazing with all precipitation coming off of it. The name Devil's challenge seemed appropriate. It is a very hilly scenic course. Mike rocked it and we loved cheering him on. It was thrilling for him to go crazy speeds on his bike, sometimes over 40mph - making me very nervous watching! I was worried about him being so cold since he was a novice on this course and was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and biking shorts and I noticed the veterans were in wet suits, long pants, beanies, jackets, and vests. He said his body was so frozen he couldn't feel his leg muscles which made the burn of the hills painless, but was not able to tell if his legs were going to be too fatigued for the run. I was also a little concerned that Mike's mustache might slow him down and suggested he shave it off and was surprised there were not little ice crystals hanging from it as he got out of the water.

Wild West Stampede Physician and Staff Appreciation Event

We are a family of champions. After I win the gunny sack race Isaac takes the gold in the egg race


Marion kids with the Lonsdale kids who won the well deserved costume contest

Mike, his new mustache, and Ariel arriving at the stampede.

From the looks of Ariel's hat one would never know that her grandfather Marion was a world famous cowboy hat connoisseur

This picture does not lie. I beat out the other 10 and unders for the gunny sack championship

Isaac, Lucas, and Mike competing in the egg race

Quasimodo

This morning when Lucas woke up he came to me and said "Mom, why is my eye closed?". His eye was so swollen he could only open it a sliver. We are assuming it was a bug bite and gratefully tonight his eye is looking much better.

Oxbow Lake

We spent Labor Day weekend at a friend's lakehouse and had a blast. We were up with the "U-pers" = people from the Upper Peninsula = Northwoods = middle of nowhere. What you won't see here are the pictures of leeches on the boys legs, field mice running around, or pictures of a midnight kayak ride with 360 degrees mirror image off the lake. Incredible place to visit.

1st Day of School for Isaac & Lucas

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