For Labor Day weekend, we went to visit our friends in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. After a 130,234,132 hour drive - er, I mean a 13-hour drive (it just seemed longer) we made it to their door. We went on a doughnut run Saturday morning to Johnson's Bakery, which is an incredible sensory experience in itself (Prepare to Meet Your Baker). Then we went to the Farmer's Market where we saw varieties of flowers, squash, beans, root vegetables, and more. We had a fresh-squeezed raspberry limeade and eggrolls to snack on. A few errands around town and we headed toward the beach. It was the Dairyland Classic Surf competition. Lake Michigan is considered the world's best location for freshwater surfing. Who knew?!?! Unfortunately, while the weather was gorgeous, the waves were nonexistent, so there wasn't much surfing to be seen. Upon researching, we found that the worse the weather gets, the better the surfing. So their surfing season begins Labor Day and ends early winter. BRRRR! But that didn't put a dent in our fun. Over the course of the weekend Anna built sandcastles, played in the waves, rode a skimboard and a surfboard, and kayaked. On Sunday, we went to the pier to the carnival and rode a few rides. Then the adults escaped to the Duke of Devon for curry fries and drinks at lunchtime, which I highly recommend if you ever find yourself in Sheboygan. Then we picked up the kids and headed back to the beach for the afternoon, and into the evening. The next morning we had to pack up and leave on the long trek home. We had such a wonderful time with our chosen family. While it's difficult to be so far away from those you love, it really makes those moments you are together even more special. We'll be back some time after the spring thaw.
Today Anna and Mommy took off the afternoon to head to KC. The Disney Train promoting their new movie "A Christmas Carol" was stopping for the day at our beautiful Union Station. Okay, so the line to get on the train was an hour long, it was uncomfortably warm, and Anna started sobbing uncontrollably in line and saying she wanted to go home. As soon as we hit the threshold of the train, she changed her mind and got excited again (although most of it was really geared more for adults and older kids.) When we finished going through the cars of the train which showcased items from the Dickens museum, costumes and special effects from the movie, etc., we got to make goofy digital pics of ourselves as characters in the movie. Anna was Scrooge, of course. If possible, I will post these photos later. Then we headed to their temporary theatre to watch a 10-minute preview of the movie...in 3-D. Anna got pretty scared. I think when the movie comes out in November, Mom and Dad will go see it on a date night and wait until it comes out on video for Anna. Bedtime is already difficult without her having nightmares. Even though the day was not as exciting as I'd hoped, we made amends over ice cream inside the station...where it is air-conditioned, I might add.
We were watching a couple of re-runs of Dr. Who this weekend, when Anna chimed in, "I don't want to be an alien. I want to be a human. Daleks are bad."
This was from a few evenings ago, but Mom has been too tired in the evenings to post. Anna is a ball of fire these days. She asked to use her sidewalk chalk paint, but decided her body was a better canvas (plus it kept the mosquitos from munching on her legs - BONUS!) When she was finished, Daddy hosed her down. I'll bet that was very refreshing for Anna -- and satisfying for Daddy.
