We Missed Peak Color, but the Fish Fry Was Dang Good

Wednesday

Scott had a shoot near Wausau and Meadow was off from school so we decided to head up to the cottage for the weekend. I can't believe we haven't been up since the 4th.

Theo seemed excited.

New toys!

Thursday

My dad installed new patio doors recently which made the view that much brighter.

With Scott gone for most of the day and Theo napping, Meadow and I did crafts.

Eventually we made it outside.

That was when I got back. These bums stayed inside all day while I was gone.

Theo took a long nap and Meadow wouldn't go outside without me.

Meadow was super excited to swing all weekend.

Meadow and I took Theo out on his first bike ride. We will have to get him a new helmet since his head is so small.

Well, by next Spring his head ought to be bigger, but Meadow's old helmet hasn't aged well.

We slowly found the rocks that everyone painted back on Labor Day weekend.

Bike ride! Sadly my tires were flat and I forgot to get an adapter from my bike tubes.

Theo was excited to eat all the leaves.

Swing, swing and swing some more.

I did manage to peel her away from the swingset for a little bit for some fishing. It was a bit choppy and the fish weren't biting.

Back inside I taught Meadow to play checkers.

Little Theo is already making messes.

Meadow and I played some Epic Mickey on the Wii. Fixing Mr. Mike's old Wii was a good idea.

Friday

Brooke thought we didn't have anything for breakfast, but I managed to pull together some hash browns, eggs and bacon. 

And she's back at the swingset.

Again.

I happened upon one another painted rock.

Theo wanted to try on one of the ponchos.

It was kind of gloomy, but we should've went for a hike anyways.

Instead Brooke and Meadow played Wii Fit all day.

I have to burn off all the cottage snacks I eat.

Meadow and I made brownies and added M&M's.

I guess they did peel themselves away from the Wii for a bit.

Eventually my parents showed up.

Of course they found Meadow at her favorite place. Oh, yeah, Meadow learned to swing herself! Woohoo.

And then you have to go out to the dock to see what's going on. It's just what happens every time they arrive at the cottage.

You have to say Hello to the lake when you arrive.

We then decided to go out for fish fry.

Yeah, buddy.

We ended up at Twelve Pines. I remembered it being a really good fish fry when we went out for Mr. Mike's birthday a couple of years back.

The place was packed for the Brewers playoff game.

The hostess brought out french fries for Meadow while we waited for our table.

Endless damn good fish? Don't mind if I do.

They even have baked fish for the healthy crowd. I like to get both.

Saturday

We awoke to fresh snow.

And then grandpa picked on Theo.

The new stove and griddle made for some killer pancakes.

My dad's chore for the day was to cut down a tree.

Timber!

A knocked down tree is a balance beam for Meadow.

Meadow and I suggested that we set aside a bit of the tree for a rustic playground.

Meadow forgot to put her bike away and it was full of snow.

Once I got a towel out for her she was right back to swinging.

Loves to swing.

But who doesn't'?

Meadow noticed that a chunk from the tree looked a lot like Wisconsin.

My dad decided to keep part of the tree as a balance beam for the kids.

I was wondering how he'd  manage to move this.

He even made a a few footings for the beam.

Meanwhile I split the logs. It's probably best he bought the log splitter. I'm not very good with an axe.

We didn't take the rain chain down before the temperatures dropped.

We may have to add more to the cottage playground with the next tree.

My dad finally decided to burn up the brush from the tree he cut down last year.

Trying to spy on the neighbors.

What a creeper.

Mr. Mike patiently waited for my famous pizza.

But before I could finish that, G.G. made me run out and get a picture of the sunset. I think you had to be there.

We had a pizza feast and then Mr. Mike and I went to a bar (actually two because the Pine Isle was packed. We ended up at Oneida Village) to watch game 7 of the NLCS. The Brewers lost, but we did get in some good people watching.

Sunday

After bringing the dock in my dad brought Meadow over to the stump.

And that's where she lived until the lack froze over. (I kid.)