On Christmas Eve we headed to Wisconsin for winter break. Sometimes it's tricky finding food on holidays. I saw that Norske Nook in Osseo was open.  Kids and Brooke got breakfast. I got the Wisconsin Reuben. Everyone was happy. Of course we had to get some pie for the rest of the ride. Next door was a fun store, Boards and Bricks.  I wanted to get the kids one more Lego set each, but Brooke was not letting that happen. Come on, it's Christmas! Exactly, they're about to get a bunch of stuff tomorrow.  Instead of pie I got some kind of peanut butter cup cookie. Brooke and I shared since we're so in love still. Or she's turning into her mom. I didn't really want anything and it was too much for you so we shared.  I completely forgot that we do church on Christmas Eve. As soon as we arrived it was already time for church. We did not pack church clothes but did our best. And probably got me sick for the rest of the trip. Leave it to my mom to always buy treats for t...

My dads side of the family used to get together on Christmas Eve. Since Covid they stopped doing that. Mostly because our family is so large, no one was able to host anymore. When we got an invite to one of my cousins weddings, I figured we should go since I hadn't seen my aunts and uncles in a long time.  Our drive to Wisconsin wasn't great. This is why I don't like traveling in winter.  I told Theo he's going to have to sleep on the bed in the office this time. But silly bub said he could still sleep in the crib.  No kids at the wedding so these two would get to hang out all day.  After the wedding ceremony a few of us met up at The Vault in downtown Appleton.

  While Scott was in Florida I drove to my parents to get my babies.  Theo: Mama I have a surprise for you in my bed.  Awwww...

Before leaving for Thanksgiving, Scott had to clean the pool. Remind me to look like even more of an idiot and whack all the leaves out of the trees before filling the rink next year.     As we got near Eau Claire we drove into a freak snowstorm. There were tons of accidents and they even closed off part of the highway. I looked it up later and this apparently was  created by steam from a factory in nearby Menominee . Just as soon as the snowstorm came it was gone. I could finally let Brooke take a turn driving.   She hates driving in the snow, in the rain, at night...what am I her dangerous driving chauffeur?

A few days ago my mom said with holiday travel they recommend getting to your destination by 10am. I said, we won't even by out of our house by 10am. But boy did my family prove me wrong.  10 am arrival? Who even wakes up willingly before like 9 am when you're not working? It's Christmas and this year we'd be going to Brooke's family once again. After many years of passing it by we finally stopped at Chili Corners Club  along US Highway 10. We saw pictures of the inside on Google maps and had no idea it was so big.  Meadow got Chicken Noodle soup since she was feeling a bit under the weather, but it was Theo that would soon be souring the Christmas cheer. The big hall we ate in wasn't exactly cool. But surprisingly they had a sign that said, "No kids in the bar area." Is this even Wisconsin? Recently I heard about a creamery , Union Star Cheese, that still produces cheese the traditional way. I knew it was on our way to my parents house so I suggested ...

Brooke wanted to skip it, but the rest of were raring to go to the Fox Valley for Thanksgiving. I wanted to leave on Thanksgiving morning but Scott said that was too late.    Leave it to my mom to always spoil Meadow. She got her a cat ornament. This year I made actual homemade pumpkin pie since I was poopooed after making it from the can last year. Same recipe , just substituted pureed roasted pumpkin. Ended up making two pies since I had so much filling. I don't make pretty pies, but they taste good.

As always, we made the trip to Little Chute and the Fox Valley for Thanksgiving. Since we don't eat Thanksgiving dinner until the evening. I suggested this year we drive on Thanksgiving day instead of leaving the night before.  First thing when we arrived, G.G. was already giving Meadow gifts. My mom is always spoiling her.   Then we were off to Brittany and Jeff's for Thanksgiving fun. Theo got the longest piece of cheese. Marina showing us her island on Animal Crossing.  I made some maple whipped cream just before everyone arrived. All the cousins wanted to do at first was watch each other game.

   We were invited to Marina's birthday party this year. Since we haven't been to one of her parties in a long time we thought we would go this year. Originally Marina wanted a waterpark birthday. After finally deciding on a weekend we were the only ones that could go. She had her official party the previous  weekend and was going to spend this weekend with us.  Water park, water park! After passing this place for many years we finally made the stop at Fannie's Supper Club in Neilsville.     Love when the Supper Club decor is on point and the food is great. I say this a lot, but a top 10 Wisconsin Fish Fry. This place was your prototypical Midwest supper club.    I want to stay at the neighboring motel which is equally Wisconsin mid-century sophisticated.  

    This year we were heading back to Little Chute for Christmas. We figured the kids could open all the presents from us before we left for the holidays.   Meadow got Theo Magnatile Cubes.    Theo got Meadow another Lego Harry Potter "Book."   Both kids did chores the last couple months to earn money to buy each other gifts.   Theo had a surprise for me too.   

After taking a year off of traveling for the holidays we are back on schedule.   Theo went straight to the toy room to start building stuff on the workbench.  The kids love getting to eat the sugar cereal at their grandparents.    This kind of cereal never saw light of day in my house growing up. Lucky kids.   Meadow forgot to pack herself pajamas so borrowed one of my dads t shirts.   

For Meadow's 8th Birthday this year she asked for mermaid cupcakes for her birthday dessert. Sadly with all our traveling I didn't have time to make it myself this year. Luckily our local grocery store had some.  A few days before her big day I asked her what she wanted to do for dinner. She said, "I want to go out, but you might not like the place I pick." I totally though she was going to say McDonalds and was shocked when she said Subway. I don't even know the last time she's had Subway.  Her birthday gifts this year were a Jarrito, Harry Potter legos from Theo, Super Mario 3D World and Yoshi for Nintendo Switch and a new unicorn bike helmet.  We began our 4th of July weekend a little early with a trip to Marshfield, WI. I had to shoot a cable company store and I didn't feel like going back and forth from Wisconsin to Minnesota and then back again. Meadow found something shiny at the bottom of the hotel pool and I went diving for it.  We got to the cott...