Oliver & Adeline: Wisconsin

For us, Wisconsin is usually referred to “going back home.” Obviously, this was home to Joe for many years, and for me, it feels like a place you would go back home to. Joe’s family is the main reason, but we have also come to view our trips back as a good way to reset our balance as a couple and now as a small family. We try to slow down and leave some of our city life behind. We also try to reconnect with old friends and family. And when possible, we rest.

This trip, we enjoyed watching Oliver fall in love again with his grandparents and Aunt & Uncle. Joe and I had a date night (dinner with friends AND the musical Jersey Boys). We spent time with our nieces, and they got to spend time with their cousin. We saw a few sunrises. Oliver learned some new words and spoke his first two-word phrases. We ate a lot. He rode in a real tractor, a real dump truck, and a real Digger. He played in “fresh” dirt and breathed some fresh air. We saw lots of the moon. Oliver did not have to share his mama with work for most of the trip. We visited the Madison children’s museum. He met up with his friend August and practiced sharing. We celebrated Christmas early. Oliver remembered that airports and airplanes are so cool, learned that he lives in "DC", and realized that Grandmas really do bake cookies like in his books.

Lots of snuggles and giggles with Grandma and "Gramp"

In the digger with Grandpa

Don't let the expression fool you, he did not want out--"again!"

Running through tunnel on suspended-bridge at the Children's Museum

Favorite exhibit by far: the large mini-Madison town with cars and trucks (intently played for well over a half-hour until we convinced him that there were real animals upstairs to see)