Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Family fun and tourist time

Before I tell you about our weekend, I forgot perhaps my favorite detail of the show last week.  Two, (count 'em, 2), kids lost teeth backstage during the performance.  At photo call, Jen had to make an announcement that went something like this - "Thanks for coming to the show, and remember, if you have a tooth in my pocket - PLEASE get it back before you leave." We will have to keep a running total of teeth lost throughout the year.

So, on Friday - after on of the longest days ever - we hit the road for Madison.  It is about a 7 hour drive, but we are so excited to be this close to my family, we didn't care in the least.
 

 
 
 We hadn't been there an hour before I had a Spotted Cow beer served in a Cheesehead mug in my hand.  And I knew I was home.  I spent the rest of the evening helping my sister win a puzzle competition...naturally.

The next day, my brother and Julia (his fiancé) came over from Milwaukee.  We spent a good portion of the afternoon mastering the art of Shuffleboard - the sandy, bar-ish, table version, not the long stick, retirement home version.  It was pretty intense, as you can see here...


Dan and Julia say that a shuffleboard table will be the first piece of furniture in the first house they buy.  Can't wait.  I love them for having their priorities straight.

At dinner, my brother decided to make an elaborately awkward gesture.  (And I know about awkward.) He slowly and dramatically back his chair away from the table, very loudly scraping his chair against the concrete ground.  When we asked what he was doing, he made no response, only continued to stride toward my sister and I who were seated on the opposite end of the table, stopping only to give my sister's boyfriend a quick shoulder massage.  At this point we are all very confused. and frankly a little concerned.  He bent down to - wait for it - unbutton his cargo short pockets, and pulled two identical boxes out, which he presented to us.  (We found out later that he had alphabetized them in his pockets.  So resourceful.)  To make a long story...long...Julia gave us adorable knot bracelets and asked us to be bridesmaids!!

 
Needless to say, we are super excited.  I am floored at her generosity in including us and I cannot wait to be such an integral part of their special day in June.  And Dan definitely gets extra points for that perfect delivery.  It is certainly a moment we will never forget. :)

Sunday was full of football, thus it was extremely stressful.  I tried my best to combat all the tension and aggression by playing cards and receiving as many backrubs as possible. Mom is convinced the Packers lost because she didn't iron her Packers shirt before putting it on.  For anyone who has ever wondered where my antics come from, I think we have our answer. 

On Monday, we headed back to Sioux Falls, but not before making a VERY important stop in Middleton at...
The National Mustard Museum!!!!  (Note Harrison's sassy hand-on-the-hip pose.)
 
They had...lots of Mustard...
 
Like...a lot of mustard.  And a Mustard Piece Theatre.  Which is clever.  We did learn one particularly amusing anecdote.  As the story goes, Serfman Mars was the only son of the owner of Germany's largest mustard factory.  "Serfman" literally translates to "Mustard Man".  When Serfman decided to leave for America to make a fortune, he vowed to his parents to continue the family tradition of making great German mustard.  Then he met the love of his life, and she had always dreamed of marrying a candymaker who could satisfy her sweet tooth.  So, Serfman, caught in a catch-22 founded the Mars Candy Company, but created the yellow M&M bearing an "M" for both "mustard" and "mother".  The things you learn at the Mustard Museum.
 
Then...no, it's not over yet...we set out for Sioux Falls.  Before we got there though, we exited the highway in search of a Dairy Queen.  What we found was so much better...
 
Thank you, Blue Earth, MN.
 
 
Then, of course, this happened.
 
 
 
And don't worry - we also found a Dairy Queen.
 
Love,
C&H
 





1 comment:

  1. So I am watching a 9/11 special, bawling my eyes out, so thankfully I read this blog entry which immediately lifted my spirits. Love you, Mom

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