Chula Vista Resort

We went on a mini vacation to the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Chula Vista has a indoor water park, which was our main motivation for staying there. Isaac loves anything to do with water. Some of his favorite activities are washing his hands, bath time, swimming lessons, playing with the hose, basically anything to do with water. So we thought this would be a perfect vacation for him. Heather's parents joined us for fun in the water.

Isaac with his cool life jacket.

The family ready to go down one of the kiddy slides.

Look at that smile. He loved going down the slide.

He also enjoyed the arcade. He especially liked the race car games. He just loved sitting in the drivers seat driving and shifting through the gears. I have a feeling his first car is going to be a stick shift. He enjoyed the race game so much, that we now have to let him sit in the front of our real cars and let him pretend to drive.

I brake for no one! Probably because I can't reach the brake.

Remember the story of the little Dutch boy who blocked the leak in the dam with his finger. Here is Isaac doing his best imitation.

Ok, got this hole all plugged up but what about the other 2000 in this water park. I don't think I have enough fingers.

Isaac with a water gun. He loved to spray anyone in the pool. He was a little too short to reach the gun if it was pointed down, so he would stand by the gun and grunt until one of us came over to get it for him.

Back to racing. We were on a schedule of water park, arcade, food, nap, repeat until the vacation was over.

Here you can see Isaac shifting into four to pass Grandpa. He also like the game Big Buck hunter but Heather wasn't a big fan of him holding a gun so we focused on racing.

Emily and Pat's Wedding

The church where Emily and Pat got married was gorgeous. It was a large cathedral catholic church.

The organ and choir section.

Mark and Carol walking down the isle.

Emily and her father.

Gateway to the West

We had some time before we needed to get ready for the wedding so we decided to see the St. Louis Arch. Which we found out is called the "Gateway to the West" after Louis and Clark set off to explore the western United States from this area of the Missouri River.

It is quite impressive up close. It is also thinner than I expected. You can travel to the very middle of the arch.

Just a cool artistic picture.

This is the tram system for getting up to the top of the arch. It is a little pod that five people can fit in (as long as you are all medium to small in size). It is a cramped ride up to the top. When we made our way to the top we had three older people riding with Heather and I. One of the gentleman started giggling like a little school girl about halfway up. The laugh was either one of those laughs that people make when they are really nervous and don't know what else to do or one of those that a crazy person might make before killing someone. Lucky for us it was the former and not the later.

A view from the top. That is a helicopter pad in the Missouri River.

Busch Stadium where the Cardinal lose to the Brewers.

What people look like from the top of the arch. I am pretty sure my mother would never attempt to get to the top of the arch as she is afraid of heights.

Edward Jones dome where the Ram lose to the Packers.

Underneath the arch they have a large museum on Lewis and Clark and the founding of our country. It was really interesting but we didn't have much time before the wedding so had to bypass most of it. They had a wall with a carving of the main contributors for designing the arch and also the other great sites of the United States. In this picture is Mt. Rushmore, the Washington monument, and other that I can't quite make out.

The other side of the carving. The picture don't do it justice.

A Night Out In St. Louis

We traveled to St. Louis for the wedding of Mark's youngest sister, Emily. We went out for a night on the town.

Mark and Carol at Mc Gruks.

Kirk and Beth, who have recently become engaged and purchased their first house.

Heather and I putting down a few cocktails since Isaac was with my parents back in Madison.

The Ladies

The Fellas

How did I do?

Whenever Isaac wants to go outside (which is constantly), we ask that he helps us by bringing his coat and shoes. Today, he took it a step farther and tried to put on his own hat. While it was a worthy first attempt, there is still some work to be done. Heather and I tried not to laugh when we saw him but failed.

I am ready to go.

Hmmm, something is not quite right.

Superman needs to work on putting his hat on correctly.

Maybe this is the new way to wear hats and Heather and I are just out of the loop.

American Cancer Society Run/Walk 2009

Team Colleen
Friends and family gather every year to honor Colleen's fight with cancer and raise money for the continued battle with cancer.
Isaac all bundled up for the walk. Logan is on the right showing his excitement for the race.

Big Wheel Time

One of the favorite toys of mine and my brothers when we were kids was the Big Wheel. We would use the Big Wheel until we wore out the front wheel. Isaac received his first Big Wheel from my parents. I didn't know they still made them. He is a little too short to reach the peddles but he loves to zoom down the driveway and he can scoot himself around with his feet. He has that look for pure joy when he is racing down the driveway.

Here is Heather's family gathered around her sister's grave the night before the annual cancer run/walk that we do every year in her honor.

We love you Colleen and miss you in our lives. Isaac sends you his love.