A Wisconsin Barbecue and Family Reunion

Dallas and I, along with my brother and his family, headed up to my parent’s house in Greenville for the weekend. While we were all visiting, my parents invited all of our relatives over for a huge barbecue. I hadn’t seen a lot of people for years and surprisingly, many of them hadn’t seen each other for as long, as well. Six of my mom’s seven siblings were able to attend, as well as a ton of my cousins, cousin’s kids and a good amount of family on my dad’s side, too.

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My mom playing bags with Fiona, my cousin Sara’s daughter.

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They were playing against my niece Jessica and Fiona’s twin sister, Elise.

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Hmmmm… can I name everyone? 🙂 On the patio: Aunt Deb, Aunt Connie, Aunt Sue, Aunt Wanda, Aunt Paula, Aunt Ali, Uncle Dan, Uncle Dave. On the lawn: Cousin Bill and his wife Karen, Cousin Kacey, Kacey’s son Dustin, Double(!) Cousin Anna and her boyfriend Andy. (Photo by Bethany.)

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And again! Uncle Rich, Cousin Amanda, Me, My cousin Bethany’s husband Chad, Cousin Erica and her husband Greg, Dallas, Richard, Mom, Uncle Doug, Uncle Morrie, Aunt Deb, Aunt Connie, Karen. (Photo by Bethany.)

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My Uncle Dan and my mom contemplating life by the corn field.

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Me and Dallas (29 weeks pregnant). (Photo by Sue.)

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Doug and Dallas were talking about who knows what forever. Something that was “yay big,” I guess.

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Richard hiding in the bushes.

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Aunt Sue and Aunt Paula. (Photo by Sue? Probably Aunt Connie or Wanda!.)

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All of my cousin’s kids had a great time playing in the little stream/ditch in the way back yard. This is my Aunt Deb, Cousin Amanda, and Niece Jessica with Noah, Oliver, Ella, Brianna, Elise and Fiona.

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There were a bunch of frogs in there and the kids were going crazy catching them!! These were all of my cousin’s kids: Sierra, Brianna, Elise, Noah, Brianna (there are 2! Actually, 3 if you count Brianne, who wasn’t there.), Ella, Collin, Fiona, Keegan, Oliver.


Richard & Dad.

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Cousin Amanda and her husband Phil chatting with Uncle Doug.

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Dallas was joking that you know you’re in Wisconsin when you see this many crock pots lined up! Also when you designate which sausage is “skinless”?

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My niece Stephanie and my cousin Skyonna are just about the same age. I think Skyonna is 16 and Steph is 17. (Photo by Sue.)

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Dad and my Uncle Dave. (Photo by Sue.)

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Aunt Deb, Uncle Doug, Mom, Aunt Connie. (Photo by Sue.)

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Keegan and his brother Collin are my cousin Anna’s boys. They’re twins, and so are my cousin Sara’s daughters, Fiona and Elise. Keegan and Dallas played this washer toss game many times and Keegan won most games. The 10 beers Dallas had by that point kind of leveled the playing field!

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My Uncle Dan playing bags.

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Spot the frogs on Bethany. Now you now what those kids were doing when they caught them! (Photo by Erica.)

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The kids went crazy when the ice cream truck van showed up.

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Cousin Amanda with my cousin Erica’s kids, Ella and Oliver. My cousin Bethany’s kids Brianna and Noah. My Uncle Rich and Cousin Bethany. (Photo by Erica.)

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Uncle Rich and his granddaughter Ella. (Photo by Erica.)

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Cousin Bill started up a fire in the pit. (Photo by Bethany.)

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The kids started roasting marshmallows right away!

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My dad made this pit earlier in the summer. It turned out really nice. (Photo by Bethany.)

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Everyone gathered around. (Photo by Sue.)

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Sadie and Jess enjoying some s’mores.

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People stayed and visited well past dark…

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.. but left before Dallas, Richard and my dad got all pyro on it. Apples?

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Jess was having a hard time roasting marshmallows with Milo and Dakoda trying to bite the end of her stick.

I was pretty sore from the long drive two days in a row, but it was totally worth it to see everyone. Hopefully we can do it again next summer and it won’t be YEARS before everyone sees each other again!

Nut Cups: $1.00

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Logan Square, Chicago

We’ve seen the ice cream truck come by on our street a fair amount already this “spring” on nicer days. Many times there’s also an old fashioned push cart with bells that goes down our street as well. If the truck or cart just goes by it’s not that bad.. but when they sit in front of the house, like they were when I took this photo, the loud ice cream truck music will drive you insane. Not to mention that you can’t hear the TV or anything. I wonder how much it will go by in the summer. There is a fire hydrant in front of our place, so I wonder if they’ll make it a regular stop.