Family Reunion in Neenah, WI

Dallas had to work, but Makai and I headed to Wisconsin on a Friday afternoon. On Saturday we had a big family reunion. My mom and dad spearheaded it and reserved a pavillion at Schildt Park. They made the meat and everyone else brought sides and desserts. It turned out great and everyone had a fun time!

 Aunt Connie + Riverlyn

 Juniper, Mom, Aunt Connie

 Riverlyn + Margo

 Riverlyn + Makai

 Riverlyn

Annaleigha + Riverlynn

Annaleigha

 Margo, Makai, Riverlynn

 Pat + Kelly

 Collin, Sabrina, Richard, Jill, Keegan

 Riverlynn, Katrina, Mom

 Uncle Rich + Ella

 Aunt Deb + Erica

 Uncle Steve, Kacey, Sierra

 Aunt Wanda, Aunt Connie, Molly

 Phil + Amanda

 Dawn, Annaleigha, Miranda

 Peter, Uncle Dave, Juniper

 Dad, Kelly, Mark

 Riverlynn, Katrina, Ciara, Skyonna, Juniper

 Phil, Amanda, Bethany, Brianne

 Peter, Juniper, Dakota

 Makai

 Cousins! Amanda, Bethany, Kacey, Sabrina, me, Dawn, Erica, Richard

 Jeff, Tessa, Charlotte

 Mom, Aunt Connie, Aunt Wanda

Mom, Aunt Connie, Aunt Wanda

 Me + Makai

Cousins! Kelly, Katrina, Richard, Sabrina, Molly, Me, Dawn, Pat

From Tessa:

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.

campfire_family
People stayed and visited well past dark…

campfire_dallas
.. 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!

Shedd Aquarium

turtle

octopus

nemo

beluga

penguin

turtle

Jessica, Rachelle, Stephanie
Jessica, Rachelle, Stephanie :: Shedd Aquarium, Museum Campus, Chicago

From January 14 – 20th the Shedd Aquarium is offering free general admission. The regular entrance fee is $23/adult and $16/kid, so Richard, Amanda, Stephanie, Jessica, Nancy, Josh, Riley, Melissa, Nick, Noah, Trinity, and Gabe came down from Milwaukee to join me in facing the cheapskate crowds – you had to constantly remind yourself to be tolerant or you’d go freaking insane but we still had a fun time anyway.

Other aquariums I have been to – Birch Aquarium at Scripps in San Diego, SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld Orlando, the Seattle Aquarium, the New York Aquarium at Coney Island, and Oriental Garden in Chinatown (ha!). Shedd was probably the best of them all, although I did really like how the Seattle Aquarium had an area where you could touch things like rays and sea anemone and sea cucumbers.

See also:
» Seattle Aquarium by Rachelle
» Coney Island, Brooklyn by Rachelle
» Get in My Belly by Rachelle
» Shedd by Nancy

» Chicago 7 (Museum Campus) by Jake Dobkin