Summer 2015---Visitors from California

Our summer fun started before it was actually summer on the calendar.  Matt, Cheryl, Josie and Evan arrived late in the evening on June 3.  It was probably early on June 4 by the time we got to our house and everyone was settled into bed. When we picked them up at the airport, we could hear Josie and Evan--giggling, squealing and clapping--before we actually saw them, and then they came racing into our arms.  No time for a picture of that--too busy getting hugs. :)

Because of their late arrival and the 2 hour time change, no one was up real early the next morning. So we had a pretty low-key day.  We spent some time at Wirth Park, had dinner at home, and then went to Kopp's for dessert! And how lucky could they be?  One of the flavors was mint chocolate chip which is a favorite of the CA people!  (except maybe Evan. I think he had vanilla.)

On Friday we took a ride up to Sheboygan to check out a place I had heard about, called "Bookworm Gardens."  It is a delightful place for kids (and adults) and all the displays are based on various children's books. Oh, and it's FREE, by the way!

First stop was the Visitor's Center, where they have 

a library filled with kids' books and some comfy chairs 

for people big and small.

Bath time for "Harry, the Dirty dog"

Ready for school

Maybe not quite ready for school

Doing some sweeping in the barn

Evan and Wilbur, from "Charlotte's Web"

Looking for Peter Rabbit in Mr. MacGregor's Garden

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar"  (I think)

It's a bit dark, but that's Josie and Evan "Ingalls"

 on their way West in a covered wagon.

A Japanese Tea House 

(not sure what book this is from)

A pretty little spot where we had fun watching 

a mother duck and her family of ducklings. 

More duck and fish watching

Throughout the whole place there were all kinds of  fun places to sit and rest for a bit.  And they provide wonderful photo ops.  So here are a bunch of  "chair" pictures.

We ended our time at "Bookworm Gardens" with a picnic lunch, and then we headed over to "Above and Beyond," the Sheboygan Children's Museum. This was also a big hit with the kids.

A grocery store with a real, old-fashioned cash register

A full-sized fire engine and kid-sized uniforms

Building with magnets

Evan is doing some serious studying!

While the guys did some fishing..

...the girls made a craft.

"Rachel's Favorite" was one of our favorites, too. They 

had to crank the ball to the top, and then turn the wheel to make 

it go through the basketball hoop. 

But I think the Pin Screen was the favorite exhibit of all. (And I think it was one of Jeremiah's favorites when we took him here, too!) 

Such a handsome family!

I don't normally like to post pictures of my

backside, but I thought this was pretty funny. 

Matt had to get on his knees in order to get his upper

body in the screen. Kinda' creepy! :)

We finished off our time in Sheboygan with dinner with Bryce and Holly De Roos and their kids.  It was fun to see them again.  No picture of that, though. 

Josie and Evan enjoyed looking for the animals that come and eat the bird seed in Grandpa's feeder.  It's meant for the birds, but it is also very popular with the squirrels, rabbits, and even the deer.

Helping Grandpa refill the feeders

Saturday Matt and Cheryl and the kids went down to Chicago for part of the day to see some of Cheryl's family.  They were back in time for dinner at Blaze Pizza, one of our new favorite places.

Then on Sunday it was church, and after church Matt and Cheryl took the kids over to the playground at BCS for a bit. And in addition to all the playground equipment, they found something pretty special--Grandpa's bench!!

 Grandpa's special bench at BCS!

 We met the Brassers at Panera for lunch that day, and then we went home to pack up and drive down to the lake house in Illinois. 

 Stay tuned for Part 2---our time at the lake house!