Birthday Bash

/ Shane / 2 Comments

On Saturday we had a little get together for Sara’s birthday (not nearly as big as what she planned for mine). We had a pretty good turnout, in fact, big enough that I had to make some last minute adjustments in the amount of food I had planned! Everything went more or less smoothly.

I felt a little guilty since Sara had put so much effort into my party, so I wanted to make something special for her cake, something a little fancy. So I ended up making a “honey bee” cake, complete with marzipan bees.

The cake was sort of interesting. There is 1/2 cup of honey in the cake and another 1/2 cup in the glaze. However, it mostly just tastes like chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. Still, my mom said, “This is the best chocolate cake I have ever tasted.”

I think Evie was a little confused as to whose birthday it was, since somehow things always end up centered around her. She was having  a blast playing with everybody and even convinced everyone to walk a block away to the nearest open patch of grass and play parachute with her.

I asked her, “What do you think we should get mommy for her birthday?” “Adult stuff,” she said. “Like what?” “Like books and things.” So I didn’t think much of this conversation until much later when Evie suddenly got it into her head that we should buy mommy a magazine, because “she likes magazines.” So I took her to the store and she picked out In-Style. It was funny to see how excited she was to give Sara a simple magazine.

I also helped her use the scissors and construction paper to make a card for Sara. She took each rectangle of paper and cut a long slit up the middle, almost to the top. “It’s pants!” she said. It did look like pants, and Sara got about 3 pairs on her card.

Anyway, I think everybody had a good time. Happy birthday Sara!

Quote Monday rides in on a zedonk

/ Shane / Leave a comment

Evie: “I’m poking my nose and there’s something slimy in there, and I can’t be slimy, so can one of you do it?”

::Evie pulling down her pants to go potty and taking FOREVER::
Me: “Come on, we’re in a hurry, why is this taking so long?”
Evie: “Because my legs are so long!”

Evie: “Put that on your blog Shane!” – I guess she hears that a lot. In particular, if she ever says something that makes me laugh, she immediately demands that it go on the blog.

Upon seeing this adorable and rare zebra / donkey hybrid, Evie said, “I like just one.” I guess she’s not into animal combinations. Side note, calling the thing a Zedonk is sort of uninspired name if you ask me.

Happy Birthday Sara!

/ Shane / Leave a comment

There was a party yesterday, of which there will be an update, but so far today has mostly been dominated by Pretty Pretty Princess. I’m sure pictures will show up on facebook, whether we like it or not…

Happy Birthday Sara!

No Vampires Allowed

/ Shane / 4 Comments

Link via Oddly Specific who said, “It’s good to know Pepsi supports this decision, even if only by implication”.

Waupaca Camping Park

/ Shane / 2 Comments

I’m writing this is support of my candidate for “best campsite ever”, Waupaca Camping Park.

I have camped all over this great country of ours (well, mostly all over the Midwest) and I would be hard pressed to name a better campsite. There are undoubtedly reasons to camp at other places: some particular item of natural beauty, hiking trails, lake access, etc. But I don’t think you’ll ever find another campsite where the owners are so passionate about their property.

The idea of this post all started when we were camping somewhere else and Sara said, “You know, we were really spoiled by the bathrooms at Waupaca.” (Sara has, by the way, quite literally camped all over this great country of ours, so you’d do worse than to take her recommendation.) It got me thinking about how much better Waupaca is, overall, compared to other places we’ve been.

They clean their bathrooms often. I believe twice a day, but don’t quote me on that. Anyway, the bathrooms are always clean. This can not be overstated. Bad bathrooms / showers are one of the hazards of camping life. State park bathrooms seem to be particularly bad, due to low budget and high usage. Believe me, I would pay a premium for a good bathroom.

Waupaca Camping Park has all the amenities of a good campground: good camp store, swimming pool, playground, game room, laundry, etc. There are lots of trees so sites are obscured from each other. But none of that necessarily sets them above the rest, that just gets them in the conversation for best campground ever. (Actually though, the cleanness of their bathrooms puts them in the top 5% automatically)

There are a few things they do that really put them over the top. First off, there are solar panels on the roof that heat the pool, so the water is never cold (it’s usually around 86 or so). Second off, they have many different types of accommodations to choose from. They have big cabins and small cabins, tent sites and RV sites, permanent sites, sites with a view of the lake, and everything in between. They even have an air-conditioned yurt!

But third off, and most importantly, they just really care about their site. Every year there is new construction somewhere. Either they are installing air conditioners in all the cabins, or they are building a new roof over the bathroom area, creating new patios for the fire pits, etc. This year there was a brand new, enormous (wood! not plastic!) playground area. Every year there is something new. I see them going around to scoop out the fire pits. I see them cleaning the cabins. The owners send us a Christmas card! I’m not joking!

This probably doesn’t sound like much, but I’m telling you, this is the best campsite I have ever been to. If you are looking for a campsite in mid-Wisconsin (almost directly West of Green Bay), then this is the place for you.

If you recall, Evie said, “When I grow up, I’m gonna be a person in charge of Waupaca.” I don’t see how you could come by higher praise than that.