Wisconsin Summer Trip: Part I - Trains, trains, trains

We took our annual Wisconsin trip a little earlier in July than usual, but that choice turned out to be great. Not only did it work out for Max to go to all of his summer camps here in Lawrence, but we also got to experience some really warm lake weather = lots of water time!

As has now become tradition, we began our trip with a day of driving and training. Last year, we stopped on the way up to ride the St Croix Scenic Railroad. This year, we stopped in Boone, IA, to visit the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. Paul researched it, and he found that on Saturdays, a steam engine (Max's favorite kind) pulls the train.

In truth, it was one of the cooler trains we've ridden. The scenery was unexpected for the middle of IA, streams, valleys, tall bridges - not just cornfields here. We road in the top of the bi-level passenger car. Max got a real kick out of all of it.

Max's rendition of a steam engine. Pretty cute.

Checking out the train before the ride.

There she is, steam and all! 

Loud. 

Looking back at the rest of the train.

Max and Daddy doing the train dance in front of our car.

Sitting at the top of the bi-level car.

Of course, there were fields. It is Iowa, people.

One of the signs along the trip.

View from atop the Bass Creek Point High Bridge.
 The engine released steam so it would produce a rainbow. Alas, we had no sun though.

Happy Camper

At the turnaround point, the engine pulls onto the siding and goes up to the front of the train to pull us back to Boone.

Engine and tender car.

Studying the engine as it passes.

My "don't take pictures of me" face.

Max with our guide in the back. He was a pretty cool old dude with great stories! 

Putting in the water from the water tower.

Inscription on side of engine.

Characters on wheel covers.

Station

Inside the station, they had a train going above head.

Inside the museum, they had models, tons of memorabilia, and a library.

 These pictures of the library at the museum are for my brother Rob. :-)

It was a cool train, and I'd definitely consider going back. Boone is one of the only towns in the US with steam, diesel, and electric trains running concurrently. Pretty neat stuff.

Farmer Max: the story continues...

Today at Pendleton's was pick-your-own potato and pick-your-own green bean day. I love these days for two reasons. It ends up being super cheap, $1.25 per pound for golden yukons and give half of the green beans to the farm and take your half for free. Plus, and probably more importantly, Max gets to see from whence comes his food (or the food he sees Paul and I eat).

It was a cool enough morning, so we went out early.

Picking the potatoes right from the ground! 

Pulling them off their roots and putting them in our bucket.

Here he is in the green bean rows.

Little farmer heading in from the fields.

Party Time: St John's Fiesta and Fourth of July

Summer has been filled with so many playdates, camps, and parties. I feel like we're busier now than ever!

These first pics are from the St. John's Fiesta that the church downtown has every year. We only ventured to it for the first time last year. Oh man - that's some delicious food! Max's favorite, however, are confetti eggs that he gets to crack on Daddy!

As Max says, "Ready, Steady......."

"GO!"

Dancing in the confetti remains.

Some swing time at the park across from the fiesta.
(Creepy photobombing guy in background is no relation.)

On the Fourth, we spend time working on the house, then we went over to the Averill/Neuteboom place for a good old BBQ and some fireworks. Of course, since it's Ric and Jeanne Averill's house, the kids did a bit of theater for us. Trish organized pool time and bobbing for apples. Eric and Ric shot off the fireworks. A good time was had by all, even Max, who decided that he'd rather lay inside on their couch during the fireworks because they were too loud. :-)

Hi T!!

Bobbing. Yep, Max is so crazy he went for two apples!

Max and Bella with their prizes. We discovered teeth marks in all of the apples later. Ha.

Watching the smoke bombs and other daytime fireworks out front.

Rehearsing for the Tea Party Play. Max was cast as King George.

King (Max) George decided it might be more fun to join the Tea Party, since it was a party. Good call.

Shooting off champagne bottles.

Sparklers!

And here are two of Max's favorite summer things: Corn on the cob and frozen yogurt!

What a cutie.