September 7, 2008

We were privileged to go to Milwaukee and visit Jeff's family.

We went to Old Wisconsin where it depicts pioneers that came to the states from different countries. It's a huge place where they have moved homes and sheds from the early 1800's and put them all in this park. We learned how they make wool into thread, we voted for Pres. Lincoln, or should I say that the men were able to vote, women couldn't, we saw some civil war demonstrations with the guns and marching drills and played some fun games like rolling the hoops.

Another day we went to the Jelly Belly factory and were given lots of free samples. We went to a car display and saw the "Batmobile", "Kit", "Flintstones car", "General Lee", "Grinch mobile" and lots of other famous cars. After all that, we went to a beach on Lake Michigan. The boys really had fun jumping the waves and getting sand all over themselves.

Jeff had to go to work, and the boys had their first day of school, so Ralph, Julianne and I and the two little boys went to the Miller Beer Brewery. It was very interesting to see how something with extremely high production is made and ready for shipping. They ship out 5 football fields of product, stacked very high, every 24 to 36 hours. At the end of the tour everyone gets a free drink of beer. They looked at us funny and served us soda.

I had the great privilege of having Jeff give me a root canal while I was there. It wasn't planned, but since I needed one, he offered and I thought it was a great idea. He did a great job.

Ralph went to a museum and got to fly a simulator airplane. He landed safely.

Julianne has 3 boys in school all day and 2 at home. She also has 3 boys on soccer teams at different fields and practice times. Good luck!

We flew to Chicago and Jeff picked us up. We decided to take Amtrak back to Chicago, find our way to the "L" that would take us to the Midway Airport and get to our plane. It was quite a fun adventure for a novice. When we were walking from the train to the "L", there were so many people walking the opposite way that I thought we were on a "One Way" sidewalk.