Renewing my Cheesehead Status PLUS TWO.

This was the year for our bi-annual trek to the Cheesehead State.  My oldest nephew (and Godson) as well as my oldest niece (and Mike's Ajihada) graduated from college and high school respectively.

After several months of monitoring flights we finally narrowed down our travel plans.  Flying is ridiculously expensive now and we tried to think of how to introduce my family to our newest Grand as well.  My hubby opted to give up his seat and invited our daughter and grandson to join me. 



Deb PLUS Two

Baby C's 1st Flight was uneventful.  We left at oh-dawn-hundred, on three hours of sleep, which enabled him to board, eat his breakfast, play a bit and sleep some more. 

We arrived, collected our rental car and headed north for Milwaukee.  My nephew has an adorable one bedroom apartment just two blocks off of Lake Michigan, very near the Shedd Aquarium - and I love the overall lifestyle in  Milwaukee. 

While others attended the Baccalaureate Mass we wandered around the neighborhood with my brother and our cameras.  Uncle lived in Milwaukee for a few years and happily pointed out different sites for us while we snapped away.  (On a side note those pictures will forever be in my memory as I have managed to completely delete them from any other source...). 

After Mass we joined the extended family down along the river at Water Street Brewery for dinner at a cozy table for 15! It was a delightfully, yummy meal and great chatter with so many I love to be near.

We overnighted in a Brown Deer hotel, sharing a room with my parents.  Think exhausted baby, road-weary travelers and two alternating snorers.  Not sure WHO drew the short straw but it was either a very LONG night or a very SHORT night depending on your perspective. 

Graduation at Marquette University was held in the Bradley Center.  We took advantage of the baby and let everyone go on ahead while Erin fed and dressed him.  We joined up just as the graduate procession was finishing.

  

Bill Cosby was the speaker and did NOT disappoint!

My sister (far right) and her family. I love them all so much.

A little fun with the decor in the Delta Building.

After graduation we returned to Kevin's apartment and celebrated together.  It was my only opportunity to see my brother again and I hated when we all had to head our separate ways again.  We headed for Janesville to spend a couple of days with the Great-Grandparents.  It was nice to be in one place and rest for awhile.  Until that point the traveling had been nonstop with scheduled events and poor Baby C was all out of sorts.

Erin with her grandparents

Erin and Auntie Di

I was able to spend a couple of hours visiting with my dear friend Shelly.  She still has a daughter in high school and finds herself running ragged with sports and activities.  We've all been there.  I was prepared to attend a soccer game if that was the only way to get in a visit...  not so extreme.  There was one year I joined her in the Suburban driving around Rock county running errands.  We definitely get it done!

Shelly

Baby C gives Raymond a test.  Still a little young for a solo ride.

 Great-grandma Denie and Baby C.

On Tuesday we headed for Chicago.  We tried to spend a few quality days with the great-grandparents, and get to Chicago so that Baby C's grand-pop from Michigan could come visit, as well as think about what is best for Baby C and maybe do something I wanted too - like spend time with my sister.  And it all worked out. 

Wednesday morning Erin's FIL and his fiancee joined us in Chicago for a visit.  We took them out for lunch.  

Thursday was my niece Nicole's graduation from high school.  It's mind boggling to think she is 18 years old and heading off to college in the Fall. 

Nicole (the Flamingo)

And honestly, THIS is how I still think of her...

But alas, she's a beautiful young woman, about to embark on a new life path.  We are so very proud!

And for my sister Di, you are super woman!  How you manage to keep up with everyone is beyond me.  Your oldest graduated from Marquette.  Your second oldest attends Notre Dame.  Now after surviving a year of THREE daughters in high school and THEIR schedules you are sending your oldest daughter off to Marquette.  I'm sure you have mixed emotions right now but know you are doing an amazing job!  I love you.



I'm torn...

It's fairly common knowledge of my birth rite - I'm a proud Cheesehead.  We cheer on the Wisconsin Badgers and the Green Bay Packers, just the same way you root on your home team.  It's not just in Texas that follows their teams to obsession.

Tonight I watched the Packers playing in Seattle.  Had I thought about it sooner we might have tried to get tickets and make the trip but honestly with all the other summer events I just didn't consider it a possiblity.  Our daughter and son-in-law did...  they went to the game to celebrate their first anniversary. (Jealous!)

The first half of the game was a disappointment to Packer fans.  Penalties abounded for both sides.   Nothing seemed to work - the Pack just didn't have their mojo.

The second half our Packers came out prepared to fight and you betcha did they ever.  Their hurry-up offense seemed to set Seattle back on their heels for awhile. 

The first three weeks of the NFL season has been plagued with the referee strike and inexperienced whistle blowers on the field.  Tonight's game was no different.  The referees had so many questionable calls and at the end - two obvious calls...  a pass interference call on Sam Shields and then the ultimate 'YGTBSM' when the cluster of Packers and Seahawks jumped for the final pass in the end zone, Tate pushing down Shields to climb higher, Jennings clearing Tate and coming down with the ball pulled tight to his chest. 

The crowd went wild.  The players were struggling to gain control but the camera angles showed Jennings with the ball and Tate tugging.  The commentators were calling it a simultaneous catch.  The referees?  Scroll down to see what they did (in case you went to bed at dusk or have been living in a cave.)

 And after reviewing the scoring call as required the play on the field remained as it was called...  A touchdown for Seattle (not the interception). I don't know what was worse.  Listening to the commentators declare the incompetency of the referees covering for the NFL referees on strike now or watching the Seattle coaching staff, players and fans scream like they won.  It wasn't a win.  It was a gift.

Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rogers both showed what a class act they are in the interviews that followed.  Seattle's quarterback Wilson did his best to play down the controversy but still enjoy his "W".  Sadly all the talk that is inevitable, takes away from Seattle's defense which brought the Packers to a standstill the first half.  The defense managed to shut down our MVP quarterback and even sack him 8 times. The poor refereeing takes from Rookie quarterback Wilson's repeated 'Hail Mary' attempts to put the ball over and over, in the end zone.  What an arm. 

What is it going to take to bring back the NFL referees to the field?  At what point will the team owners say enough is enough.  I think it's time as a fan to show our dissatisfaction and do what will affect their bottom line - I love my Packers but if this is the quality of the game we are left to watch, I'm done watching.

I'm not a poor sport.  I accept defeat and acknowledge when our team is outplayed.  This was NOT one of those times.   Seattle's famed 12th man was wearing black and white tonight. 

No Cheeseheads

After Christmas we drove Erin and Chris home to Moscow and stayed overnight. We had breakfast with Erin and we headed south for home. Much to our surprise Mike was pulled over on the Lewiston grade. Apparently neither one us accurately knew the speed limit. Trooper Schwenke acquired the registration and Mike's driver license and left us saying he would check Mike's record.

Upon his return the trooper asked Mike if we were Packer fans... (you think?), showed us his Detroit Lions logo wallet and proceeded to tell us that Cheeseheads were now illegal in Idaho!

A trooper with a sense of humor! Thank you.