25¢ POSTCARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had such a fun weekend with Gina, Steve, and Luca. I felt like a kid waking up on Christmas each morning – so excited for the day ahead! I also very much felt like a mid 30s adult waking up each morning – exhausted from too little sleep. Ha! But more on that below…
FRIDAY!
Their flight from Dallas was delayed an hour, then baggage took a while due to the storms in Chicago, so we had a late first night. Like, dinner after 10:00 pm late, and going to bed past 1:00 am late, eek! We weren’t on a set schedule for the weekend, but man, those late nights EFF. ME. UP. For days. Worth it though (obviously).
Obvious Friday dinner choice
SATURDAY!
We chilled at the house a bit Saturday morning. Luca (well, everyone!) loved playing with the kittens and I’m glad they got to meet them when they are still small-ish, and super playful. It warmed my heart when they happily told me about the kittens sleeping with them at night, and later in the day, when Luca was excitedly telling Rachel story about them.
We had loose plans to spend Saturday in Madison and do local basic b*tch things on Sunday. Gina, Steve, and Luca have been to a few state capitals, and were interested in seeing the Madison Capitol. And we love going to Madison!
Our drive took us through Milwaukee, so naturally, we stopped at Holey Moley to take down a few donuts.
We (later) all discussed how we eat healthy the majority of the time when we’re apart, but when we’re together, it’s such a treat… that we have more treats. A LOT more treats than normal. Especially on a short visit like this! We’ll be more conscious of this in the future.
We got to Madison and walked a bit of the Farmers’ Market (I avoided the angry pepper man), and headed down State Street to window shop and look for a place for lunch. It was busy because of the Badgers vs Cornhuskers game, and it was fun to see the sea of red and black, and the interesting outfits, and behavior.
We ended up at Chen’s Dumpling House, which was DELICIOUS, but affected all of our stomachs, some immediately, and some later.
We got the scallion pancakes, vegetable dumplings, and red bean buns
So we tried to do a bit of shopping on the way back to the capitol building but I had to call it short to go use the bathroom. Eek.
But not before stopping to take some photos!
We walked around the capitol building a bit, seeing parts of a few floors, the observation deck, and inside the rotunda.
So… the blog post title. I had another “VEGAN CAKE!!!!!” moment this weekend. Some of our party (me and Luca) aren’t so great at inside voices. Or being quiet. And we were in some really echo-y spaces.
While we were walking down the stairs out of the museum, Luca was talking to Steven and Steven jokingly says to him “I see you still haven’t learned how to whisper.” Gina was behind them and heard it, then I came down the stairs behind her yelling “Twenty-five cent postcards! I should get one!” (I saw a sign about them in the museum). Gina started laughing and crying so hard she couldn’t talk. We had no idea what she was laughing about, because she was the only one who heard those two things. We all laughed too when she finally explained it, then enjoyed randomly yelling “Twenty-five cent postcards!” to each other all weekend. Ha ha.
After the capitol, we visited Rachel at the tailgate her company puts on to raise money for the American Family Children’s Hospital. Rachel’s told me about all the work that goes in to this event but I didn’t understand it until I saw it. Wow! Just wow. And they raised $62,844.29! I was so impressed, and proud of her.
I loved that she got to meet Gina, Steve, and Luca! I talk about them so much to each other!
We headed home after that. A pit stop for a bathroom break took us to an outlet mall where we found some killer deals at Bath & Body Works and a tool store. I am very proud of myself for NOT buying anything at Bath & Body Works.
We got home late and had another late dinner. Oops. We kept joking about it, saying we must be on “river time,” because we often eat late during our river trips!
Steven was inspired by our search for vegan ramen in Madison (I was too overwhelmed by the place we found to order there), and made an Asian soup. Then we had a very adult discussion over dinner about property taxes. We’re so fun!
SUNDAY!
We took it easy on Sunday, and focused on our list of basic fall b*tch activites. We ran in the local preserve while Steven and Luca watched The LEGO Ninjago Movie.
We got Starbucks on the way home from our run, and forgot to document it as one of our basic fall b*tch activities. Darn it.
Lunch was salad and leftover soup. Okay, and some tater tots. And a few of the “chicken” tenders we made for Luca. And let’s not forget those cookies bars we made Friday and munched on all weekend.
We hung out after lunch then went to Kroll’s Harvest Farm. We checked out the animals, got our cider (ugh, forgot a picture AGAIN!) then went through their corn maze. The corn maze was “horse” themed – the center part of it was designed as a horse head, and you read horse facts in the beginning. We were given a piece of paper with twelve spots on it to punch, then had to find the twelve stations inside – some just to punch the paper, and some with trivia based on what we read (there were two hole punches corresponding to the two answer options, and you picked one to use).
It was fun! And muddy. It had rained a lot before, and was sprinkling lightly during. But we found all the stations (in order!) and made it out, and all of our answers were right. We only googled one. Ha.
After that it was on to basic fall brah activities. Steve mentioned wanting to get some cheese curds and Steven said he HAD TO get them at the “Antique Cheese Store” (really, called the “Rustic Dairyland Antique Mall”). So we went there and they got their curds and were very happy.
Then we did something REALLY exciting. Went to Menards. Steve has never been, and Steven is there once or twice a week, and wanted Steve to experience it. I think Menards is great, but don’t always enjoy our trips there (because if I’m going or was sent, we are usually in the throes of a project), however, going with Gina, Steve, and Luca made it really fun and we were a bit silly and inappropriate. I wish they could come with us on every Menards trip!
We ordered pizza for dinner (I had this amazing burger instead),
and had a fire.
Luca and I played Blokus, and after he went to bed, we played 5 Second Rule, which resulted in lots of laughs (and uncontrollable laughing and crying for me). I love that we have serious conversations together, but also have extremely goofy moments. I remember both, but the goofy moments hold a special place in my heart. I was laughing so hard at times that my face hurt!
MONDAY!
We left the house at 6:00 am Monday for their flight. I wish we would have had more time together! We did so much in two days, and the days felt long because we did so much, but it also went by so fast, sad face. Luckily I see them again in December! Woo hoo!
Themocracy
Sounds like a fun weekend!!
Was it a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks…cause if not I donno if that counts as basic fall activities 😛 I got one at Coffee Bean the other day but I kinda feel like it has to be Starbucks to count lol.
It was!
Gina got the Caramel Apple Spice drink there! That’s gotta be basic fall b*tch, right?! (I got my regular chai, I don’t like the pumpkin syrup)
Ha! Yeah, totally has to be at SB to count 😉
Laughing so hard your face hurt is the true sign of a great time. I’m so glad you have this special family <3 We need people like that in our lives!
Yes! I am so glad too! Do you feel that way with your book club?
Okay, now that I live in a state capitol – what does one do there? Just visit the capitol building?
So it kind of seems like you didn’t get Starbucks at all if you didn’t document it. I would have liked to have seen a selfie of all three of you drinking your fancy coffees. Sigh. I hope you can make that happen in December, assuming no one is too outraged by whatever holiday cup design Sbux has this year.
I love that Steven wanted to show off Menard’s LOL
That burger looks ridic. I’d pick that over pizza!
Yes I think so! They are usually interesting 🙂
We will definitely have to remember to in December, sigh. Ha! I hope the cups are prettier this year. LOL.
THE BURGER WAS SO GOOD. Sara Lee Artesano bun, “turk’y” burger, onion rings, mac n’cheese, garlic may, and BBQ. Way better than pizza.
Hahahaha I love that you took them to Menards! What a destination! I guess I never considered that there were people who haven’t been to Menards before.
I love the picture of the kitty (Starbuck?) and the fireplace! It looks so cozy!
The Harvest Farm looks like a ton of fun! I love fall-y places likes that. Really gets me excited about the season – not that it takes much to get me excited about fall, I suppose. Bring on the cloudy days and cool temperatures!
I think it’s kind of like me being excited going to a different grocery store in another town. Ha ha.
Yes, that’s her! And thanks!
I love them too. And it was fun to enjoy it with a kid. AND OMG YES TO THE CLOUDS AND COOL TEMPS. This week has been so annoying with the hot weather! So glad it wasn’t around for your race!
What a happy post, what a fun weekend! Love the LOUD VOICES (as my favorite weatherman Brick Tamland would say), love the way you guys pack so much entertainment into a weekend!
I think you would fit in with us well for many reasons, but especially if you love LOUD VOICES! Ha!