Every few years I talk Beer Geek into venturing north to the cold and snow. So, we hopped on a plane last Sunday and headed to the land of beer, cheese, and most of my family. Meanwhile, back in DC, they were hitting record highs. Oh well.
Our first day we headed to this funky little train “museum”. The owner is a real train engineer and he’s set up this extensive layout of trains with moving displays powered by motors from things like microwaves and toasters. His attention to detail was pretty amazing!
After our train adventure, we headed for New Glarus Brewery. We hadn’t visited the new location yet and it was quite impressive. After we wandered around, we tasted a few beers and bought some to take home with us. (New Glarus doesn’t distribute outside of Wisconsin.)
On Tuesday the boys and I got haircuts. I’m too cheap to get my hair cut in the DC area and the boys prefer my stylist to the barber shop at home, so we try to schedule haircuts whenever we come home. (My boys were a bit shaggy in their holiday concerts this year. Oops.) As a reward for their patience at the beauty shop, we took everyone to see the new Star Wars movie. I was surprised that the theater in my parents’ small town had it already! I was also surprised at how few people were in the theater. I enjoyed the whole movie, but my favorite part was that the end was filmed on Skellig Michael. We had visited there when we went to Ireland, so I recognized the location.
On Wednesday, Beer Geek and I took advantage of my parents’ willingness to keep the kids and headed to a few newer brewpubs in Madison. It was fun to try some beers and to get a chance to hang out with Beer Geek without kids.
On Thursday, my brother, his wife, and their son arrived in Wisconsin. My nephew is 18 months old and this was my first chance to meet him. (They live on the opposite coast from us.) I love this age and he is just the sweetest little guy. As per family tradition, we opened presents on Christmas Eve. I had specifically asked my mom to replace some of my small kitchen things, so it was a Christmas of towels, measuring cups, and kitchen implements.
Christmas Day we went on a wagon ride as a family. It was a lot of fun, but Wisconsin opted for rain instead of snow the day before, so the whole ride was on pavement.
Afterwards, we headed to my aunt’s house to spend the day with extended family. I’m pretty sure I ate my weight in artichoke dip and Christmas cookies. No, I did not eat an actual meal that day, instead opting for a steady diet of cheese, sugar, and beer. Oy.
Beer Geek headed home on Saturday and the boys and I have just been hanging out enjoying time with family before we head back home on Wednesday.
On the running front, my running streak is continuing. I’ve gotten one outside run in since I got here, plus one fast for me run on the treadmill. The other days I’ve run a mile and then either walked on a high incline or hit the elliptical or rowing machine. Yes, my parents’ have quite the gym in their basement! I have, however, been disappointed at the lack of snow. I brought my new Altra Neoshell Lone Peaks with me to try out on snow and the weather has not cooperated. We do have a system moving into the area, so maybe soon?
I am looking forward to finishing the streak and getting back to an actual training plan, but that will wait until 2016!
I’m linking up with HoHo and Tricia for Weekly Wrap. Go check out what everyone else has been up to…
I saw Star Wars last night and was wondering where the closing scene was filmed (or if it was even real). It’s gorgeous! I didn’t know you were a Wisconsin girl. I’m from the UP of Michigan. Yay upper midwest peeps!
It’s a really beautiful island. I’m so glad we got to visit it. And yep, we aren’t far from Madison, Wisconsin. I just wish I lived closer and could visit more often.
The weather has been crazy this year! We keep hoping for some snow. I was excited to see a bit of Ireland at the end of Star Wars too. I spent a semester in Galway, so it’s always fun to see Ireland – I want to go back!
I had forgotten that they were planning to use Skellig Michael until I saw the film. It was such a cool place to visit.
Looks like a fun time! We traveled for the first year this Christmas and it was a blast, a cold blast but fun!
We travel about every other year. Thankfully Wisconsin hasn’t been super cold this year.
It rained here for Christmas which was a total bummer. It seems your family still managed to have some fun!
Thankfully the rain here came the day before, so Christmas day was cold and grey, but dry.
Looks like a great trip to Wisconsin! Where is that train museum? Not that my teens would want to go there…
Hello from the weekly wrap link up! Mother Nature is really messing with us this holiday! No snow, lots of rain, and even a 66 degree run for me yesterday! Glad you had a good holiday with family. Safe travels home.
Looks like a great week with your kids and family. Hope you get that snow bc I don’t know if we are ever getting any this year in DC
Looks like a great Christmas week for you. The wagon ride looks like fun with the family! Isn’t the weather so screwed up! In Atlanta all the stores in Stone Mountain had gloves, hats, blankes all out and we were walking around in shorts and a tank some days. I haven’t see the Star Wars movie yet, still holding out for the crowds to die down. Safe travels to you on your way back!
Wasn’t WI milder than usual too? Love that pic of you and the boys. All that green is unheard of this time of year.
I was in Wisconsin for the Packer/Cowboys game and we got nothing but rain! My hubby kept saying he could not believe how warm it was. The low 50’s was cold enough for me! Looks like a great trip! It is very pretty there and I really enjoyed my visit as well. 🙂
Sounds like a lovely holiday!! Merry belated Christmas!
Sounds like you had a great Christmas! I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation and I wish you all the best in 2016!
It sounds like fun times with the family. A wagon ride would be a great tradition. It’s funny, I also ask for kitchen items because it’s something I won’t buy for myself. My DIL even asked for a stainless steel trashcan — and I complied. I enjoyed the Star Wars movie and the scene at the end is beautiful! Congrats on continuing your running streak. Thanks for linking, Erika. Enjoy the remaining time with your Wisconsin family and have a wonderful New Year!
Wow! Looks like a fun trip, bummer about no snow though! Shoot it was tanktops and skirts here on Christmas day! So crazy!! Star wars was awesome and how cool that you had been to the place it was filmed. What a beautiful place!
What a wonderful Christmas you had! I have never been to Wisconsin but it looks
So gorgeous! I hope you get the chance to run in the snow!
My dad was stationed at Ft.McCoy before deploying to Iraq. We got to spend a long weekend with him while he was on R&R. We explored parts of Madison including some of the breweries. That may have been the same one, but it’s been almost 9 years ago so I’m not 100% sure. Glad you got to spend some time with family over the holidays. Great job continuing with your run streak! Hope you have a Happy New Year!