Wisconsin Dells/River Bandits--Tuesday

Up early and packed up to leave.  We did one last fun adventure in the Dells.  We did Big Foot zip lines.  We ran to Walgreens fast to get shoes for me because I only had flip flops.  Got some sweet looking water shoes.  Off to Big Foot.  The McGuire's were a little nervous and full of questions.  At 8:45 we got harnessed up and we were ready. Cameron and I had helmet cameras so we could video this adventure.  We loaded the bus and headed for the training area.  There was the 5 of us, a teenager, and another family of 5 from Alabama.  At the training site our two guides, Tess and Shane, told us everything we needed to know to have fun but be safe.  Karen did the practice run and she was feeling less stressed after that.  Up to the first line.  Cameron went first, then the other kids, and then Karen.  She decided her arms were to short so Tess gave her an extra strap to pull her up closer to the wire and that worked much better.  We said she needed an IEP for zip lining. I went last.  Everyone loved the first line and we're ready for more.

All dressed in green.

Helmet cam...check.

Karen is scared again.

Getting all the gear on.

This is not our first rodeo.  We are ready to go.

We are searching for Big Foot.

This picture cracks me up for many different reasons.

Listening very carefully so they know what to do.

Nothing but smiles.

The yellow strap is the special strap.

The second line they showed how to hang upside down.  Cameron gave it a try.  By line 6 all the kids were trying to hang upside down and spin.  Line 6 was dual lines for racing.  Cameron and Gavin raced with Gavin barely winning.  Brenna and I were next.  I won.  Karen raced the mom from the other group.  They were saying their race would be to see who the slowest was.  Karen was the slowest.

A shot of the water.

There was a bear in the tree.

This was the trust fall move.

After course 3 we had about a 10 minute break.  We had a group photo, had some water, and relaxed our legs. There was a lot of stairs to climb.  Back up for more.

Grabbing some water.

Are we sure it is water?

3 great kids.

So cute.

This was our group.

Gavin and Cameron on the racing lines.

 At the end we loaded the bus again and headed to base camp.  We all got our harnesses off and each of the kids got a free t-shirt.  They were signed by our two guides.  We bought some pictures and Cameron's video from his camera.  I used my real video camera to shoot a lot of footage so no need to buy my video.

Listening to Shane talk.

Shane signing the shirt.

Tess signing the shirt.

3 very happy kids.

Back in the van and headed towards home.  We made a pit stop to go to the bathroom and another to get gas.  We arrived home at 3:15.  Cameron took a little rest.  We were both pretty tired from our trip.

At 4:45 we left again to go to the River Bandits baseball game.  We picked up Kelly, Grace, and Griffin.  Scott had to get some work done so he didn't go.  We stopped at Little Ceasars and picked up 2 pizza's. We got to the ball park and found a picnic table sort of in the shade to eat at.  We weren't in a big hurry to get into the game because it was so hot out.   After dinner we went in to the stadium.  We were 4 rows up from the 3rd base dug out.  Griffin and Cameron sat in the first row the whole game.  It was a hot one let me tell you.

On our way to the game.

Redneck dinner at the park.

It was a hot day.

Pretty bridge and ball park in the background.

The National Anthem

Cute cousins.

The boys made a rare appearance with the family.

Front row action baby.

The girls.

Dad took the boys for a walk out to the outfield.

Look who sponsored some entertainment.

We will be seeing real sumo wrestlers in September in Tokyo.

Check out this sky diver.

The Bandits won 7-5.  After the game there was a 30 minute wait for the fireworks to start so the employees had some entertainment.  It was pretty lame but it was better than nothing.

I caught a ball for Cameron.

The fireworks started right at 9:30.  They were about 30 minutes long and were great.  They had patriotic songs playing on the radio.  I felt a little teary eyed for the whole thing.  After living in China I have really come to appreciate everything we have in America.  We are a lucky country.

Big fireworks.

American Flag.

Lots of colors.

After the fireworks there was a ton of traffic.  We were waiting to get out of the parking lot and a lady 2 cars down motioned to the car next to us to back up so he did and then she motioned to my dad.  I told him "Don't you dare back up".  There was no where for this lady to go. If she could have gotten out that would have been one thing but she couldn't.  We were going left and she wanted to go right.  A couple minutes later she got out of her car and came over to my dads window.  He rolled it down and she said "I have been waiting here longer than you and I want to get out".  My dad told her he was about to move.  What a freak.  She couldn't get out so I'm not sure what her point was.  It was pretty funny.  All the kids were making up conversations and things they would have said to the lady if they had the chance.

Finally home at 11:15.  We all had to shower and then off to bed.