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[Editor’s note: this is obviously primarily posted for the benefit of those that weren’t there!]

We started our vacation by flying into Ohare. Mal turned out to be a decent flyer, even if she didn’t take the nap we were hoping she would. After acquiring a car through a pre-planned drop/swap, we made our way to Wheaton to visit Grandma Wilson.

We ate lunch. It was great to share some time together.

Then we made our way to Milwaukee (with the mandatory stop at Mars Cheese Castle on the way there) where we stayed the night with friends. We all slept very well after a long day (air travel with a kid is like that).

The next morning we were on our way to Madison to pick up sister Andrea. A planned lunch stop in Portage, WI (an hour north of Madison) allowed us to meet up with another friend of David’s. We spent the rest of the day driving north to Clam Lake, WI and arrived about 7:30pm.

The next days were spent just enjoying the company of family and, well, watching the kids do their thing.

For Mallory, it was a chance to explore new toys.

And new people.

We went for a hike.

And a bike ride (first time!)

Optical fashion was explored.

As was Americana.

Family photos were acquired.

And Mallory visited a beach and went swimming for the first time.

She loved it!

It was great to spend time together, and a part of me can’t help but wish we could always be on vacation in beautiful places and with friends and family. But then I wonder what we would do to get away from it…