Destination Dubuque

Greetings from Eagle Point Park in Dubuque, Iowa! A few weeks ago, we visited Grandma "Hoy" Phelps's side of the family. (Grady calls Grandma Phelps, "Hoy.") Hoy's family lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We made plans to meet at a great park. If you ever get a chance, it really is a beautiful park. It overlooks the Mississippi River; you can see trains, boats, and a dam on the river. The park itself has numerous playgrounds and even a small pool with a splash area. There are also plenty of park shelters and picnic tables.

Hoy and Grady check out the boats and the dam.
Do you think we can go on a boat on the Mississippi, Hoy?
By the way, dogs aren't allowed at the park. We didn't know that until we arrived. Oscar (Ashley and Trevor's dog) was playing "toddler wrapped in a blanket" and "baby in a carriage" for part of our trip to avoid detection.
Ashley discusses genealogy with Aunt Lenore, Hoy, and Uncle Delmar. It was interesting to hear what they knew about family history.
Grady entertains himself with a stick and a play boat.
Audra is a little sleepy. Hoy is showing off Audra's Buddha belly.
Auntie Ashley, Grady, Uncle Delmar, Grandma Hoy, Audra, Aunt Irene, Aunt Lenore, Matt, Uncle Bob, and Holly (the organizer of the event!) (Left to Right).

We had a great time! It was so wonderful to see everyone again. Audra wants to know when we're going to Hawaii; she heard something about that trip. Audra Eve was named after my Grandma Evelyn Wendell (Grandma Hoy's mother). Aunt Lenore is Grandma Evelyn's sister. It was very special to have everyone meet Audra for the first time and see Grady again!

Father, Son, Grandson Day at the Ballpark

Sunday Grady, Grandpa Gary and I headed to Milwaukee for one last game this season.
Grandma Joan hung out back home with Audra and Hillary.
Before we headed into Miller Park we played catch at Halfaer Field.
Grady having a blast!Grandpa Gary and Grady
The First Pitch from our seats in the 6th row.
Rickie Weeks leads off for the Crew.
This is actually 4 pictures put together via a photoshop program.
Ryan Braun about to crush a two-run homer in the bottom of the 4th.
Casey McGehee at the plate.
The Three Lobe(s)
Ok so I got me some peanuts, but I am missing something...
Grandpa you know what time it is?
It is crackerjack time!
Now it is nap time...Bottom of the 4th through the bottom of 6th!
Brewers won and Trevor Hoffman got save #599.
A quick pic before Grandma and Grandpa headed home.
Thanks for coming to visit we hope you had as much fun as we all did!

Ready for Packer Season

Today was my first day home alone with both kids and it also happened to be a Packer game day. Audra was ready at 8am for the 7pm game.
Closer to game time both kids were ready.
Audra handled the coin toss. It was heads.
Even mom was ready!
Go pack go!

Daddy Duty Begins

Wednesday I started a 3 and 1/2 week vacation to stay home with the kids before Hillary's maternity leave begins. It was also one of the last week days we both had off together. Hillary started back to school on Thursday.

Our first stop was the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison.
Grady enjoyed the real animals but he also got a kick out of all the zoo art. I assume he enjoyed being able to get so close to these animals.
Choose your favorite caption:
Grady the paleontologist hard at work.
Grady Flintstone enjoyed lunch.
If there is a slide, Grady will find a way to use it, no matter the height.

Grady meets a real life Bucky Badger.

After the zoo we did lunch at a Madison favorite, Mickey's Dairy Bar on Monroe Street across from Camp Randall.

Our final stop was the Children's Musuem and Grady didn't miss a beat. Get it?

I didn't forget about Audra. She says hello!

Badger Family Fun Day 2010

Saturday was the annual Badger Family Fun Day. Family was the appropriate word, as my cousins Tracy and Amy brought their families too. In this picture Jackson, Kaila, Tyler and Grady posed with some of the Badger Spirit Squad members.
If you haven't gotten a Grady hug yet, it isn't quite like a regular hug. Lets just say after he gave one everyone wanted one.
Grady enters the endzone for the first time but hopefully not the last.
Grady does his Touchdown dance.
Grady saw Bucky down the tunnel. Only problem, the line started about 150 yards to the left.
He didn't care and neither did Bucky.
Bucky about to get one of those Grady hugs.
Editor's (Dad) Note: Grady did this all on his own, when he saw Bucky he ran to meet him. I don't think I have ever seen a kid that much into meeting Bucky. I guess if the whole football scholarship thing doesn't work out for him, we have a good idea on what he is going to be if goes to UW.
Waving bye to Bucky!
Halftime: It was hot and Audra needed to eat so we were fortunate to be able to slip into the Fieldhouse for a break. When I say break, of course I meant a bottle break for Audra and a chase Grady all around back and forth the court in the fieldhouse. I think he invented a new game combining Football, Volleyball, Soccer and wind sprints.
Back to the Grid Iron and it was time to suit up.
Grady gets sized for his future helmet.
Grady making sure it works.
"This Badger helmet is much heavier than my Packer helmet!"
Audra is pretending her Nuk is a whistle and she is coaching Grady.
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Audra checking out the Freshmen players.
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Audra looking forward to attending her first Badger game.
Grady demonstrating the proper technique for a 3 step drop.
Reverse counter hand off to Mommy.
All day long Grady wanted a football to play with and these guys let him borrow theirs for a little bit.
Before we left Grady wished some of the guys (#94 Kyle French FR Kicker from Menomonee Falls, WI and #56 James McGuire FR Long Snapper) good luck on the season.

Flip Video: Badger Family Fun Day