Madison Wedding ( 6.1 - 6.4.2007 )

My cousin, Beth Anne, was getting married and she (foolishly) invited the Steamboat family out to join in the affair. Of course since she is the best cousin I have, I only asked when and where. Jess flew in from Denver, the folks from home, and I brought Molly to Wisconsin to meet the family. It had been nearly 7 years since I had last been to WI, so as usual there was a lot of catching up to do with a lot of family members that I normally never see. While there were a few that we didn't catch, the group of people that we did see was as great as ever. Cousin Kathy still makes us all laugh!

When you pull into the driveway at my Grandfather's house, this is the first, and largest, thing you see. Yes, they like the badgers in Madison. Just wait till they play the Wyoming Cowboys, then they will see what real fans are like. GO POKES!

Mom had planned a large BBQ at Grandpa's house and invited all the family to come over. Unfortunately, the weather was crummy so we had to play inside. The boys (Austin, Josh and I) found things to do, such as play on Grandpa's rocking horse of death and break out the squirt guns in the rain. Josh and Austin started spraying each other until they turned on Austin's little sister, Megan. (Austin and Megan are Beth's kids, Josh is Kathy's) Megan recruited me for her team and she won when I pinned the boys together and she sprayed them with the super soaker. Good times!

Water Guns + Football Helmets = Fun

On Saturday, Mom, Dad, Jess, Molly and I went to the farmer's market, which was once again rained out. So we went and visited the War Museum. It was once housed in the Capital building on State Street (similar to Pearl Street in Boulder for reference), but it outgrew the Capital and is now housed across the street. Molly thought it would be fun to call the 1960's and tell them to bring back bell bottom pants.

After a little war culture, we decided to go to one of Dad's old haunts down on State Street, "The Brat Haus" (although it is now called something else). He claims that he used to be able to eat six double red hot brats and drink a pitcher of beer back in the day. Of course that was when he would walk uphill both ways to school in a foot of snow and Madison was farm country as far as the eye could see. Still, it was fun to see a place that really hasn't changed all the much since the time that they went to school. Oh, and it's a lot cooler than CU Boulder.

A Badgers Clothing shop, apparently the color wheel in Wisconsin is only made up of red and white!

On Saturday night, we all went out to Beth and Gary's house to meet the other side of the family. Gary's friends and family were all present. We had lots of food and beers, and Molly, Jess and I played with the kids again. Austin and I threw the baseball some, until my bare hands were bruised from catching the ball. Next time, I bring my glove. Then, we played tag until I got a little spinney from running around the car in circles too many times. Oh, we graffitied the driveway with chalk as well. The whole driveway was tagged with my name, a little something I picked up from my time in Spanish Harlem.

Afterwards Jess, Molly and I went to the Mid-Town Pub for some pints of the cheapest beer I have seen in a year, since the Wyoming wedding. 5 dollars a pitcher. Good times. Thanks for the beers Jess!

Sunday was the wedding. Early in the morning, Dad, Gary, Austin and I built the Archway for the evening's event. It took a little rigging but it worked alright. Dad and I then went home, got dressed, and took the rest of the family on a scenic view of the countryside. Once again, there was farmland as far as the eye could see. After the scenic detour, it was time for the main event. It was a nice little wedding. They took their pictures right next to the arriving guests. Then, cool ceremony. Megan was the flower girl. She did a great job tossing petals everywhere, and then tried to pick them all up when the ceremony was over. The above picture is Beth and Megan. Sorry it's not a better picture, but I only have a phone as a camera, what da ya want?

We sure look sharp! You can take us out on the town.

Oh yea, that's a six foot tall Bucky the Badger statue in the airport gift shop.

We ended the trip by spending all of Monday being delayed all over the place, but it was a great trip. Just seeing my parents would have been worth it, but to be there for Beth Anne's wedding and to get to play with the kids was sauerkraut and a beer with a double red hot from the Brat Haus. Oh yea, and farmland as far as the eye can see.