Kindergarten

Today Ryan, Mom, Ian, and I went to Ian's kindergarten orientation. The school has a new addition in which Ian's kindergarten class will be. We met Ian's new teacher, Ms. Patsy, who seems real nice. Ian is very nervous about going to his new school and cried a little. Hopefully, the first day next week will go better.


Ian's new classroom


Ian looking happy


His very own hook

Day Four - Camping

Today was our last day at the campsite and of course the weather was perfect. It looked like it would have been warm enough to swim. Oh well. So it was goodbye to Laura and Gordon Lake until next year!

Day Three - Camping

On Saturday it looked to be a little sunnier so we tried to go swimming. Unfortunately, the lake was very cold and Ian couldn't stop shivering. He ended up just playing on the beach until lunch.




After lunch Grandma and Grandpa showed up with a surprise cake for my birthday and a kayak for us all to try. That was fun and scary! But I did it!

Day Two - Camping

Since it was still kind of raining and dark, we decided to take the Lumberjack Special train ride in Laona. Ian always likes to ride trains. The train ride goes to a lumber museum and petting zoo. Ian enjoys the ride and the gift shop where he can buy a toy train.




After lunch we visited four different waterfalls in the area. Ian enjoyed the one that had a trail along a cliff side. He enjoyed seeing Mom afraid of heights. He had to keep telling everyone he saw that he wasn't scared!

Day One - Camping

We arrived at Laura and Gordon Lake Campground in the late afternoon Thursday. Just as we picked the site and paid for it, it started to rain. We thought it would let up after awhile but we were wrong. So we had to set up the tent in the rain. Thankfully, it stopped raining enough to have dinner on the camp stove.



My Grandfather painted this wolf on our campsite rock a long time ago. And it is still there! My family has been coming to this campsite for about thirty years. Stepping into the campsite to me is like stepping back in time. I can still remember catching frogs, hiking to the bog, and swimming in the same lake that Ian now does.



Our squirrel friend that Ian named "Hammy" (from the Over the Hedge movie). He really wanted some of our popcorn!

Uncle Damon and Aunt Lisa Visit

This past weekend we had Uncle Damon and Aunt Lisa visit us before they left to live in Ireland for a year. Ian wanted to take them to two of his favorite places, the train garden at the Chicago Botanical Gradens and Action Territory (a Chuck E Cheese kind of place). Unfortunately, it started raining during the train garden but we were able to see all of it before we left.


Ian "explaining" to Lisa how to work his camera.


Ian at the train garden when it started raining.


Ian and Damon playing air hockey.


Ian and Lisa trying to earn enough tickets to win a good prize.


Ian is getting quite good at skeeball - that's my boy!

Next adventure for us - this Thursday we are going to go camping in the Nicolet National Forest in Northern Wisconsin. More pictures after that!

Amie

First post!

I have heard a lot about blogs from several people and thought I would give it a try. I thought it would be a good way to keep everyone updated about what is happening in the Wisconsin Mattson family and put a few family photos up to show everyone how much Ian is growing. Ian is 5 going on 6 and already 4 feet tall! He will be passing me up any day now. Ian is also starting Kindergarten Sept. 4th and is pretty anxious. I am sure he will love it once he gets used to the "big kid" school. I will try to post a recent picture of Ian to this post so you can all see him. Talk to you all soon!

Amie