Bratfest 2013

As David and Mary pointed out, "Sara's first bratfest!!!!"  Definitely an important event in a baby's life.

Here are some pictures of "Sara's first bratfest!!!!"

Oh, Sara, my sweet little winter baby who never went anywhere.  It's been good to finally start getting you out into the city where you were born.  And any baby born in Madison has to go to Bratfest!



(What did we do on Memorial Day weekend before Bratfest became a part of our lives???)

Six for Saturday

Here is a list of six to help sum up the end of May.


1.  Cowgirl Mary rides again.

We haven't seen much of Cowgirl Mary since our Texas days.  But that changed when Mary's best friend Brooke had her birthday party at the local stables.  Mary has been giddyup-ing all over the place in boots and hat ever since.

Cowgirl friends Zoe, Brooke, and Mary

Mary rode a horse at the party, but she's refusing to talk about it--which is how we know it was a wonderful, meaningful experience.  (She's funny like that.)



2.  Spring gardening

Most people round these parts put in big vegetable gardens.  We put in a small flower garden.  Baby steps, baby steps.


3.  Memorial Day + Madison = BRATFEST!

4.  Jupiter and Saturn!

Our journey through the Solar System continued with visits to Jupiter and Saturn.  We started at Ceres, right where we left off last time.  (Plus, we got to park right next to Camp Randall Stadium.  Go Badgers!)  It was a six mile ride.  We're so proud of David!  His legs are getting strong!

5.  Summertime veggies.

We live in a CSA haven here in Madison.  It's fabulous. We're going with Vermont Valley again this year.  We had our first pick-up on Thursday.

The baby greens are so good you can just sit and eat them like potato chips.  And the turnips (yes, turnips) are TO DIE FOR.  Summertime has begun--and I love it!


6.  Hmmm.  Okay, so maybe I really only have a list of five.  Oh well.  You'll forgive me, right?


And that just about sums up the end of May.  Now we're into June and the CRAZINESS of the last week of school is just around the corner.  Plus, David's big birthday bash is this week.  Expect pictures of a grinning SEVEN-year-old soon.

Brat Fest 2011

Hi.  I told you I'd be back for this--

In case you're wondering, that there is the Black Star Drumline.  So great!  (Much better than the aging boomers playing Janis Joplin covers.)  Every festival has a musical gem waiting for you to discover.  (My dad taught me that.) I loved that we stumbled upon the Black Star Drumline.  (You can see their summer performance schedule here.)

But the real star of Brat Fest is, of course, the brat.

When you come in the morning, you don't have to wait in line very long for your brat--

See?  There are advantages to having your brat for brunch.  Plus, you make it home in time for naps.

Actually, I think the real star of Brat Fest is this--

The condiments.

There must be half a dozen or more different kinds of mustard: yellow, white, honey, chipotle, italian herb, etc.  I went with this--

Good old straightforward spicy mustard.  Yum.

Under the condiment tent you also find chopped onions, pickle relish, and sauerkraut.  (Oh, and ketchup.)  Yum--

I highly recommend the sauerkraut.  (Now that I know from happy personal experience to #1 order a Philly cheesesteak with whiz and #2 not to order a brat with ketchup, I pretty much know everything I need to run for President.)

Do you want to know what made this Brat Fest super terrific?

Tio and Tia!

Yes, they're here!  Best Memorial Day weekend ever!  (Our family is in heaven!)

Pictures from the Big Brat Fest Bumper Car Battle--

You can bet there will be many more picture of Dave and Ale and the smiling faces of my children to come.

As for our morning, it also included a roller coaster ride

a carousel ride

(love the lemonade in Greg's pocket)

ice cream

and the Wienermobile!

Happy Memorial Day weekend!



P.S.  Greg's Brat Fest joy started yesterday morning--when he volunteered to work the 5 am shift for our church's Boy Scout Troop.  Brat Fest is one huge fundraiser.  It's staffed by loads of volunteers, and their wages go the nonprofit group they belong to.  So Greg's ten bucks an hour went to Boy Scout Troop 201.  Fundraising doesn't get any more productive, efficient, and painless as that.  (I think execs at Johnsonville Sausage could donate to the campaign of Kim Jong-il and we'd still participate.  Anyone who's had to come up with/execute a Scout fundraiser would understand how this is just too good to pass up.)

P.P.S.  When Mary orders a "hot dog with no pickle," this is what she means--

A hot dog with no hot dog.  Something tells me this girl isn't going native any time soon.