Lapham Peak: Autumn Visit

Autumn is officially upon us, and warmer days are dwindling. Today was a beautiful, sunny day, so Jack and I headed over to Lapham Peak to enjoy the weather.

The leaves are starting to turn on some of the trees, but the peak colors are still a couple of weeks away.

Jack was all about finding the most "off-the-beaten-path" trail. Here, we wound up by a small body of water. It was pretty stagnant, and not the most pleasant to look at. But it didn't smell bad, so it was tolerable.



The windmill was spinning slightly when we first arrived, but only minutes later, it was as motionless as the water.

Two things that got my attention as we walked the trails: squirrels and grasshoppers. The squirrels were busy foraging. (Hopefully they are not sensing a overly-brutal winter.) And the grasshoppers were just all over the place. Bouncing and flying in our path. I tried to get a closeup photo of one, but grasshoppers tend to scatter when you get too close.

This bee was a bit more cooperative.



The fresh air and the brisk exercise really took a toll on Jack. Fortunately, I brought a stroller with me, so Jack was able to climb aboard his chariot for the last half of our visit. It didn't take long for Jack to fall into a deep sleep.

What a great day.

Old World Wisconsin

Weekends are always treasured at our house because Saturdays and Sundays are the days that Jack, Jennifer and I get to spend the most quality time together as a family. (On a typical weekday, Jennifer is heading to work by 4:30 AM, and doesn't return until 6:30 or 7:00 PM.) So we try to keep weekends open to allow for impromptu field trips.

This past Sunday, we decided to make the short drive to Old World Wisconsin, which is located just outside the small town of Eagle. According to its website, Old World Wisconsin is the world's largest museum dedicated to rural life. Describing Old World Wisconsin as "large" is no understatement. There are more than 60 historic structures on the grounds to visit, all of which originated somewhere within the Badger state.

The structures are arranged in small ethnic- and period-specific "villages", with each village set apart by a short walk. This is what makes Old World Wisconsin a great destination for toddlers. Jack was able to burn lots of energy as we trekked from village to village. Finding smaller paths through the woods was a great adventure for Jack. He definitely wasn't afraid to explore.

Wood burning stoves are a common sight in the residential structures at Old World Wisconsin. Back in the day, I wonder how long it took for a toddler to learn to stay away from these "burn boxes". With small living quarters, and few safety precautions, I bet kids learned that play time was for outside only. But then again, kids of yesteryear had more responsibilities and chores to attend, so energy was spent in a more productive way.

This is not "instant" coffee.

One of the best attractions at Old World Wisconsin is the human factor. Dozens of volunteers add "life" to the period, and are there to share historical information with guests. Here's Jack playing an early rendition of "checkers" with a wonderfully delightful volunteer.


On many weekends throughout the year, there is a special theme to experience. On the day we visited, a World War I encampment was occurring. Other themes throughout the year include: Laura Ingalls Wilder days, Civil War Experience, Vintage Baseball, and many others.

Even though Jack is too young to fully understand the historical significance of a place like Old World Wisconsin, I believe that visits like this will help grow his mind. And with each visit in the future, Jack may gain an interest in history, an understanding of preservation, and an appreciation for those who volunteer to make it all come together.

Fieldtrip: Milwaukee County Zoo!

Playing in our backyard is not really an option right now. Thanks to the rain that fell a couple of weeks ago, millions of mosquitoes have hatched, and are living comfortably on our property. So I decided to take Jack into Milwaukee County for a day at the zoo.

The zoo was fairly crowded for a Thursday morning. Not entirely surprising considering it was sunny, and approaching the mid-80's. Great weather for being outside.

Jack wanted to see the monkeys first, but on the way, we stopped by the new Flamingo exhibit. I was a bit surprised that Jack remembered what these unique-looking birds are called.

Not long after that, the popcorn wagon was calling my name. I bought a small popcorn to share with Jack. Good thing Grandpa wasn't with us. This wouldn't have been nearly enough.

This rhino had just rolled in a wet mud bath to cool off. Jack is a big fan of rhinos.

But Jack's favorite animals at the zoo, hands down, are the elephants. Jack even carries a little plastic elephant to the zoo each time we go. It's a tough word for Jack to say -- "elephant" -- but Jack does a great impersonation of a trumpeting pachyderm.

It isn't a trip to the zoo if Jack doesn't get a chance to run around on the playground equipment. There are two pieces of equipment in the "Family Farm" area; one for little kids, and one for bigger kids. The playground was slightly crowded today, but nothing like it was about a month ago when we were visiting on a Friday. It was the end of the school year, and there were several field trips that day. Grade school kids were everywhere.

This kid was really hungry...

Mmmm... Rocky Road ice cream.
For some reason, Jack wasn't
interested in it, so I had to eat the whole
thing by myself.
Oh well, his loss.






The steam locomotive was heading up the zoo train today, so I took Jack on his first train ride. He really enjoyed it. And since Jack is a huge fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, he was thrilled that we were being pulled by "Donald".

After we pulled back into the station, they gave the steam locomotive a break, and switched to the diesel. So we got to watch them switch locomotives.

It was a great day at the zoo. In fact, Jack didn't want to leave. Our extended exodus involved me chasing Jack around the ape house for about 45 minutes, (our second trip to the ape house, mind you). But I finally got him into the car. After we got back home, Jack was ready for a good, long nap. ...And so was I.

Field Trip: Lapham Peak!

The weather was perfect today, so Jack and I got in the car and went on a short field trip. Not far from our house is Lapham Peak, a Wisconsin State Park.

One of the great things about visiting Lapham Peak is that there are miles of trails to walk.

Some trails are paved.

While other trails are dirt.

In addition to miles of hiking and biking trails, there are
acres and acres of trees and natural wildlife to enjoy.

If you go to Lapham Peak, you have to visit the 45-foot observation tower. "The Tower" was erected in 1940, and offers the highest viewing point in Waukesha County.


While visitors of all ages can enjoy the natural beauty of Lapham Peak, parents like me can appreciate it for another reason. Miles on the trails, added to a healthy dose of fresh air, creates the perfect recipe for Jack to nap for the rest of the afternoon.

Nice.