1st Fathers Day Hard to Forget

This past weekend Mary, Mallory and I spent the weekend in Eagle River. My sister and her family (husband Ryan, son Conner [3] and son Garrett [7 1/2 months] drove up from Iowa.

We rented a cabin together. It was really cool. Almost like our own apartment complex. Picture 4 units with a living/family area in the middle of all 4 cabins including fireplace (didn't need it) in the middle. That's how it was. We stayed at the Gypsy Villa Resort. We stayed in the Carriage House. It's not on the water, but was perfect for all of us with kids. It was a slight drive to the resort office and lake, but not more than a mile.

Each of us got our own cabin. Complete with bedroom, full kitchen, and foldout couch/bed. When the little ones were ready for bed, the grownups hung out in the living area and watched movies, played cribbage, backgammon or battleship. We snuck in some fishing, cooked out on the grill a lot and just had a great time together.

This was a memorable Father's Day weekend for several reasons. Of course, because it was my 1st. But also because it was the 1st time I was able to see my nephew Garrett since he was born last October.. It was also the 1st time Elisabeth and family were able to see Mallory. So that made it extra special.

My dad, "Farmer Brown" was able to visit with us when he wasn't working at Nelson's Ace Hardware. It was also the 1st time he's been able to see Garrett. Pretty cool.

Since we left Janesville Thursday night after I was done with my severe weather updates on WJVL, I knew Mother Nature might be an issue traveling. Luckily, we were able to get by the Portage area on the way up. Not so lucky coming home however.

We were forced to exit on Hwy 23 off of Hwy 51/US 39 just north of Portage and head toward Wisconsin Dells. As you can imagine, the Dells traffic wasn't any better. We then took Hwy 23 as far South-West as possible. Got on Hwy 14 and headed toward Madison to get back home.

Traveling for that length of time with an 11 month old wasn't exactly how I planned on spending Father's Day. As I began getting more and more frustrated from traveling and the fact that a 4 hour trip was turning into a 7 hour trip, I got a reality check!

As we traveled through the communities of Plain, Spring Green, Wisconsin Hights and others, I saw 1st hand the flooding to so many homes and farm fields. It was very clear I had nothing to be upset about at all.

Later Sunday evening, we arrived safe and sound back home to Janesville. Our home unaffected by any flooding problems at all. We later got caught up with our Sunday Janesville Gazette and read about the weekend's problems in and around Rock County. Sure enough...a good friend of mine, Marty Walsh lives on the Rock River in Newville and has been affected by the flooding. (click the link above to see photos)

My thoughts today, are with my sister and her family as they make the trip from the Northwoods, trying to find their way back to Iowa.

It was a Father's Day that will be hard to forget.