Round with the Cows and back to Saint Paul

I'm now back with Lindsay in Saint Paul after a week of visiting with family in Wisconsin. It was so wonderful to see our family. We stayed with my Dad's brother Ed and his wife Pat for most of the time we were in Wisconsin. (Yes, Erin, that's the uncle who's a beekeeper. He makes the best honey in the world.) When we were kids we always stayed at their house, so being at their house is like a second home. We also spent a day visiting with my Aunt Joyce on the shore of Lake Michigan, having lunch at "Pieces of Eight." Which was surprisingly lacking in pirate stuff.

Everyone else we visited with was a cousin, either 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Yes, that's right, we visited with 3rd cousins. (The picture above is of my 2nd cousins Karl & Erin.) People are always asking me how many cousins I have, and the truth is that I can't even attempt to count them. My grandfather on my dad's side was one of 13 kids in his family, so my extended family is HUGE. Which is really pretty cool.

We also visited with my mom's cousin Diane and her family, and met our soon to be newest cousin Amy, who will be marrying my cousin Tony in April. (The picture on the right is Amy, Melanie, Diane & her husband Bob) After spending an evening with her, we gave her the Bladow stamp of approval. Afterall, we knew that they were waiting for the approval of the third cousins from Alaska before moving forward. =) Both Melanie and I wish them all the best!



Enjoy these pictures of our visiting in Wisconsin!


From left to right: Aunt Joyce, Melanie, Uncle Ed & Aunt Pat at the Milwaukee Art Museum.


Me & my Uncle Ed



My cousin Jessica & her brother Karl. It was so much fun playing with them and their sister Erin, especially when my uncle was teaching them to be professional pillow fighters. =)