The farmer in the Dells

We're back from our 5 day vacation to the Wisconsin Dells. I had to do some googling since I drew a blank when Scott asked me why it was called Wisconsin Dells. I learned the definition of a "dell": a secluded hollow or small valley usually covered with trees or turf. Makes sense, considering the area, bisected by the Wisconsin River, contains many beautiful hollows filled with lush trees and plants. I have always thought the Dells is an interesting juxtaposition: gorgeous bluffs along the river, wooded forests, and lakes right next to some of the tackiest, cheesiest tourist attractions. An upside-down White House, anyone?

Our vacation didn't turn out exactly as we thought it would when we planned it earlier this year. This excerpt from the Cat In the Hat kept running through my head all week:

I know it is wet

And the sun is not sunny.

But we can have

Lots of good fun that is funny!

Ok, it didn't rain every day and the sun did occasionally shine. The oddly cold weather - a HIGH of 64 on Saturday - was not ideal for the "Waterpark Capital of the World," but we managed to learn from Dr. Seuss's wisdom make our own fun.

My parents joined us for the first couple days of our vacation, and Zach was practically delirious with delight to see them. Other than lots of playtime, we also took Zach and Scott on their first duck rides - the amphibious vehicles first used in World War II. The tours are a great way to see some of the scenery of the Dells, particularly the beautiful bluffs along the Wisconsin River. We also went on Lake Delton, which was filled again earlier this summer. It was eerie to see the area where the the dike gave way and the houses were washed into the river in 2008 (see the picture with the rocks; on the left you can see what the lakefront looked like before it washed away, and how it was rebuilt on the right). It was a fun tour; the driver has a lot of fun speeding down hills on these little gravel roads, and sending you crashing into the water with a huge splash.

The Roses came up for the second half of our trip. We spent lots of time in the indoor pool at our resort (the outdoor pool looked fantastic; oh well), with its slide in the kiddie pool and basketball hoop in the big pool. While the pictures may give you the impression that the guys had the most fun; trust me, the kids had a good time too! Scott and Matt shot a few rounds of golf; our house sat right on the 7th hole! We had one outing to a waterpark - an indoor one, of course. I didn't lug along my camera, and am glad I didn't, since I wasn't there long. While Zach loves a good pool, splashing and spraying water is not his idea of fun. And since there was water coming at us from most directions at the waterpark, Jenny, the kids, and I headed home early for lunch and naps. Yes, for everybody. The guys stayed and even braved the 70 degree weather to hit the outdoor slides.


On our foray into the downtown Dells for an afternoon at a playground and walk past all the tourist shops, we found a fantastic place for dinner. A man at the park had recommended it; besides being appreciative of the tip, I was shocked to discover people actually live in the Dells!

A trip to the Dells is usually all about being outside, and generally soaking wet. While the weather made our trip a little different, it was still fantastic to get away from it all, and to spend time with our family and friends. We also enjoyed watching Zach and Kasey adjust to each other over the course of three days. After some pushing, hitting, and screaming over taken toys, they eventually started to actually have some fun together, chasing each other around, and playing hide and seek. Too cute.