We made it to the La Crosse Interstate Fair, one day before it ended, and about 60 minutes before the storm rolled in. This year, we brought mom’s friends along: Ale, Sheyda, and their kids!

Genesee was thrilled to ride a pony, despite mom being unthrilled by the $8 price tag. I ran into my friend, Jackson, and together we went on as many rides as $20 could buy us (not many). But, one rainbow snow cone and a bucket of mini donuts later, and we were rushing out of the fairgrounds due to imminent weather. It was good while it lasted!

We had so much fun in the Champions sun, we thought we’d visit again! This time, we were better prepared, with floaties, a shade tent, cash for dippin’ dots, and the events calendar (so Genesee didn’t miss the great goat launch). Because that’s how you do summer!

8:50 a.m. lessons are chilly. But we jump in anyway. Because pool kids are cool kids. Literally.

Life is best discovered on hikes and bikes.

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” – J.M.

Sundays are for sundaes on the farm!

In honor of National Ice Cream Month, Lincoln Road Dairy hosted an event, where we enjoyed free grilled cheese sandwiches, fresh cheese curds, made-to-order ice cream sandwiches, and ice-cold chocolate milk, underneath a shaded picnic table and in the presence of a live, local band!

We especially loved the scavenger hunt, kids games, petting zoo, and balloon station! But Genesee was most smitten by the stinkin’ cute cows (literally), who seemed to adore her right back!

Moooove over unicorns…. you’ve now been replaced with “pet cow”on my sister’s birthday list.

For the extended 4th of July weekend, we decided to make our return to Jellystone. As mom worked hard to strategically pack the camper with only the necessities, she gave strict instructions to my overpacker sister.

Mom: “Genesee, pick out JUST ONE stuffy to bring along for the trip; we don’t have a lot of room.”

Genesee:

Welp, you can’t blame a girl for trying.

Grandma and Grandpa secured the perfect campsites so we were close to all the action! Jellystone never disappoints, but this year was extra fun because there was a new floating water park / obstacle course (Wibit Sports), Genesee made friends with fellow campers who introduced us to reusable water balloons, and we got mom and Genesee to go down the big green slide!

Other highlights included miniature golfing, late-night outdoor movies, mini donuts, firework displays, sparkler fun, the glow stick parade, touring the premises on our electric scooters, and eating like we were the royal family of Jellystone (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa)!!

Life is always good in the Jellystone neighborhood.

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa, for helping us slow down to make memories that only camping with beloved family can provide!

Not only did I gain some new shooting techniques at this year’s UWL Basketball Camp, hosted by the Men’s Basketball Team, but I also learned something else…

… how to make pancakes!

My main man, Danny, gave cooking lessons on the morning of our sleepover so we were energized and ready to show everyone what’s up on the basketball court.

Basketball and pancakes make my world go round.

We did the thing called spring. It was good while it lasted.

Alexa: Please bring on summer.

To beat the heat, Mom took us to Champions Riverside Resort to meet up with Colin for a fun day in the water. It was my first time experiencing a Wibit obstacle course, and it was so much fun that mom couldn’t get me off of it for 3 hours! I’m pretty sure we set a record that day.

We did take a break, however, (because we’re such gentleman), to rescue Genesee from the shallow beach and take her to the deeper waters, where all the fun was being had. But Genesee struggled to climb the slippery sides, especially with all the big kid energy bouncing off every corner. So, back to the boring shore she went, where she won the water gun fight against the unarmed kid, so I guess we were all champions at Champions in the end.

To honor Juneteenth, which is a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, we joined the La Crosse celebration at Riverside Park, where we got to visit with lots of friends, meet some of the middle schoolers mom worked with this year, eat delicious food, and learn some magic tricks from mom’s former college student (turned famous hypnotist), Chris Jones!

And then the storm rolled in.

Still, despite the rain ending the event prematurely, we were grateful to soak up all the Black joy that is felt from America’s second Independence Day.