Tag Archives: life

Church on Friday

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This past weekend, I had my first experience going to Church. But this church wasn’t on Sunday morning, and there were no pews or prayers. Instead, it was big-stage, loud-music, lights-flashing, people-screaming kind of Church. It was actually Dad’s birthday present, but it kind of turned into a full-family adventure. We traveled 200 miles to see Eric Church, live from the Fiserv Forum stage, and it was epic!

But let’s back up a little bit because the fun actually started at PinSeekers, a hybrid-golf entertainment facility, where Dad and I hit golf balls like pros, and Genesee and mom kicked some grass at the soccer simulator.

Then we perused the Nike Clearance store at the Johnson Creek Outlet mall before mom gave us a tour of her old stomping grounds: the Brookfield Square Mall. Apparently, it used to be fun to hang out there? Well, just like our mall in La Crosse, this indoor shopping center now had major “ghost town” vibes. Mom felt equal parts nostalgia and depression walking through the empty mall, wondering if places like that will survive much longer. But since she also thinks we’re heading toward an apocalypse, thanks to Trump-era chaos, I assured her that zombies will probably need somewhere to shop.

After that, we went to The Melting Pot for dinner, where we enjoyed an interactive dining experience. It was the first time Genesee and I had tried fondue, and we learned that life is a whole lot better when you can dip everything in cheese or chocolate!

Finally, it was 7:00 p.m. and time for my first-ever concert! (I mean, Dad’s birthday present.) But before settling into our seats, we walked a few laps around the stadium, while the opening act played. Unfortunately, we had to watch the clock strike 9:10 p.m. before we were dazzled by the vocal chords of Eric Church, but it was totally worth the wait. Poor Genesee was tired by then, so she missed a few songs, but Mr. Church sang nonstop until 11:40 p.m., so my sleepyhead sister still caught most of the show, including Springsteen, which she didn’t want to miss.

We had so much fun! We stood almost the whole time and sang all the lyrics at the top of our lungs. Dad said it was the best concert he’s ever been to!

We lived like rock stars that day. By the time we got back to the hotel, it was past midnight, and I didn’t fall asleep until 1:00 a.m. — probably later than most actual rockstars, maybe even Eric Church himself. But our tour ended early, because we had a 7:00 a.m. wake-up call for my sister’s soccer game.

We went from concert crowds to corner kicks in less than twelve hours. But hey… juice boxes on the sidelines is a vibe, too.

It was an amazing adventure — celebrating my favorite dad with golf balls, ghost malls, cheese pots, and country rock. And moments like that stick with you. Now, everytime I hear a Church song, I will think of that day with my family. “Funny how a melody feels like a memory.”

Snow Much Fun: Our First Family Ski Adventure

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This year, we did something totally unexpected during Christmas break: we went on our first-ever ski trip! Mom and Dad planned it on a whim, and before I knew it, we were on our way to Lutsen Mountains in Minnesota, (a 5-hour drive north) for four nights of snowy fun. It was so last-minute that all the pet-friendly condos were already booked, so Artemis got to experience her own adventure: The inaugural slumber party at D & C’s doggy daycare. (Thanks, Grandpa & Grandma!)

Before leaving home, Dad pulled out his old ski equipment, from when he was an avid skier, that had been buried under 25 years of dust. Emphasis on “old” because as soon as he tried everything on, the foam of the googles evaporated into fairy dust, the plastic of the boots cracked, and everything fell apart. So, upon arrival, Dad begrudgingly proclaimed, “we’ll take four rentals, please!” And as my parents looked around and noticed everyone wearing helmets, which was not the trend in the late 1900s, our bobble heads exited the rental facility with protected brains as well.

I’m so glad we decided to be spontaneous because this was the most epic trip ever! The weather was perfect and the Lake Superior backdrop made for breathtaking scenery. Genesee and I received beginner ski lessons the first morning, taught by George and Tim, and let me tell you, it was game over after that. We were hooked!

The chair lift was one of my favorite parts. It’s this awesome combination of peaceful and exciting, like floating above the world while you get ready to zoom down the slopes again. It was also neat to see how determined and fearless Genesee was to conquer any of the runs. (And how, upon completion, she’d immediately report her success to our ski instructors.) Another highlight was the super cool gondola ride… almost like being in a snow globe as it glided over the trees.

Speaking of gliding, Mom stuck to the green runs. She kept looking for the turtle hill, but it was nowhere to be found, so she became good friends with the Big Bunny hill…. mostly because her pulled hamstring and wobbly knees weren’t exactly up for the challenge of anything more. But also because her “worst-case-scenario brain” is always a spoiler of risky fun. Luckily, Dad isn’t as boring and safety-first as our mother is. So, by day 3, we ditched mom in search of steeper slopes and faster speeds.

Each day, after putting in about 5 hours of skiing, we’d head back to the Caribou Highlands Lodge to swim and soak in the hot tub. It was the best way to unwind after a full day of shredding (or cautiously zigzagging, in Mom’s case). In the evenings, we played card games, napped, ate spaghetti and chicken soft tacos (prepared by Chef Dad), and just enjoyed being together. On our last evening, Dad built a fire, mom poured sparkling grape juice into our makeshift wine glasses, and then we toasted to the new year as the ball dropped in New York City.

It was the most fun way to end the year and I’ve already decided that this should be an annual tradition. In fact, by the time the trip was over, Genesee and I declared skiing as our new favorite sport (outside of basketball, of course). It’s the next best thing to having wings, they say. So, next time you are near the mountains, look for us and watch us fly!