Weekend at the Barta's

After a week in Minnesota and Wisconsin we headed down to Solon for Haley's graduation party.  It was like a mini-reunion while we were there.  We took the kids to the park to burn off some energy.

Gavin and Austin Barta, Elise and Lauren, Caroline Harrison and Allie Barta

Austin Barta

Gavin and Elise giving it a whirl.

Mallory King and Dick Barta showed up on the Harley.

I think Greg may have had just as much fun as the kids.

This was strange, it looked like a sun dog but it was SOOO hot and humid, usually they only show up in the really cold winters.... interesting.

Dick's new Harley... sweet!

Dick taking Elise for a ride!

         Uncle Greg making the kids nice and dizzy!


Gavin makes me nervous here...

The Children's Museum

We spent one afternoon at the Children's Museum and then headed over to State Street.  It's one of the main streets downtown that is full of shops, bars and restaurants.  There is ALL walks of life in Madison.  I didn't realize that is was a fairly liberal town and full of hippie's :)

This was really cool.  We drove up Washington Avenue to the capitol square.  Pretty view.

This was a giant hamster wheel.  The faster you walk/run, the faster it goes.  It worked best when both girls were in there.

This was a giant climbing play area with stairs and slides, it was so unique and fun for the kids.

On the rooftop of the museum was this cool garden and a club house learning center with snakes and frogs.  Lauren touched the snake but Elise would have no part of that. (Even I touched the snake.)

I don't know what this flower is but it was so cool and I MUST find out what it is.

The view of the lake.

This was a spaceship and the buttons all made different sounds.  There was a voice over the speaker giving directions from planet Earth.

This payphone would talk to you and ask you questions.  It's the first time Elise has seen a dial phone.


Lauren checking out the television that makes you roar!

Grandpa Hubbard joined us for dinner at The Old Fashion restaurant for dinner.  He was just 5 days
post-op and feeling good.  We had real cheese curds, beer cheese soup and great burgers.

After dinner we went down to State Street to see the shops, bars and restaurants. 
The girls got their first view of beggars and street performers.  This guy was
playing his guitar on his head.... an interesting place for sure.

The view of State Street from campus.  The campus is really nice and the
Union sits right on the lake and has a huge patio to sit by the water and watch
the view.

After dinner and walking around we found this ice-cream shop called Ella's Deli.  It was the
coolest place.  There were mechanical figurines all over and fun music.  A good old fashioned
soda shop.  There is a big carousel out front too.  We found some Blue Raspberry Italian Ice for Elise.
She was in heaven!

A tad blurry but it's the only one that turned out of Elise.