Miller Country, Cheese Nation & Brats

What else could one ask for? Answer...week with the family with all of the above. That is exactly what Scott and I did for the last week in Wisconsin.

Growing up a regular summer included a trip to Lake Holcombe, Wisconsin which is about 30min from where my dad grew up. My grandparents used to have a house on the lake which was sold back in the 80's but it is where I learned to waterski as a kid, knee board, eat lots of cheese curds, learn that I didn't really like brats, learn to play a dice game called 'Pinkie', get taken down to the 'Pink Store' for sweets by my grandma and ice skate on the lake in winter. Over the years that passed after they sold the house, we all would go up to stay at a new resort that had opened on the lake and this had become an annual summer vacation and over these years the family has expanded. My dad's three siblings all now have 2 kids (well mostly adults now) and are all married. As most things in life as you grow up there are other things that come up and other things to see so this trip has now become an every other year event. This being the year of the trip everyone gets hyped up for the week at the lake. One of my cousins, Michael just graduated high school and was given the choice to come to Wisconsin for the week or to Hawaii for the week for graduation gift....decision...WISCONSIN! The day has finally come to make the flight back home to Miller Country.

After a 7 hour plane ride to NJ, one day in NJ or running errands, an early rise on Saturday morning we were on another plane to Minneapolis and a 2 hour drive to the lake. We stopped and the Leinie Lodge prior to arriving at the lake for a taste of one of the finest beers in Wisconsin. There are 20 of us in all who are there for the week and it is great getting to see all of my cousins growing up and getting to reunite with my aunts and uncles and of course getting to see my family again. There is one interesting fact about the 'Flaten Crew' that I think is not that common these days in families and it is that we all get along and like being with each other for the week vacation. Is that normal or is it just us Norwegians from Wisconsin?

You ask, "What do you do for the week at the lake?". Let me tell you....we eat, drink, sleep, get sun tanned, talk and lounge in the water. Good enough?

Here are some pictures of the relaxation and the lake.

Now for the family:

In order of appearance (top left to right):

1st picture: Uncle Paul, Aunt Vicky and Uncle Dave (Dad's Siblings)

2nd Picture: Cousin Katie and Cousin Kayla playing Polish Golf

3rd Picture: (front row) Aunt Mary Ann, Aunt Vicky

(2nd Row) My Mom, Libby, Brad (Dad's Cousin)

(3rd Row) My Dad, Uncle Dave

(4th Row) Cousin Maddy, Aunt Sharon, Cousin Abby, Uncle Paul

4th Picture: Brother Chris, John (Brother's best friend), Scott, Uncle Bob, Uncle Dave, Cousin Ryan, Cousin Michael

5th Picture: Mary Ann, Abby, Maddy, Kayla, Vicky

6th Picture: Mary Ann, Vicky, Dave and Bob's head

7th Picture: Ryan and Chris

8th Picture: Ryan and Kayla (brother and sister)

9th Picture: Mary Ann and Chris

10th Picture: Vicky and Abby (Mother and Daughter)

11th Picture: Ryan and Michael

12th Picture: Ryan and Michael (loading up the beer again)

13th Picture: Stephanie and her daughter Katie

14th Picture: Me (drinking a Miller High Life), Vicky, Mary Ann, Mom, Maddy

Some key facts about the week:

1. What was on tap?

a. Miller High Life Light (The Champagne of Beers)

b. Miller Lite

c. Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss

d. Miller Genuine Draft Light

e. Leinenkugel's Light

f. Coors Light

g. Corona Light

2. To eat:

a. Cheese Curds (Fried and fresh squeekers)

b. Brats

c. Hot Dogs

d. Burgers

e. Pizza

f. Fish Fry (Walleye)

g. 4.4lbs of Cadbury Chocolate

h. Smores

3. Activities:

a. Relaxing

b. Jet Skiing

c. Pontooning

d. Volleyball

e. Polish Golf

f. Golf

g. Dock Raming

h. Floating on rafts

i. Drinking

j. Beer Pong

4. If Polish Golf ever becomes an Olympic Event, watch out for my cousin Abby. She is a ringer!

5. Never stand in the way of Katie's serve in Volleyball. My team couldn't seem to stop her serves.

After consuming mass amounts of beer, cheese, burgers, brats, chips, smores, playing golf, playing polish golf, playing volleyball, relaxing in the lake and seeing Moose swim for the first time it was time to pack up and head home.

We had a wonderful time at the lake and it is hard to imagine when we said goodbye to everyone that it will be two years till we see most of them again. My parents and us packed up our rental car and headed back to the airport to hop on our flights. We parted ways in NJ again and after a few tears shed Scott and I were back on the plane to London.

Love to all the family and it was a fantastic week spent with you all! See you all in June next year in a warm European Destination!!!