Easter Weekend in Fort Atkinson

Team Slap decided to spend Easter weekend with our friend JJ and her daughter in Fort Atkinson, with a lovely Easter brunch and performance of Mary Poppins at the Fireside Theatre. Here are some pictures taken at the hotel on Saturday night. 

Later that night we all went out to a casual dinner at a local Subway.

 Just back from a lovely weekend trip to the the Fireside Theater. Details and pictures to follow later

Lu's Trip to the Fireside pt 2

The next morning we woke up and had breakfast. Well, Lisa and Lu did. They just brought some stuff back to the room for Sleepy Dad. While I got ready for the day Lisa took Lu swimming again, and then I packed up while the ladies freshened up.

Soon we were off to the Fireside.







The Fireside is justifiably well known for its extensive gift shops, and with cash left to burn LuLu spent quite some time browsing.







Here are two items I loved (but didn't buy). A birdhouse:



and a fancy music box that played LP sized discs



Soon it was time for lunch.



This is the adult menu for the show:


Signature Aloha Salad
Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Strawberries, Blueberries, Mandarin Oranges and Oriental Vegetables over Fresh Garden Greens, sprinkled with Sesame Croutons and glazed with our famous Papaya Chutney Dressing.

Freshly Baked Breads from The Fireside Ovens

Chicken Kona Kai
Skinless Breast of Chicken dipped in a special Egg Batter, rolled in Coconut Panko Bread Crumbs, sautéed to a golden brown and glazed with Brandied Apricot Sauce.

Served with Baked Yukon Gold Potatoes, Edamame Soybeans and Sweet Corn and a Plum Tomato stuffed with Creamed Spinach.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Garnished with ribbons of Caramel and presented on a Graham Cracker Crust.
Coffee, Tea and Milk

Lu's consisted of premium chicken tenders, mac 'n cheese, and corn. I also sprang for a big Shirley Temple for my girl







By the end of lunch LuLu was pooped, and with an hour before the show we retired to the van so she could rest. In the blink of an eye it was time to venture back in for the production of Annie.





The walls inside the theater were decorated in comic strip-esque panels





We took our aisle seats, which had an excellent view, and eagerly waited for the show to begin.







With a little time for horseing around.





Obviously, they don't allow photography during the show. I can tell you it was excellent, and the actress who played Annie was on the top of her game and did very well. I will say, however that our school's performance of "Hard Knock Life" had better choreography and energy. I kid you not.

Oh, and FDR's expansion of the federal government didn't end the Depression, nor was it an economic miracle as hinted at in the play. I just wanted to get that out there ;)

After a quick trip to Justice (a kids clothing shop at the mall) we were home, safe and sound.



And Lu's verdict on the trip?

"EXTREME fun!!!!"

Mission accomplished.

Lu's Trip to the Fireside pt 1

First Holy Communion is a big deal, and for YaYa we threw a party at a local establishment. Here in 2011 we came to realize that we no longer have the # of relatives to warrant a party, and so we've introduced a new (better?) tradition: taking the Communicant on a one-on-one overnight trip out of town.

For LuLu, we chose a performance of Annie at the Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The day before the show Lisa, Lu and I set off on our trip, stopping on the way at a Wendy's. How cute (or sad?) was this - when I asked her what she wanted, she was ecstatic that her choice wasn't narrowed down to a single item off the Dollar menu.



"I don't only want to have fun," Lu said of the trip. "I want to have EXTREME fun!"

On the 75 minute drive LuLu fell asleep, which is just as well, as we got lost for a bit and added twenty minutes to the travel time. We arrived in mid-afternoon and checked into our hotel, located next door to the Fireside.



From there we headed out to the local Shopko, a store not found in our native Milwaukee.



LuLu had $50 to spend, courtesy of an early Communion gift from her Grandma Jeanne, and we spent a good hour or two looking around. She quickly found two pairs of shoes she loved. (the mismatched socks are intentional, a current 'style')









There was a lot of wheeling and dealing. I often made a deal with her - skip the $23 shirt and take the two nearly identical ones selling for $14 a pair an aisle over, and I'll pick up half the tab. She got some great clothes featuring the iconic peace sign motif she loves:



and wanted this one too. I almost caved on this sharp shirt, but she used it as a bargaining chip to get two other things she wanted instead.



After shopping we returned to the hotel and went for a swim. Lisa had forgotten her swimsuit, so it was just Dad and LuLu in the water.























While in the pool I suddenly learned the backstroke, something that has eluded me for years. Weird.





Once we got out of the pool the ladies retired to the room to watch American Idol, while I stopped at the grocery store for some snacks then picked up Subway for dinner.





The pillow is one she bought at Shopko, by the way. Ditto the nail polish she used to paint her nails that night.





After dinner we returned to the pool for a bit, then took showers and watched Lemonade Mouth on the Disney Channel. Lisa and I soon fell asleep, but Lu stayed up a bit longer to watch cable.



A great day, and another was yet to come.