Our whole family anticipated the upcoming wedding of Lucy (my niece) and Ari for about a year and now September finally arrived. Family and friends came from coast to coast to be there. Paul and I decided to arrive a week early at my parents to help out where needed and to visit. We hadn’t seen my parents since last summer. It was enjoyable running on country roads and past my childhood home on Harding Road. Paul and I spent a clear Saturday afternoon running on the Ice Age Trail near Delafield and the Kettle Moraine Forest SP Lapham Peak unit. There is a look out tower in the middle which you can climb up and see an amazing view. Back at my parents’ we washed linen, cut branches, painted wedding logs and mom made brownies.

/San

We were able to sneak away to Matt’s house on Lake Winnebago for a few days where we had some lake time and a nice dinner with Matt and Julie. We also hiked up at High Cliff S.P. near Appleton. Interesting park with old lime kilns, wooded trails next to cliffs and lake views. In the evening we got to watch Matt play indoor volley ball at The Bar in Appleton. Good game but the bar food was pretty yucky. The wedding weekend is upon us! People start arriving at Camp Wandewega on Friday all through the day. The lucky peeps got to stay on the campground which is pretty incredible as you will see from photos. The camp has been featured in Anthropologie catologs if it looks familiar. http://www.wandawega.com/

Meeting and greeting, hugs and kisses. Dinner is served casual style with lasagna from Holy Canoli and brownie dessert by mom. A blue grass band played music while people square danced, slow danced and just plain old crazy danced. There was an bright pink sunset that was probably one of the best I have ever seen over the lake. Paul and I headed to the hotel parking lot for a nights rest in the van.

Wedding Day! Beautiful sunshiny weather. Paul and I go for a 10 mile run on the Ice Age trail near La Grange this time. Even prettier than the last run with marshy fields, woods and lakes. Why did I not know about theses places growing up? Shower at motel and eat a late breakfast in Elkhorn at a diner next to the movie theater. Paul is fascinated by the original facede of the First Bank.

We head back to Camp Wandawega where the wedding is about to begin. Love is all around and the wedding is beautiful in every way. A string quartet plays music as the wedding party walks up the aisle in an outdoor chapel.

Heartfelt words and vows and Lucy and Ari are a married couple. People spill over to the lawn for drinks, dinner (Grandpa Bob’s corn, pig roast, falafal food truck), a variety of toasts and speeches.

Dancing all night to family band which is to say all the many musicians including Santosh and Ravi. Laura and Dan, Bird Dog,  http://www.birddogduo.com/ are a highlight as is Momonita, https://www.facebook.com/momonitaband/  and Lucy finishes the night by singing her sweet songs to her bride. Big bonfire, smores and much fun had by all.

Instead of driving Paul and I decide to just sleep the night in the parking lot at camp. Shhhhh

The morning after people are moving a little slow but all the clean up gets done and many goodbyes are said. We head to Madison to spend some more time with sisters.