A Chinese Reunion in Wisconsin?

The Rat Pack from China

    Leaving the Chicago area, we took a long two and a half hour trip for the kids to The Dells in Wisconsin.  We were going there to meet our good friends the Madsens.
    The Madsens are the family that we taught with in China.  Jenny and Luke taught at the same school with us and their children, Hattie, Mason and Gabe went to school with Taylor and Claire.  Over the year that we were there along with us getting together as families to have dinner, the kids became a Chinese version of the Rat Pack.  This Rat Pack didn't specialize in singing, but did a great job exploring their Chinese community together.  Quite often, the kids would make some plan together and then come and ask for money.  We would then give them money and they would take off on one of the local buses to either go to a movie, water park or dinner together.  They were always required to come home at a certain time, but were free to explore the surrounding area.  They enjoyed themselves immensely and became great friends through the experience.  When we all left China, it was a very tearful goodbye.  At that time, we promised that we would come to visit them.
    So, we fulfilled that promise by meeting them at The Dells.  They had told us about The Dells while we were in China, so we had to check it out.
    The Dells, is the area of Wisconsin that is famous for being the water park capital of the world.  There are more water parks per square mile in The Dells than anywhere else.  The Dells are famous for water parks, but it is so much more than water parks.  The Dells is a city dedicated to creating a family camp atmosphere.  Along with water parks, there are amusement parks, miniature golf courses, mystery houses, wizard quests, animal parks, race parks, water ski shows, shopping, and eating.  There are also a couple of activities that I don't know how to describe.  One of which is a destroyed White House upside down with a Tyranasauras coming out the side.  It is truly an amazing place that would take a year to do everything that they have to offer.
    We met Jenny and the kids at a hotel to check in.  Now, you may be asking yourself why we would check into a hotel if we have a travel trailer.  The reason is that it is actually cheaper to get a hotel room, than to check into a campground because you get free water park tickets with your room.  The hotel we checked into was the Grand Marquis, because we wanted free tickets to Noah's Ark water park.
    After checking in, Jenny drove us all to Noah's Ark.  I know this sounds kind of redundant, but Noah's Ark is the largest water park in the water park capital of the world.  Noah's Ark is so big that it is nearly a half a mile from the front of the park, to the back.  They have two wave pools and so many rides, that it is nearly impossible to do them all in one day.  To top things off, they have a 4D theatre as well.

Luke, Jenny and the O's

     My favorite ride is called The Scorpions Tail.  Yes, it is exactly like the name describes.  You enter the ride in a glass box in which they close the door and then count down from three, at which time the trap door below your feet drops out from below you.  At this point, most people let out a short expletive, but not I.  I lost all of my breath, so I didn't have a chance to scream out.  After you drop away, gravity has no sway on you.  You rocket down the tube at like I said, breathtaking speed, only to begin going back up through a loop, finally to be dropped once again to the wedgie producing finish.  I finally took a breath at the bottom and said an unusual for me, expletive.
    The rest of the day was spent riding and sharing how things have gone the last couple of years, since our return.  It was an awesome day, finished a little early by an upper mid-west lightening storm.

At Paul Bunyon's Shanty

    Returning to the hotel, we all took a little rest and showered before heading into town again to meet Luke for dinner.  Luke couldn't join us during the day because he is taking classes to get his Admin. Credential.

Showing the young guns how it is done

    Driving into town we had dinner at a place that specializes in mac and cheese creations.  What do you expect, it is Wisconsin you gotta have something with lots of cheese in it.  While finishing up dinner the kids asked if they could go do an activity called Wizard Quest.  Just like the old days in China, we gave them money and sent the Rat Pack out once again.  While the Pack was off doing their activity, Luke, Jenny, Cecelia and I walked down along the river and then went to have a beer.  It was a great time of sharing how life has been since we returned.  Luke and I even had an opportunity to talk a little shop.  He has been an Athletic Director for the past year, and I was picking his brain as much as possible.  It is amazing how much the kids have grown, especially the boys who were shorter than everyone in China, except for Taylor and are now taller than everyone.  The boys love basketball, which they should, since they are 6 foot tall, twin eighth grade boys.  We might see them playing in the NBA some day.
    After a few hours, it was time for Luke to head back home.  He had to be up early the next morning for class.  This prompted us to pick up the kids from their quest, which by the way they didn't complete.  Apparently the Wizard was smarter than them.  We then made our way back to the hotel for a good night of sleep.
    The next morning dawned and we got up and headed over to Paul Bunyon's Cook Shanty for a hearty upper mid-west breakfast.  Paul Bunyon's is almost like an amusement exhibit itself.  When you purchase breakfast, you are basically purchasing a buffet, but everything is brought to your table instead of you going and getting it.  The food that is brought to your table are fresh homemade donuts, pancakes, bisquits and gravy, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns and eggs.  It is the kind of breakfast that you would have eaten in a lumber jack camp.  Breakfast is also served family style with everyone sitting on benches and a long table.  By the way, the food keeps coming until you tell the waitress that you are done.  You can imagine with five teenagers at the table, that we were there for sometime until they were all finished.  The atmosphere is outstanding and the food was surprisingly good.

Jenny with Hattie and her step daughter

    With bellies full of heavy carbohydrates, we headed out for a rousing game of miniature golf.  I had told all of the kids, that whoever beat me could have a treat at the end.  The match was very close for the first half, but in the end experience won out and my wallet was safe.
    The last part of the visit was spent walking along the river and the kids playing checkers at the river;s edge with sticks and leaves.  We also finished one final walk out on the main street to get an afternoon treat before saying goodbye.
    When we did say goodby, there weren't as many tears.  There is something reassuring when a promise has been met.  Even though we are miles and miles apart, we will always be extended family and the Madsens have promised to come and see us in Oakhurst.