A Step Back in Time & Cream Puffs

Our last full day on vacation in Wisconsin, started at Old World Wisconsin.  We literally took a step back in time to learn how our ancestors lived and worked. 

This was one of the first farms we visited.  It was a German farm community.

This was one the pigs they were raising at the German farm.  

These are Oxen that were being used at another German farm.

Tate preparing to play a game that they would have played back in the day.  First you were blind folded, then handed a stick.  The goal was to find the metal pot by hitting it with the stick.

Devin was up next.  Looks and sounds easy, but it much harder once that blindfold was put on. 

Devin found the pot!

Now the hard work begins.  Helping do some woodwork. 

and laundry....

Tate was up first to chop some wood.

Devin used all his muscles to split his piece of wood.

Grandpa Wolsing planing a piece of wood.  He was working on getting a good piece of "schnitzel".  

Trying our hand at lawn bowling.

Devin playing photographer. Nice group shot.

Watching the blacksmith, heat and bend some metal.  Once we finished at Old World Wisconsin we headed toward the Wisconsin State Fair. 

Practicing our cow milking skills.  Tate took the serious approach.

Devin seemed to think all this hard work, was much more fun!  This isn't his first time milking a cow.

Farmer Devin

Farmer Tate

Those are some great looking cows!

One thing we learned about the Wisconsin State Fair - the Cream Puff is all the rage!  When at the Wisconsin State Fair you do like they do - So we got in line and each enjoyed a Cream Puff.  They were making hundreds of these as we waiting in line.  Last year they said they sold over 300,000 of these during the fair.  Unbelievable!  We kinda all thought they were just - alright.  Nothing amazing and we didn't go back for the take out box.

Up next, some pig races.  Tate was really quick to volunteer and he was assigned the pig in lane one.  We eagerly cheered on piggie #1 and he was the first to cross the finish line.

Since Tate's pig won the race, Tate won his very own stuffed pig.  He was so excited!  Tate named him Bacon Bit.

The cream puff is a big deal!  We had a very enjoyable time at the fair. 

A Day at the Circus

Today was spent at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI.  This is where the circus started back in the 1800s. 

The Ringling Bros founded the circus in Baraboo.  They then joined forces with Barnum & Bailey after P.T. Barnum's death.  

"beauty"

"beast"

another "beauty"  This was one of the first circus tricks.  With a flashing light and mirrors the audience first saw a scary gorilla, then that image changed to see the "beauty" in the same seat where the gorilla was just sitting.  

Having some circus fun.  Tate stopped for a picture on our way to see the magician's act.

Riding the historic carousel.  This carousel really got spinning.  It is definitely one of the fastest spinning carousel's I've ever seen.

Dad rode around with Tate.  I am sure he was dizzy when the ride was over. 

Riding the fake elephant.  

One of the several elephants at the circus museum.  This elephant will perform for all of us shortly under the big top tent!

Dad, Tate & Grandpa Wolsing waiting for the Big Top Show to start.

Devin & Grandma under the big top.

Grandma grabbed a quick picture of Devin & I.

Thanks to my budding photographer, Devin, Mom and I got this great picture!

No circus is complete without the clowns.

Devin & Tate were super happy because Mom folded and let them buy these "light sabers".  

The Ring Master!

Unicycling family!  They were very impressive.

Dog act.  These dogs all performed various tricks.  

These dogs have all been rescued from shelters!

Aerial acrobats.  

Dancing camels

Tate with some of the performing acts.

Hanging by her neck she glided over the river.

Children's circus.  Tate decided he wanted to join the circus.  He joined the circus as a performing horse.  

Parade of countries at the end of the children's circus.

Tate was quite the performing horse!

There was a whole exhibit on circus wagons.  They were so elaborate.  All hand carved.  There were 

wagons that held the lions, giraffes, retails, and many more.  I can't image what it would have been like when the circus rolled into town back in the day.  They were such huge productions.

Look at these crazy caged animals.

Oh no!  There's a family full of crazy animals.

Grandpa trying out the elephant tricycle.

Devin's turn on the tricycle.

Tate's turn

These are the original building that housed many of the circus animals.  They housed everything from Lions, elephants, camels, giraffes, and more.