Awesome visit

We have been blessed this summer to have had company so often. This week my brother Jeff and his new wife Emily came to visit us for a few days from Ohio. We laughed, we played, we ate, and we rested. They were doing double duty on their trip as Emily was also lucky enough to be able to spend some time with a childhood friend of hers who also lives in Madison and is getting married.

Looking at the weekend, I reflected on a Top Ten List of my favorite moments.

10. We took Emily and Jeff to our favorite pool to get out of the 85 degree heat. Andrew and Brendan then elected Jeff the person that had to watch every float, handstand, or flip they did. (Uncle Jeff. .. Uncle Jeff. . . -- See number 1 for more info on this.)

9. At the same pool trip, Evan and Uncle Jeff braved the waterslide together. Essentially, they got stuck and didn't even move. Jeff had to pull them down the slide. They didn't go again. . . 8. Emily and I took the boys to some garage sales on Saturday morning, and she scored some awesome used baby items for her mom to use when little McCamey arrives in October. (The boys also scored some useless junk with their dollar allowance I gave!)

7. Chris and Jeff went to play University Ridge Golf Course on Saturday, which is the golf course that the UW Madison golfers play. Jeff has a Buckeyes head cover on one of his golf clubs. The guy helping Jeff with his clubs commented on the head cover being not allowed on the course. Then, as Jeff paid for the round, he whipped out his Buckeye credit card. The man looked at him deadpan and said "we don't take that here." They did let him on the course after all.

6. Evan was only here part time as his counter part "Meow" made constant appearances. Meow is Evan's kitten alter ego. I will write more about that a different day.

5. Uncle Jeff became the boys' hero as he played Wii with them for hours. He made them laugh as he mimicked how they bicker and complain about the game. If only that would sink in. . .

4. All seven of us went to play The Meadows in Waunakee on Friday night. What an adventure! We had to let a few groups play through who were looking at us as if we were a circus act with seven people putting on the green. (One of which, Evan, was running back and forth just chasing his ball.) Leading up to playing, the boys were making it painfully obvious to Emily that they doubted her golf credentials. They relented, and we all played.

3. There was much discussion on who would sit in which golf cart. The coveted seat was riding with Uncle Jeff. Each boy took a turn. Evan, Emily and I started off together. We think strategically, they were grouping us as the best threesome out there. 2. Emily and Jeff were "Culverized" this weekend. If you live in Wisconsin, you know that Culvers is a fast food chain that boasts Butterburgers and Frozen Custard. The food is amazing. On a late night dinner, we had Culvers and custard, and the next night, we needed to repeat our custard quest. Mmm. . .

1. Uncle Jeff. . . Uncle Jeff. . . Uncle Jeff. . .Uncle Jeff. This phrase reverberated throughout my house about five hundred times over the course of the weekend as the boys sought Uncle Jeff's constant attention and praise.

It was an amazing weekend. I am grateful for the time to get to know Emily better and just see my brother. Brendan commented about an hour ago that he missed Uncle Jeff and Aunt Emily already. Me, too. . .