Fair Madison

Our little family recently took a great trip back to Madison (which we still sort of see as our hometown) to visit Mark's parents. It was wonderful to see them and also wonderful to know that they were as eager to hang out with Dane as we were to let them have him! Mark and I spent the whole day together on Saturday, something we get WAY too few chances to do these days. We started the morning by heading to the last Farmer's Market of the year at the Capitol. We enjoyed some of the best pumpkin nut bread I've ever had and a strawberry-rhubarb hand pie while walking around the Square and checking out all the late fall produce and crafts.

Next up on the schedule was Ultimate Frisbee, something Mark and I used to do every Saturday morning. It was so great to get there and see all of our good friends from Blackhawk again. Although the game seemed to go on forever (given our current fitness level, not a surprise), it was too short a time to be with them and catch up. Such a blessing though, to be out playing frisbee on a gorgeous fall day at the zoo! Next, Mark and I took a quick trip back to his parents' house to clean up and check on the little bean. He, of course, was great, because of all the attention being lavished on him by his grandparents! We showered and stopped at Jimmy John's for some lunch, then headed out to the Pheasant Branch conservatory, where we've been checking out some houses online. We're not sure we'll end up in Madison yet, but it's been fun to dream about it anyway! From there, we drove out in the country surrounding Middleton to look at a few more homes and make a quick stop at Appleberry Farm. After dinner with the Andersons, we got dressed up and went out on a real date. After walking up and down State Street to wake up a bit (we haven't been up until 10 in a LONG time), we hit the Ivory Room, a piano bar. We put in our request for some Ben Folds and finagled ourselves a loveseat. While we sipped on cocktails, we sang along, did some people-watching, and just enjoyed being ourselves, alone, together. What a treat, and how it makes us remember why we need to enjoy these moments when we have them!