Congratulations Rob!

The Maurer clan joined the Seiler clan and the Vater clan on a mini-vacation to enjoy Rob's graduation from Platteville and get some quality pool time in at the Best Western in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The Best Western has an indoor/outdoor swimming pool that is open all year, even in frigid below zero temperature. This trip, the weather was more May-like than December-like and the swimming was excellent.

We got up and headed out at 6 am on Saturday morning. We drove to Madison and picked up Chris and then stopped by for a visit at the Theobald Farm to drop off a photo of the kids and "the buck". We chatted for about forty minutes before piling back into the van for the remaining 40 minute drive to Platteville. After arriving at Platteville, we enjoyed a brunch put together in the Engineering Building and Rob gave us a tour of the UW-P campus.

After Rob's graduation ceremony was over, we drove back up Hwy 151 to Dodgeville and enjoyed some serious $5-$5-$5 pizzas at the local Pizza Hut. After filling our bellies, it was to the swimming pool for us and a couple of hours in the warm water was just what the doctor ordered. Through the magic of Chris' waterproof camera, we were able to get some great shots. Sunday morning we got up, swam another hour or so and packed up.

On our way home, we stopped at East Town Mall to visit Santa, but Gavin wouldn't participate because we didn't have his Christmas list from home (he didn't want to forget anything). So we bypassed Santa, hit a McDonalds drive-thru and travelled up Interstate 39 to Westfield for a quick visit with James' parents. Then we drove the remaining two hours home and were glad to sleep in our own beds again.

Up next....Christmas!!!