Watsons, I miss you

Memorable snippets from my sister Elisa's three-week visit to Wisconsin, along with her sons Kiefer (6) and Cooper (nearly 4), and her husband Todd (he came halfway through), which sadly just concluded this past weekend:

Fireworks in the driveway. My first ever experience setting off our own fireworks. I'd never so much as held a sparkler before. The nephews were in raptures (so was Uncle Anders).

Mini s'mores. This is a loosely held summer tradition between Elisa and me, and one which we occasionally subject friends to, who invariably react with a mix between "this is cute" and "why would anyone ever do this?" The process is to stick a mini marshmallow on a bent paperclip and roast it over a candle, then to sandwich it between two Golden Grahams with a chocolate chip. The result is adorable, and maddeningly unsatisfying. It's good for kids, and adults who aren't hungry. You have to eat about thirty or so before you feel like you've eaten any at all.

Milwaukee weekend: tailgating, lots of Kopps custard, baseball. Maybe the best part: my Arizona nephews in Brewers T-shirts and Brewers hats. Kiefer, the 6-year-old, was conflicted about this. He couldn't understand why we were putting Brewers paraphernalia on him, since he is a Diamondbacks fan. He finally came around after repeated assurances that having a second-favorite team in no way diminishes one's loyalty to one's first favorite team. I think this crisis of conscience is wonderful and I am proud of him. Both the boys were VERY handsome in their get-up.

Taking the boys to live concerts in the park, where they did, much to our delight, dance in front of the band with the other kids.

Watching Harry Potters 4-7 with Elisa, then going to the theater to see 7.2 twice.

Watching Trollhunter, a Norwegian low-budget Blair-Witch-style film. Few people besides Elisa would ever watch and enjoy a movie like that with me!

Our backyard magically sprouting toy pirates, knights, and Transformers for the boys to find.

Buying clay-pendant necklaces from the local pottery shop.

Shopping for Miche bag shells with my sister -- if that's not enough to make a girl giddy ...

All the boys (including Anders & Todd) going fishing for an afternoon. This was one of the Harry Potter 7.2 days for Elisa and me, so I only saw pictures of the fishing trip, but it looked perfectly delightful.

Two trips to Obsession Chocolate.

A matinee of Winnie the Pooh. Most heart-warming.

Kiefer and Cooper shaking up pieces of biscuit dough in bags of sugar and cinnamon for Monkey Bread. Possibly the most perfect baking activity for boys ever.