Northern Wisconsin is Indian country. There are a number of different tribes that have reservations here - many with glaring casinos juxtaposed against the calm beauty of the area. Another way that the reservations make money is by collecting taxes from the whiteys who live here, like my in-laws. This cottage sits on the edge of a smallish lake on the Menomonee Indian Reservation. Across the lake is the cultural center and last night the sound of drumming and singing rang out across the water for several hours. It was VERY cool. And as I stood on the dock in the dark listening, it was easy to imagine how terrifying it must've been to hear it coming your direction with a war party in tow. Even from a distance, the drum vibrated in my chest. My father-in-law noted that if there ever was an uprising against non-Indians on the reservation and we were here, Belly and the Bug would be spared because they look like little Indian girls. Great. That's so
comforting.

I'm starting to tire of being here. It gets a little overwhelming with so many people and I feel like I'm constantly having to redirect the girls. Nothing in the kitchen is child-proofed and with an open floorplan, I'm trying to be diligent in keeping them out of there. Belly likes to flip the oven light switch (conveniently located on the front of the oven door) up and down and up and down. There's a lot of baking going on and that door gets HOT. Buggy is more into starting the dishwasher and opening the cupboards with the cheese grater and cleaning supplies in them. It's fairly lame.

Aw man. I just reread that and I sound like such a whiner. It IS patience-trying to be here, but it's also pretty fun. We took the boat out earlier - just Dude and me and the girls. Each girl took a turn driving the boat with Dude and it was hysterical because they kept pushing his hands away. They certainly didn't need HIS help! And they loved the wind in their hair and flying across the lake. Belly kept shouting, "Wheeeeeee!" and Buggy repeated, "Lake! Boat! Lake! Boat!" Their wee worlds were pretty much rocked. And I made dinner for the whole clan tonight. It was a big hit. I felt appreciated. All told, it was probably the perfect amount of time to be here. Next Wisco trip, though, I've GOT to get down to the southern end of the state and see some of MY peeps!