Say Cheese

My NFL team is the Green Bay Packers. 

How convenient is that Green Bay is in Wisconsin? And that one of my adopted American families absolutely love them too? My Packers love definitely has nothing to do with the Nowackis' obsession and I totally know exactly all the rules enforced in an NFL diamond or pitch or whatever it's called. 

A visit to Lambeau Field, home of The Packers, is a must for any Wisconsin visitor. This visit became a family affair. 

Before entering the stadium you'll find statues of Packer heroes Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi. Yes, the field is named after Curly. 

And the Super Bowl trophy happens to share its name with Vince. Kyra, Samantha and I had a pretty solid plan to pose like the great Lombardi and even roped in a tourist to take the snap. 

As you can see, it was a very successful photo. 

I'd never met a beer I liked... until today. Wisconsin loves its beer and I found one that tasted like fruit punch. 

After a very quick bevie it was time to tour the hallowed grounds. We staged a dramatic entrance

onto the field

where we posed like the NFL superstars we aren't. 

Mom and Dad Nowacki were a little more composed. 

Upon exiting the stadium we proved we missed our calling as athletes. 

We'd experienced beer and The Packers, so it was mandatory to complete the Wisconsin trifecta. Cheese was on the menu at Titletown Brewing Company. 

Fried cheese curds made their way to our table. I found myself, like Miss Muffet, eating curds and I was not disappointed. 

Kyra washed lunch down with a beer or two. 

We picked up some squeaky cheese curds on the way home. Those are the ones that aren't fried and taste like rubber. In the fried versus squeaky curds debate I definitely side with fried. 

I might be allergic to cats, but JJ certainly wasn't allergic to the camera. 

Then we finished the night with some Mac 'N Cheese undercooked by Kyra. 

The following day was packed full of fun. I visited another adopted American family member Katlyn, Kyra's older sister. Katlyn and her husband Brad live in a lovely neighbourhood. 

She'd heard I dance and tried to get me to dance by playing "Shake It Off". Kyra and I just ended up doing some bad dancing in the lounge room. After some truly hideous moves it was time for goodbyes. 

On the way home we made a quick pit stop at a grocery store where we picked up a pineapple

(then put it back down after the photo). 

It was here I realised Milwaukee (or Waukee, as I started calling it) really gets me.

Then Samantha and I were shown around Kyra's old High School. 

It was just like on TV, except it was Saturday, so there were no kids in the hallways. I've never seen so much school spirit donning the walls. 

Of course we couldn't leave Milwaukee without doing a brewery tour. 

The mini tour at Lakefront Brewery consisted of a man spurting out facts about the beer making process, making awkward innuendos and climbing over benches. Once that uncomfortable display concluded Kyra and Samantha were free to enjoy their beer and I had a little root beer. 

The cost of the drinks was included in the tour (which none of us paid for because Mom Nowacki gave us a voucher). 

We also scored a free basket of cheese curds. A guy had accidentally been given an extra serving. 

Thankfully these were the fried kind. It's only ok to accept food from strangers in Wisconsin.

Back home we were accepting food from Mom Nowacki. She provided us with a German feast and a few other goodies we'd picked up earlier that day. 

Our food was complemented with some brandy old fashioneds. 

The special occasion? The Packers were in the playoffs. We all displayed our Packer pride. 

We were leading Arizona 13 to 7 at one stage. 

Then the lead was lost and with 5 seconds remaining we were trailing 20 to 13. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers passed the ball down the field for the second Hail Mary touchdown of the season to level the scores. Kyra was so excited she could've wet her pants. 

After that emotional touchdown my Packers neglected to tackle one of the Cardinals in overtime and lost.

Our time with Packers, beer and cheese had ended. In just a few hours I'd be farewelling Kyra, but that needs its own post.