Minnesota Weekend

This past weekend we went to Minneapolis for a long weekend and we had such a great time, I was sad to see it come to an end.  For Father’s day the boys decided to buy their dad a ticket to watch the Twins play.  It was originally going to be a guy’s weekend, but once I started to think about them being so close to IKEA and getting a whole weekend kid free I suggested the wives all invite themselves and make it a family weekend. J I mean that’s the point of Father’s Day—to spend it with family, it doesn't matter if it’s a few months later.

"Old Fashion fun"

 

We've been going through a phase of rotating between 1 of 3 dresses. This morning (when it was 90+ degrees) she decided she needed to wear her "sweater".

Since we had a six (yes, SIX) hour car ride ahead of us, we decided to leave Friday morning.  Let me just say, it took the entire six hours between potty breaks (trick question: who needs more potty breaks—a pregnant mama or a 3 year old?) and eating.  We even brought the truck (sans DVD player) because we didn't know what purchases from IKEA we were going to get.  Before we left, I even asked Ty how we were going to entertain the kids the entire time.  His response was—the old fashion way... (insert panic face here).  For the most part if Harper wasn't sleeping or eating she was asking 989,341 questions/comments and if Miles wasn't eating or sleeping he was just watching and smiling at his sissie (that is what she DEMANDS to be called nowadays and even introduces herself as Miles’ sissie).  I was so impressed by the kids, but was really scared that meant it would be an awful drive home on Sunday...  Once we arrived we checked into our hotel and decided we needed to get out and walk around.  So we spent Friday night wandering around the Mall of America (which all we bought was $4 worth of toys from the Dollar Tree). LAME-O.

DORA!

Saturday morning we went swimming and let’s just say our kids have NO FEAR.  Miles giggled the entire time he was in the pool and had everyone in the pool just stopped and watched him with a huge smile on their face—even the little kids.  He truly is the happiest baby ever and then you mix in doing big kids things with his sister and he is on Cloud 9.  Later that morning we went to the Minneapolis Science Museum.  It was a little too old for our kids, but it had space to run and lots of buttons to push so it ended up being something different to do.

Once Ty’s family all arrived we met at IKEA and perused the awesomeness. A couple hours later it was time for the boys to go to the game and the girls to take the kids back to the Mall.  The kids were up until 11 pm that night and were perfect little angels—I again fully expected to pay for it in the morning with two overly tired, cranky kids. Yet they surprised me again and slept in until 7:30!!!!  Can I get a Whoot! Whoot!?

The view from their seats

A good look'n group of boys!

Sunday morning we went to the Como Zoo.  Joni remembers going there as a kid and said they used to take their boys when they were smaller, so it was a fun tradition to carry on.  I was VERY impressed with the zoo—especially since it was a free zoo.  I highly recommend visiting it if you’re in the area. They had what looked like a beautiful botanical conservatory as well—but not something my husband or kids were too thrilled about exploring. Plus the approaching 6 hour drive home was starting to press us for time.  They had lily pads that were 3-4 FEET in diameter and it took everything in my humanly powers not to want to see if I could jump them... J

Miles was OBSESSED with the gorillas and polar bears. He kept growling and grunting at them

"I am NOT happy and I DON'T want my picture taken!!"

Grandparents and babies attempt #1

Grandparents and babies attempt #2

Grandparents and babies attempt #3

Attempt #1 at all cousins on a hot, metal turtle

Attempt #2 at all cousins on a hot, metal turtle

Waiting their turn

"Giddyup Horsey!"

 We ended our trip with a ride on the 100 year old wooden carousel.  They even let adults ride it—Harper told me to get on, because my baby wanted to ride the horsey.  I kindly obliged J

Some of my favorite comments from Harper this weekend:

While looking for a restroom at Kohls:

H: “Daddy! I got to go potty really, really bad”

T: “Okay, let’s hurry”

H: Stops mid track, her eyes get huge and she says, “Daddy! There are so many of these boobie holders here! What are they called?”

T: “Bras”

H: “Ohh....”

While driving down the road:

H: “Hey, is it okay if we stop? I need to go poopoo in the grass”

K: “Umm, no. We’ll stop at a restroom”

H: “I want to go in the grass”

On our way home at a rest stop and what seemed like a very long time waiting:

K: “Are you done?”

H: Puts her hand up like she’s directing traffic and says, “Mom! I need you to be patient.  It just needs a little time”

We were stopped and I asked Harper if she had to go potty

H: “Mama, quit asking me. I will tell you when I have to go”

We get back on the road and not even 2 minutes later...

H: “I HAVE TO GO POTTY—REALLY, REALLY BAD! Oh, peepee—stay in there!”

We pull off onto an exit and I get her out to do her business on the side of the road

H: “Ohh, goodie. I get to go potty like the mountain goats”

And I just realized these were all potty jokes... There were more, but apparently I’m in full pregnant-forget-everything mode... but, she literally had us cracking up all weekend.