Minneapolis

Last week Pat had a foot surgery in Minneapolis. So on Wednesday, the kids and I packed up our suitcase and took a roadtrip with her to the big city. Once again Minnesota threw her weather at us and we had heavy fog for the first couple hours of the drive. But this is way better than snow or rain in my opinion. If there is one thing I have learned from living in this state, it is that the weather here will always be a factor. (I think the subject of weather as a conversation filler started in this state because it really is a huge topic and determines your plans for the day.We talk about weather more than we talk about our kids.) When we arrived in Minneapolis Tyson was pretty excited about the big buildings and figured most of them contained fire stations and fire fighters. At one point we were sitting at a red light and he said, "There goes a car. And another. And another. And another. And another...." This was my first clue that we need to get out of the Angle more and expose the children to the real world before they forget what really goes on out there. Pat's brother Chuck and his wife Susan own a beautiful home in Minneapolis and their neighborhood is filled with houses that I could drive around and look at for hours. Older houses with personality and a classy touch. We stayed with them for our 3 night stay, and Pat is still there for her recovery and follow-up appointments. We did all things for the entertainment of the kids. Children's Museum, toy stores, a kid's bookstore with a chicken who resides there and runs free. (No, I did not enjoy the chicken's company. But I am proud to say I wasn't paranoid that he would attack me or panic every time I turned the corner and there he was. I imagined what was going through his mind and I only imagined this: "F@%!@$g kids everywhere."  Sorry, this chicken had a very fowl mouth.) My kids were so over-stimulated at each stop, I thought their little heads might explode from the excitement. Thai food is my all time favorite and I haven't had it since we left Wenatchee in 2011. Chuck took us out for a Valentine's dinner at the most delicious Thai Restaurant ever to cook a noodle. On the way home, the GPS took me on a different route than we had taken on the drive down and we went through an area that looked so much like Washington I thought I might just stop the car and stay there. Pine trees and some actual elevation that looked like you were approaching the mountains. Perfect trip!

 
I forgot my camera and my phone when we went to the Children's Museum.  Luckily Chuck had his iPhone and I was able to get a few shots of the kids.   The first exhibit was Dora and Diego, one of Tyson's current obsessions.  They had a room full of water tables that had fountains and bubbles to play in.  Once again, a total kid pleaser. They also had a whole little town that you could go into and shop at the store or work at the Postal Service.   Andie wasn't quite ready to climb the rockwall, but she liked the look of it.  This place is the mecca of kid's favorites.  Like if I went to the mall and they had all my favorite clothes in exactly the right sizes and they were all free.




I'm not sure if Andie was just thanking Susan for a fun trip and all the great meals here or saying, "Thank you for the best days of my life."