Memorial Weekend Travels

We spent the long weekend traveling up to Minnesota. Had a great time, enjoyed visiting friends and family, but wow, what a difference the extra travel time from the Quad Cities makes.

The kids did great traveling (for the most part). Of course, it's never as easy as driving across town, but between movies, books, and many unhealthy treats, we made it! I have to share this freaky picture I took on the way up. Attempting to get the sunset and windmills captured, I ended up with a really bizarre shot of Alayna's reflection ---

Here is what I was really hoping to catch... the timing of our view was beautiful!

Once we arrived (late Friday night) we got the kids calmed down and enjoyed the typical Black Hole of the old neighborhood. Saturday, we hung around the house, picked out flowers, helped plant the garden, found out that my little 2-year-old can count to ten!!! ... and had a couple brewskies!

Tam made an amazing dinner for us that evening and by about 2 a.m. we were in good enough shape to pull up a couple hassssstaaas! from the (vacant) neighbors yard! Geez, you troublemakers!

It was hard to leave, as always, but we were off to our next stop -- VIVIENNE'S!

Okay, so I must admit that I did an awful, terrible job at taking pictures of our three little munchkins together. But we had lots of fun! Right when we arrived, Vivi and Auntie Jacque were waiting patiently outside -- Viv looking for a playmate, and Jacq searching out a little adult interaction! (Justin was in a golf outing all weekend). So, Jarin and I satisfied her by accepting a beer, and then two, and then three! Pretty soon, our couple hour visit turned into an overnight stay! Nice coaxing Jacque! After Just arrived home, we spent quite a bit of time at the park, grilled out, and then bathed the little ones and tucked them in.

The next morning, all three got their drink of choice, and snuggled in to watch some Dora before breakfast.

We sure hated to leave their home too, but knew we had a drive ahead of us. Thank you to all of our Minnesota friends who made us feel right at home! And to all of you others who we didn't get a visit... so sorry! Hopefully we'll be up for the football game this fall! Miss ya!