minnesota summer trip highlights

we are back from our 2.5 week trip to minnesota! and now it feels like summer is half over - though it's not quite. i decided to wait until i got back to do this post, so i'll do my best to cover the highlights of our visit without this getting too long. i'm not even sure i could remember what we did day by day if i tried (you're welcome!). 

as usual, we split most of our time between staying with thatcher's parents and my mom. they only live 3 miles apart, so it makes it really convenient. we sweltered in the heat and humidity for the entire trip. it was around 90 and humid every day. (i do not miss that living in seattle). the kids stayed up late every night and we ate ice cream and/or cake on a daily basis. vacation life is good :) we spent one night with our friends liz and joe and their boys in minnetonka, as well as two nights up north over the 4th. 

the wading pools at the parks near thatcher's parents' and my mom's were a lifesaver when it came to beating the heat!

one of the best parts of coming home is re-discovering our favorite places in minneapolis and checking out what's new. we went to the sculpture garden, walked around uptown, bde maka ska (formerly lake calhoun), lake harriet (including the street car), and 50th and france. 

 taken by azalea :) 

since we were in town for so long, we got to have a vacation within our vacation. we went up to park rapids, mn to my aunt and uncle's cabin for 2 nights over my birthday and the 4th. i hadn't been there in probably 13-14 years (thatcher and i were dating last time i went), so it was fun to be there again with thatcher and the kids. 

 the kids loved it there! they got to swim, go fishing, celebrate my birthday, go on two pontoon rides, see the fireworks, and have a bonfire (with smores!). the only downside was the bugs - we were eaten alive by mosquitoes and flies. but it was worth it!

 in many ways it was way more relaxing than i ever imagined it would be with kids, not that they didn't have their difficult moments. probably had to do with the kid:adult ratio. my aunt and uncle were there, as well as my two cousins. and my mom and my brother came too. 

their cabin is only about 40 minutes from itasca state park, where the mississippi starts, so we decided to go there before heading back to the city. thatcher and i were both there as kids, but it was really cool to see again with our kids. it was insanely crowded there, but still fun. 

we were able to see lots of friends while we were home (but there's always more we wish we could have seen!). i got a group of my girlfriends together the night before my birthday to go to a brewery in south minneapolis called wild minds. it was such a cute spot and i was thankful for every one who was able to make it.

as a family, we saw our friends nate and missy and their kids at minnehaha falls for a short hike and picnic lunch. 

we also saw our friends becky and jeromy and their girls for a picnic at a playground. i got the chance to catch up with some of my girlfriends one on one. the whole family stopped by our old hood and caught up with a bunch of our old neighbors we miss so much! 

 my mom and i took the kids to como zoo one day. we went last summer too and it was a big hit once again. 

other important updates: we ate lots of yummy food that we don't have in seattle - pizza luce, davannis, culvers, DQ, gyropolis, french meadow, and the naughty greek. and drank coffee at some local independent spots (and chains) - vicinity, sparrow cafe, people's organic, caribou.

i went into my physical office twice. the first time i got to have lunch with the staff, and celebrate 12 year work anniversaries for 3 people including me, and june and july birthdays. the second time i went in, i got to sit in on some interviews for a new business manager. it was good timing to be in town! i'm so thankful that my employer has let me keep working from seattle. it's been a huge blessing.

we spent some time with my bonus grandpa, bob. he has moved into an assisted living nursing home now. he was not in good health this spring, but is doing much better now, so i was so happy to see him. 93 years young!

the last 3 days of our trip, thatcher attended a conference planning meeting in st. paul for work. they asked him to go shortly after we bought our tickets, so we ended up extending our trip by 4 more days for all of us. it was so nice to have such a long stretch there. if you made it through this whole post, kudos to you!