minnesota: week 2

 we spent the second week of our trip staying with my mom. i actually went a night before the rest of my family, so i could have some one-on-one time with my mom and it was great. we got takeout from broders (italian deli) and drank wine on the patio. my mom's friend linda stopped by and it was nice to meet her.

the next day we picked up the kids from durant and cheryl's and we drove out to lake sylvia in annandale to my best friend kelli's family cabin. kelli was in town from california with her husband and their 3 month old daughter addison, so i was so happy to get to see them. i used to go to their cabin every summer and i love it there, though i hadn't been in probably 7 years. the kids had the time of their lives swimming, boating, and eating. i don't think they bickered once the entire day and they both fell asleep in the car on the way home.

 

 

 just like at thatcher's parents' house, my kids have their traditions of things they love to do with my mom as well :) we played lots of board games, made chocolate pudding, the kids played in the sprinkler & water balloons, played basketball with unkie brandon. 

  

 

we also had some social distanced outings. we walked/scootered to the creek, got donuts at wuollets bakery and played at pershing park,we went on a walk through woodlake nature center. 

we didn't really see friends during our visit, but we were able to visit my step grandpa bob (or as i like to call him, my "bonus" grandpa). his assisted living building allows visitors outside only, with masks, and 6+ feet away. it was so nice to see him.

 

 

we also went to my aunt and uncle's house for dinner one night with them and my cousins (and their pup oakley - who always wins over everyone's hearts. it was so nice to see them and enjoy their deck overlooking the lake. 

thatcher and i got a couple date nights. one night we went to hola arepa and picked up sandwiches and ate them by lake bde maka ska. shortly after we got back, there was a tornado warning but thankfully nothing materialized. another night we picked up pizza from black sheep and ate it at the lake harriet bandshell. it was a beautiful night!

we took this picture on our last night in town and i love it :) it was so nice to spend a long stretch with our families and we miss them so much.