Vacation day 8

So I didn't post yesterday because we didn't make it back to the motel until today. Late game with long transit ride means tired kiddos today!

Yesterday began with us nearly forgetting our baseball tickets in the rental car. Got that squared away ( and figured out how to do transit passes) and we were off!

First was a visit to the Chicago Theater.

Then I found a great cornerstone.

Then to Millennium Park and the giant bean. Enjoyed lots of fun flowers in the park. I want to plant some of them for me next year!

Then we found the fountain.

They're starting to act like each other!

Lunch and then I sent the family up Willis Tower and had an hour to myself. I sat in a park and read after a quick milkshake break.

After a couple of wrong turns, it was off to baseball.

Then back to the motel with a day of over 16,000 steps. I'm feeling each and every one of those steps today! We are off to the museum today.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to stop and smell the roses!

Vacation day 7

I'm stumped. How can an eight hour train ride seem longer than an eighteen hour ride? Not sure but today on the train seemed very long. 

Kids took the ride in stride:

Tater enjoyed the cities.

Dizzy was just a bit punchy.

Bean just shook his head.

Everyone's favorite was going underground when we reached Chicago.

(Photo courtesy of Tater)

Getting off the train and getting luggage and the rental car was a breeze. 

The ride to our motel was not.

We had a thirty minute delay due to a couple of accidents on the freeway. The Boss's phone is fired, as we mapped what we thought was a toll-free route and found ourselves on a toll road. Ah well, we paid our share!

Dinner at Culvers and off to bed for a full and long day tomorrow! (Now if only the Cubs would win this extra inning game so the Boss and I can to to sleep as well!

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

Vacation day 6

Today was another travel day. 

We did spend the morning at my aunt and uncles, re-packing and trying to fit in all of our clothes and prizes in our existing bags...

Meet my new collapsible duffle:

It will collapse and zip into a small bag and fold out to hold such treasures as two My Little Pony stuffed animals and a cookie bear and three Paul Molitor bobble heads from the baseball game. Glad I gave away two already!

We visited with gram on our way out of town and I just stood with her and held her hand the entire time. 

We drove to St Paul to check into our motel for the night and the Boss and Bean took the rental car back to the airport and rode the bus back to meet the girls and I, who enjoyed some tv and internet time.

Dinner was a short walk away and the kids ate in a real greasy spoon diner.

We were asked when we walked in if we were lost. It was colorful and the food was very good.

We also saw Lucy from Peanuts:

Time for bed, as we have to be out the door at 7am tomorrow.

Oh, and just to keep things interesting, we got a call from my friend and coworker that we had no water. We brainstormed over the phone and finally told them we would call the well company. Not only is she a great friend, but she even trusts me to raise her tomatoes while they are moving in the next month. Knowing how much she treasures her plants, I am very honored.

The controller was broken on our pump, so it wasn't too bad of a fix!

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

Vacation day 5

Today was a visiting day. 

We were able to sleep in and have brunch with my aunt. Once we were done, we packed up the leftovers and headed to the farm. 

This included four wheeler riding:

Helping my cousin clean the fish 

(She was not impressed!)

And a tractor ride:

After they had worn themselves and the dogs out, my aunt and I headed to visit with gram. She was tired but happy to see us. I could see when she is tired or we wake her up that she drifts through the decades a little. 

After the Boss arrived with the kids, we visited a bit longer and then headed for one of my favorite locations, the beach.

Then it was off to my other aunt and uncles to have dinner with everyone. My cousin's little one was home from her weekend with her dad and we were able to let the kids play for a couple hours.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to tell your loved ones you love them!

Vacation day 4

Day 4 was another travel day, but a much shorter one than before! 

We were up and ate the skimpy breakfast at the motel and got packed up. Hmmm, shopping prizes require space. We managed to get everything into the car but it was close!

Lunch was in Sauk Centre and then it was a hop, skip and a jump to Glenwood.

Little did the kids know but that was the end of wifi for a few days!

The big reason for this trip was to visit my 94 year grandmother who is now living in a nursing home. I know they have better names for them now, but that is where she is at.

It's a very nice home and her room is homey. Her favorite recliner, an end table and lamp were touches of her previous home. My aunt also makes sure to keep current pictures of all of us posted for her as well. I was worried about whether or not she would know me, but she seemed to know the Boss and I, but did mistake Bean for my brother at one point. Not surprising, as they look and act a lot alike!

We had a nice long visit outside in the shade and were able to watch the Race for a Cure Hospice ride. There were about 150 motorcycles and a few older or fun cars and they went by a block away from where we were sitting.

Both of my local aunts were with us and one of my cousins joined us for a little while. 

We finished the day with dinner at my aunt and uncles and two more of my cousins joined us.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

Vacation day 3

Whoops, forgot a day! Day 4 will be later today and I'll try and keep up after this!

Day 3 was baseball and Mall of America (MOA) day. After an amazing night of sleep in a bed and space that was not moving, we ate a quick (and sub par) breakfast, I fell in the very slick bottomed shower and we headed out. 

MOA was a hit for most. Tater scored at the American Girl Store 

She and Dizzy squealed over the Barbie car

And then the Lego Store was a total blast

Dizzy was disappointed not to find what she wanted at the Disney Store, but we have Chicago yet to go.

After the slight hiccup in finding the transit station, we arrived to watch the Chicago Cubs

Take on the Minnesota Twins 

Cubs lost but it was a good game and we were treated to a fireworks show after.

Transit was a mess after the game and it was very late when we arrived back at the motel. We did make a couples night when we gave them Paul Moliter bobble heads (the gate give away) since we had five and a bit of a worry about how to get everything home.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

Vacation day 2

After many problems yesterday, including scheduled track closures for maintenance and broken freight trains, we didn't get on the train until nearly midnight last night. We are expected to get into Minneapolis/St Paul about twelve hours late. Ah well, we didn't have any definite plans for today, but will have to cut our MOA trip short. The Boss has been busy reworking our rental car, as the original one will be closed long before we arrive.

Kids are being great, although they are sleeping a lot so tonight might be rough.

Lots of interesting people on the train. A grandma and her grandson behind us, so it's been pleasant. Bean has scored a seat to himself most of the trip, so he's happy and the girls have only argued a couple of times.

Some of the train stations have been picturesque and so far Fargo wins, but I'm thinking Minnesota has some neat ones as well. 

I was in the wrong spot to get pictures of the oil fields but will try on the trip home.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

Vacation day 1

Well, we are off. Day began with the discovery that the train is running 5 hours  late! How in the world?!?

We left home a little later than planned, deciding to relax a little about our planned 8 am departure. 

The first hour of the trip was spent going through the trip planning books I brought home from work. 

Dizzy decided (with the Boss's help) to pick out the food for the Chicago portion of the trip. Listening to her try and pronounce some of the words entertained us for nearly half an hour.

After four phone calls from Amtrak (2 for the Boss and 2 for Dizzy), I'm beginning to worry about whether or not the rest of us actually have seats!

Fast forward several hours and it's eight at night and we have finally arrived at the train station and they took my bags, so I think we're on our way!

We did get to spend the afternoon with my favorite nephew!

Now to get on the train and get going!

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to keep a sense of humor!

Vacation T-1 day

Vacation time means a lot of organization...

I'm in trouble!

Endings and beginnings

Last night Tater's softball season came to a close suddenly. End of the second inning and there was lightning. Thirty minutes of giggly 9-10 year old girls in what was suddenly a tiny dugout. Thankfully one of the families brought treats and the girls jumped on the ice cream treats while they waited. As the rain comes in, dumping buckets, hail falls for a few and lots of thunder and lightning, we knew that the game was going to be called. It was, and I was a drowned rat and had a good time laughing as some chose to run the swamp that was once an infield and bases. 

Our hope had been to finish the game tonight, but were told two innings is a complete game in softball. Bummer!

In other news...

My garden is coming up nicely. 

Tomatoes have blossoms

Baby spinach

Lettuce

Cucumbers

Acorn squash

Green Beans

Pumpkins (and there are a lot of them!)

Peas

Corn

 And finally, the cats are settling down, thanks to some help from calming collars and a diffuser to keep them calm. Minnie even joined me from her hidey hole this morning.

Well, off to get Tater and take her and Bean out to lunch to celebrate the end of the school year. How do I suddenly have a Junior (?!?!?!?!?), a 7th grader and a 4th grader?

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!