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!

A Day in the Life

Started this morning out at 5:10 with an elbow to the back from the boss. Not sure if he was awake or not, but luckily for him, I had to be up to get Bean off to a before-school study session that began at 6:15.
Made lunches for the kids, did dishes, fed the cranky cats, carried Minnie downstairs to keep Maui from chasing her and another early morning cat-fight, got the girls up and re-set Tater's alarm so she wasn't getting up at 6:15 anymore.
By this time, a migraine had snuck up on me and as I sent the Boss and the girls out the door, I went back to bed.
Woke up at noon feeling worse than ever. Made it to the medicine cabinet and grabbed some ibuprofen and snuggled on the couch with Mickey. 
We watched several episodes of Terra Nova and one episode of The Stand before I went down to put in some laundry.

Was showered and ready for the day when Bean and Dizzy came home. I took the easy dinner route and made hot dogs for them and leftovers for me. Tater changed when she got home and she ate her hot dogs while I got water bottles together and filled and chased Dizzy to her room to change.

Bean had to run help a friend, so his dinner sat. We were headed to game and practice when he returned.

Tater and I dropped Dizzy at practice and headed early to her game to do her warm up pitches as she was the starting pitcher tonight.

It was a good game, not a great one, but Tater did have a hit and had both an RBI and came across the plate herself.
The game ended a bit early due to lightening, so we went for milk shakes to celebrate the hit and Dizzy being assigned to the  level she wanted for gymnastics next year.

Coming home was not a pleasure, as Maui has been very aggressive towards Minnie lately  and I found Minnie hiding in a pile of scat in Beans closet. 

Maui will spend a few days in isolation to see if that helps. Minnie is in wonderland, as Mickey is outside and she has the house to herself.

I'm watching another episode of The Stand and then calling it a night.

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