Family Vacation - Part 2

After visiting the Koh's in Los Angeles we flew up to Minnesota by way of Dallas to see the Evans' in St. Paul. You and I both took a nap on the flight up. Luckily we were upgraded to first class. I think you were quite comfortable. Me not so much. I was afraid to move and disturb you.


You really grew a lot on this trip. For the first time we feel like we can have a conversation with you. You understand a lot of words and are starting to put them together into comprehension of sentences. You can't speak in sentences but you do understand them now. Along with that you have a lot more personality. That means more tantrums but also more laughter and inquisitiveness. You're like a real person now.

Everyone was so happy to see you. We spent some time at Granny's and Grandpa's house and Auntie Caroline's and Uncle Larry's house along with your two nephews Jonathan and James. Their last name is Best. We arrived late and headed to your grandparents (my parents) where we were sleeping. The Best's came over to see you. Here you are with the table you played with last time you were up at granny's and grandpa's. There's Jonathan. He has grown a lot. In fact grandpa mistook me for him on the last day because I had a baseball cap on.


Here's James. You two were peas in a pod. You were happy that someone had as much energy as you and he was happy because he is no longer the youngest and smallest member of the family. I asked you one morning if you wanted to see granny and you said no. I asked you if you wanted to see grandpa and you said no. I then asked if you wanted to see James and you said yes!


Here's a funny picture of you and Jonathan. You gave everyone hugs and kisses when the Best's came over to see you.


We slept over at granny's house after everyone had left. Every morning when you got up we would go upstairs to the kitchen and granny would put you in this blue chair and you would watch some television and have breakfast with the rest of us. You loved it because you rarely get to see television at our apartment.


You were dying to go out after eating so we took you to the park near the Best's house. Of course you were far ahead of everyone else. "Hurry up!"


They had a nice La-Z-Boy swing for you. And a normal one for daddy to act like a fool.


Here's daddy launching himself off the swing as you watch.


You are a little scared going down slides after you took a bad tumble in Dumbo a while back. But you don't mind going down with mommy or daddy.


You did a little excavating with granny too.


You also had a chance to get used to dogs. Their dog Charlie is very easy going. You are a little scared and yet interested in dogs. I think you are a little better with them now after you and I petted him for a while.


We took this shot to show all the different heights. Jonathan is a few inches shorter than I am. We'll see how big everyone is next year.


After that we went back to the Best's to play badminton. Here I am trying to psyche you out.


You worked up quite a thirst. Grandpa helped out with some water.


After that you were hungry. You had some Cheerios but had to compete with Charlie after you spilled the bowl.


After that we dropped you off with the grandparents (you cried a little) and we headed out to Midway Stadium with Larry, Jonathan, and James to see the St. Paul Saints (a AAA baseball league). Here's mom with Super Fan. He is kind of a cheerleader for the team. No one really goes to see the Saints. They go to see the entertainment like Super Fan.


Here I am with your nephews.


Here's Super Fan leading us in a cheer.


Woo Hoo!


Here's James and Uncle Larry who scored us the tickets.


The next day you played with Auntie Caroline in the sink. You love water.


Here's grandpa Gordon showing you the golf course behind their house.


You went out without me that day (I blew out my back and took it easy at home). You went back to the park and played in the sand.


And then proceeded to get all wet in the fountain the Best's have in the back yard.


On one of the last days we went to the Mill City Museum. Mill City is a nickname for Minneapolis. It used to be one of the largest milling cities in the world. If you have heard of General Mills or Pillsbury then you've heard of the names of the old milling companies. They eventually got out of milling and went into making products from mills like cereal and doughnuts. The museum is built right next to the ruins of an old mill. Unfortunately we forgot the good camera and had to buy a film camera (you might have to ask me what that is). So the pictures look a little vintage.

Here's an exhibit at the museum that shows you how the water from the river was used to transport wood and to drive the grinding mills. All you cared about is that it was water. You love water!


Most of the tour was in a huge elevator. They took us to different floors and there was a re-enactment of some part of the old mill on the floor (sorry no pictures). When we got to the very top we decided to relax a little.


And here's a nice view of the Mississippi River. The water was used to drive the grinding mills that turned the grains into flour.


Here's the view down below. The entire mill was taken out by the many fires it suffered after closing down. It's just a shell of a building now.


Here you are out walking in the ruins after the tour. This is the same place as the picture above. The fire that razed the building was so hot the I-beams are bent.


Here's a view of the Guthrie Theatre peaking out from behind the old grain silos.


Here it is. It's a new building for the play company. It used to be located the other side of town. But this building is much nicer. I just love the architecture. When a part of a building sticks out like that without any support below it's called a cantilever.


We decided that Jonathan had grown too much since we saw him last so we decided to shrink him. Mommy is showing her handy work here. He's very tiny now.


Here's a funny picture. It's a reflection of Jonathan, me, and Auntie Caroline, and James


And that was it. We flew back the next day. We had one day to relax at home before work started up on Tuesday. Which was good. We were all very exhausted from so much travel.