Justin's return to MN

When your grandparents live in another state, summer visits become part of your childhood memories.  That's how it was for Justin.  We moved to Minnesota in 1997 when he was 3 years old, and when most young children wouldn't remember much from those early years, justin remembers it all.

So each year when he askes when are we going to MN, we begin planning.  Because of his very busy schedule it often becomes a very short visit.  We are leaving for our trip tomorrow.  (June 12)

Pick up: 1:15PM a stop at Starbucks and here we go

Crazy, miles and miles of construction on 290.  Good to see our toll money at work.  Two hours to the Wisconsin boarder, then first stop for lunch.  Our plan is to hit Sunsets in Woodbury at about 8 PM for a light meal before checking in to the Hilton Garden Inn, Oakdale, MN.  

Hello there Wisconsin, where else are there cow statues to greet you??  

Amusing myself on the highway!!  We lived in MN for 8 years, and in those years we drove to Illinois every month.  EVERY month, winter, spring, summer, and fall.  We encountered every type of weather you can imagine.  Rain, snow, ice, hail, once even outran a tornado.  Afterall we had a mission, our grandchildren were being born and it was what drove us.  Here are the numbers, 96 trips, 78,912 miles, and approximately $7,891 for gas.  Of course we killed one car, and one mini van along the way.

Bridge over the St Croix.  Connecting Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Always great to come home again!!

What the heck?  First we drive to Sunsets for a light dinner before checking into the hotel, but it's closed.  Then we drive down to Champps and find this sign on the building.  Find out the corporation has gone bankrupt and it is still the same owner but they have to change their name, to "we don't have a name yet".  

Here's to our safe trip and night one in MN..  

Beautiful sunset, goodnight!!

Breakfast at the hotel and then heading out.  Red Wing, MN for the day.  

Ok, don't know why but Justin thinks this is a really funny name for a restaurant. 

Only in MN can we visit a casino with Justin.  It's the only state that an 18 year old can legally gamble, so being good grandparents we teach him a vice...  

Of course he loves it.  Winner buys dinner!!  

Downtown Red Wing for lunch.  Walleye sandwich, yum. 

After lunch we walked through town and into Levee Park where we had some fun with the joker.

Saturday morning we are scheduled for a 2 hour Segway ride in St Louis Park.  Just zipping past Mineapolis on the way.  

Forecast is 50% chance of rain, fingers crossed we will be in the 50% dry part of town..  NOT!! So if it's just raining we are adventurous and brought rain ponchos. It is lightly raining when we take off and I'm the only one to put on my rain gear.  15 minutes into the ride, already quite wet, the two macho guys want to stop and put on the rain protection. 

I'm chuckling while I watch this.  He's twisting and turning and pulling and tugging.  Finally he gets the poncho on and we proceed. We have a map and know where we want to go but, yup, we passed our turn and about 15 minutes down the trail we figure out we are a little lost.  So we begin backtracking and finally were headed in the right direction.  Our destination was the Lake of the Isles, one of a chain of lakes in and around the St Louis Park area.  

It is raining a bit harder now and as we begin our ride around we are commited.  It's a one way trail of 3 miles, no turning back now.  Wind and rain is picking up now and it was getting colder.  The rain was hitting our faces and our hands were really cold now, but we were giggling like kids.  I kept thinking what a spirit of adventure we have and how lucky we are to still be able to do things like this with our grand kids.  I'm wishing I had remembered fun times with my own grandparents, but they were all gone before I was born.  All of these thoughts are keeping me from the reality that we are caught in aweful weather and can't pick up speed because we are riding right into this fierce wind.  

This picture was taken before the monsoon hit.  Ha ha. Minneapolis skyline behind us.  Bet it's beautiful on a sunny day.  By the way, winds picked up as we rode and were said to have hit 70mph.  As the rain hit us it felt like pins sticking our faces.  As we look back we realize we should have been a little more freaked out.  Dahhhh!!

Sunday morning we went to 8:30 Mass at St Ambrose of Woodbury.  Ok, I just may have to say our favorite church of all.  And look who we found there.  

Vickie Staudt and her beautiful family.  She is a 3Mer and a minister at SA church. And of course a special friend. 

By the time we left the church there wasn't one person there but us and Father Tom who told us he will be staying in this parish for a while longer.  Great news I like him!! 

Off to The Mall of America. 

Not Camp Snoopy anymore. 😪

All Nickelodeon theme, with lots of new rides. Ninja Turtles, Dora, and my favorite addition,

Imagine, an entire Peeps Store.  And don't forget Spongebob!!

But this sign said it all!!

Last event was Pizza night with Patty, her grandson Jack, and their gang before calling it a night. ❤️❤️. Patty adopted us into their family years ago.  Thanks Patty, Scott, Tara, Dale, and Jack. 

Monday morning back over the St Croix River bridge into Wisconsin and home.  The weather could have been better, but the MN people never, ever disappoint us.. 

You can buy children anything in the world, but nothing will compare to the memories you make with them.  See you in August when we return for the Fair.  Hope to connect with many old friends at that time..