Mall of America Days 3 & 4

Day three started out with a good breakfast at the hotel.  Some of us had lucky charms and peanut butter toast.  Some of us didn't.  We left to go to the aquarium thinking it would be most of the day but Kyann wasn't really interested.  She wasn't bad or whiny she just wasn't interested.   

These are chocolate chip star fish.  Really cool!  We got to touch them .  Kyann wasn't interested in them either.  

The jellyfish and the sea horses were my favorites.  They were pretty awesome.  They had a really good display of both.

The sharks were pretty scary.

But the "Dude".  Man he didn't even look real and he just hung there for the longest time.  It was soooo neat!

Another shark.  I'm sure it had a name but I forget it.   After we were done we decided to go the the mirror maze.

It is all done with mirrors and you had to wear plastic gloves (even Kyann) so you wouldn't leave fingerprints on the mirrors and show someone else the way out.

 We tried several times but coming back to the beginning.  We stuck out head out and asked the kid in charge what we were doing wrong and he said well there are some land marks like the fire works ( we found them every time but they didn't' help us)

We finally gave up and went out the entrance.  Hope I never get lost in the woods.  We headed out for lunch with a couple of stops on the way at the Lego Land and the Disney store.

From there we went to the Rainforest Cafe  for lunch.  It was really good and had a Build  A Bear right in it.  Cindy said they were trying it out in a couple of cities.

After lunch we went back to the rides for a while and Cindy and Kyann rode the Ferris Wheel.  No more log rides.

We decided we had had enough Mall and had a DQ for a snack and head back to the hotel.  Cindy and Kyann went swimming for a while and I rested.  We went to TGIF's for supper and it was really good too.  Lots of good food this trip.    Our idea for Thursday was to go to Fort Snelling but they were forecasting rain and cold, so we thought maybe we would just go for a swim in the morning and maybe stop at the Little Brown Church on the way home.  So after breakfast we came back to the room and we couldn't get in.  Cindy went back down to have them re-key our card and came back and it still wouldn't work. She had to go back a third time and brought the manager back with her with new key cards and then they worked.  We loaded up the cart (which Kyann loved to ride. better than the rides at the mall I think) and went out to the car.  It was so cold!  Windy but sunny.  We got loaded up and started home about 8:45.  We didn't have any trouble but ran into rain in Iowa.  We made a few potty stops and stopped for lunch at Applebee's in Waverly and  got to Cindy's about 2:45.  Not too much traffic coming home.  I rested a little while and headed home.  Stopped in Washington and got a few groceries and made it home safe and sound.   Good times.

Mall Of America Days 1 and 2

Cindy, Kyann and I took a trip to the Mall of America while Shane was in Canada fishing.  Last year we went by train to Chicago and this year decided to take a road trip to Minneapolis to the Mall.  Originally I was going to go to Cindy's Monday afternoon and we were to leave Tuesday morning early.   But Cindy saw that the mall was having a Cat in the Hat meet and greet story time for toddlers at  10:30 Tuesday morning. Kyann really likes Dr Sous stories but we  didn't think we could get there in time if we left Tuesday morning so we decided on Friday we would go part way on Monday and make it to the Mall in time for the Cat. I got online and found a cheep hotel (49.99) for the night  in Owatonna Mn.  I guess the price should have been a red flag for me but I just thought it was a good deal.    We stopped in Brandon to have a Kodak moment with the big skillet.  And give everyone a chance to stretch our legs. Traffic was really heavy in Waterloo due to road construction and the holiday traffic.  It took us  45 minutes to go 5 miles.   We made it through finally and traffic wasn't too bad after that.  We stopped for supper ( I can't even remember where) but got to the hotel around 6:00.  As we exited the interstate and  pulled around to the hotel.  Right beside it was a ( humm how can I put this delicately)  a strip joint I think.  We didn't go in!  It was separated from the motel by a chain link fence.   We pulled up in front of the hotel and attached to it was a liqueur store. Not a good beginning.  We talked about just going on and trying to find something else but decided to at least look at the room.  The clerk was very nice and gave us a room key and we went back to the room.  It was OK but smelled of cigarette smoke  even with the window open it was very strong.   After a little while Cindy went to ask if we could switch to another room and again the clerk was very nice and gave us a key to a room on the second floor.  It did not smell so bad so we moved up these rickety stairs.  I didn't sleep well.  I kept expecting someone to break in and slit our throats.  After a while I just decided to give it to God and if I died so be it.  I then slept pretty good.  In the morning Cindy told me she had the same thoughts but was unable to sleep.  it was going to be a long day.  After breakfast at Perkins right next door we hit the road and had no trouble finding the Mall.  Made it in plenty of time to meet the Cat.

I didn't get a good picture of Kyann with him but she gave him a hug .  Then we set off to the amusement park.

They rode the balloons

and the swings. This one made Cindy sick.  She must be getting old.

and the Merry Go Round.   Then on to Lego Land







They had the neatest things made from Legos and Kyann had a good time playing with them.   It was lunch time by then and we decided to eat at Dick's Last Resort.  Very funny place and the food was really good too.  Our waiter was very entertaining.  The whole idea is to have fun.  He did magic tricks for Kyann (she wasn't impressed).  Threw paper on the floor and even ate one of Kyann's sliders.  Cindy and both had the bar-b-que and it was really good.   After lunch  Cindy and Kyann helped me find the Princess Diana exhibit and then we off on their own for a while.


















They wouldn't let me take any pictures at the exhibit only  of  the cake at the very end of the exhibit.  But I enjoyed it a lot. I met up with Cindy at Lego Land and we decided to head  to the hotel . A very nice Comfort Inn.  I forgot to tell about the Log ride.  I had told Cindy if they were going to ride it I wanted to ride with them.  They have changed a lot in the last 40 years .  Much scarier now.  (be sure to click on the picture to enlarge it and look at Kyann's face.  I had to shut my eyes and go to my happy place.  Cindy  coped by screaming but poor Kyann.  I think she thought we were all going to die. When we got off she said I no like that.   Me either, baby, me either.  We went to the hotel and got checked in and went swimming for a while.  Then to supper at IHOP and the girls went to bed.  I read for a while and joined them to be rested for another exciting day.

Spring Camp Out Back to the 50's

We had our Spring camp out this past week end  with a fifties theme poodle skirts and all.  Here are Katlin and Mya.  Katlin told me Mya had a poodle skirt but I never saw it.  They watched Greese Friday night and Katlin wanted to be Sandy.

Here is a three generation picture of poodle skirts.  As my sister Mary said "they are not flatering" !

Here is Connie's family fifties style.

The four sisters and their dogs. Connie and Jeanine were about twins.

Our first competition was hula hoops and every one got into the act.  Kyann looks more like she is doing karate.

Miss Marley is a twirling.

 Here go Connie and Angie.  Then Dan and Lloyd but the real winner was Katlin.  She really got the hang of it.

Varrrummmmm

Our next competition was Drag racing   I don't think there was a real winner here.  If you could keep your car on the track you were doing good.

Next Connie tried to teach us how to do the "Stroll".  We weren't very good students but we had fun anyway.  Cindy and Dan teamed up and did pretty well and who knew Lloyd could kick up his heels?

Our last competition was a bubble gum blowing contest.  Not sure of the winner here either.  My kids are pretty competitive.

Greaser Dan

My puny attempt at a bubble.  After the games we had a   diner style supper of hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries and malts.  Tasted pretty good.  Another fun week end and the weather couldn't have been much better.  It was a little warm Saturday afternoon but no rain or cold.  Dick and Sue came to see us.  In fact Dick popped in several times over the week end.  Larry, Mary Ann and John came both nights too.  Fun times!

Practicing for 4H

 Went yesterday to pick Katlin up from school and bring her here so she can practice for the 4H horse show.  She is doing a pretty good job for her first year.   She is riding PJ here but also rides Belle.    We are all learning a lot about 4H.

Elizabeth's Graduation

I left Cindy's Thursday morning and drove to Serena, Illinois for Liz's graduation.  Kathy came over to Peg's to see me Thursday afternoon and stayed for supper and to visit.  She only brought one of her babies but Peg's two made her feel welcome.  Me too for that matter.  The wanted to snuggle all the time.  I didn't realize that they had a cat until in the night Thursday when I got up to go to the bathroom and left my bedroom door open and when I came back I happened to see this dark shadow heading for the door.  I opened it and let her out.  Muffin I think was her name.

Peg and Brian have a really nice place.  The patio and yard are huge!     I took this so you could see her Clematis.  It was beautiful!  She had started her container garden again this year and looked pretty good.  Still had some planting to do.  Friday morning Peg took me to see Kathy's house.  It is just right for one person.  Not too small that you feel cramped but not so big you don't know what to do with all of it.  We went to see David's house too (they all live fairly close).  It was amazing.  David had built it himself and Julie did a great job of decorating it.   We left at three to drive down to Normal and pick Liz up and go to supper.  Kari and Sid met us at the restaurant.  It was called Distil  it was a microbrewery. The food was really good.  I had a dish called grilled stuffed pasta.  Yumo!

 After we ate Liz opened her cards and gifts.

Peg had showed me what they got for her.  When Liz was about 8 Shirley had written down a story she used to tell Liz when she was little  complete with art work and  given it to Liz.  Peg had had that made into a real story book and used Shirley's artwork to illustrate it. That is what she is crying about here.   It was really neat.

Some pictures after supper.  Brian, Peg, and Liz.

The whole crew.  Sid grabbed someone waiting in line to take the picture.

Here she is in her cap and gown.

This was the processional.  We figured there were around a thousand graduating that night.  They had already had one ceremony in the afternoon and were to have 2 on Saturday and one on Sunday.  Illinois State is a big school!

Here is my Where's Waldo picture.  Can you find her.  I was glad to be able to be a part of her special day.  It was kind of bitter sweet for Liz.  Ending one phase and starting another.  I know she will be able to do what ever she sets her mind to.