MN Part Three: Cousins

 

Next Stop: Grand Forks. Maybe I should call this my North Dakota trip instead! I stayed with my sister and her husband for two nights and spent the day with my cousin Erin and her son Blaine. I hadn't seen Erin in two years and had not met Blaine yet as he will turn two in November. 

Erin and I grew up practically next door to each other until I was seven. As next-door as you can be in rural Minnesota anyway. I never thought I'd live far away from her and often thought that our children would be best friends too. I never thought we'd go two years without seeing each other, but life doesn't always go the way you dreamed when you were five. 

Anyway, I was thankful to be able to spend the whole day with Erin and her son. To be a part of her life again. We started with a trip to the park, and after lunch we brought out the sprinkler and kiddy pool and watched Blaine enjoy the water on the hot day. It was a very low-key day for which I was thankful. Don't get me wrong, I would have gladly gone on errands with them and run around town, but sitting around and playing with the water was very relaxing.

*Insert sigh of missing those relaxing, warm, summer days of the Midwest*

That evening, I made dinner for my sister and her husband we watched a movie and went to bed. The next day would be July 4th and we'd make our way to Plummer.

 

Next Stop: Grand Forks. Maybe I should call this my North Dakota trip instead! I stayed with my sister and her husband for two nights and spent the day with my cousin Erin and her son Blaine. I hadn't seen Erin in two years and had not met Blaine yet as he will turn two in November. 

Erin and I grew up practically next door to each other until I was seven. As next-door as you can be in rural Minnesota anyway. I never thought I'd live far away from her and often thought that our children would be best friends too. I never thought we'd go two years without seeing each other, but life doesn't always go the way you dreamed when you were five. 

Anyway, I was thankful to be able to spend the whole day with Erin and her son. To be a part of her life again. We started with a trip to the park, and after lunch we brought out the sprinkler and kiddy pool and watched Blaine enjoy the water on the hot day. It was a very low-key day for which I was thankful. Don't get me wrong, I would have gladly gone on errands with them and run around town, but sitting around and playing with the water was very relaxing.

*Insert sigh of missing those relaxing, warm, summer days of the Midwest*

That evening, I made dinner for my sister and her husband we watched a movie and went to bed. The next day would be July 4th and we'd make our way to Plummer.

MN Part Two: Mini Golf and Good Friends

The next stop on my tour of Minnesota was technically in North Dakota. I stayed with my brother John in Fargo and spent a couple of afternoons hanging out with a few other college friends.

Katie, one of my very best friends from college had come back to the states from Australia for a brief visit. Of course, I had to arrange my trip home to co-inside with hers! I've blogged about Katie several times over the years, but let me just proclaim it publicly again, that I love this girl! She has been "by-my-side" since we met through a Campus Crusade trip to Panama City Beach in 2004. We've never really lived in the same city (or state) since I graduated, but we've kept in touch on a very regular basis. I'm just so blessed and thankful for her friendship.

Sarah, my college roommate during my second year at MSUM also joined us making it somewhat of a mini-reunion. Sarah and I met in the college cafeteria one day and joked about being roommates the following year during that very first conversation -- seriously, God, thank you for that "chance encounter!" Who would have thought that it would have worked out - but I'm so thankful it did. We had so much fun that year together.

The three of us along with Katie's Australian roommate, Lisa roamed the Fargo/Moorhead Area for two days, making stops at Hobby Lobby (going there with other crafty friends was more fun that I would have imagined), Thunder Road for a round of mini-golf, and Cold Stone Creamery. It was a gorgeous summer day, but I was not used to the heat and humidity at all.

We also drove over to our friend Skip's house to visit him and his family.  Skip made a brief visit to SF a few years ago, shortly after we moved to the city.  I think we had a whole 20 minutes to catch up then. I hadn't seen his wife since their wedding and now they are expecting their 4th child! Life goes too fast!  It was great to sit around and catch up and enjoy the energy of his children.

With the six of us hanging out in the living room, I was reminded of the times we'd gather in the commons area at college or in one of our apartments. We had a pretty stellar group of friends and did almost everything together.  They were the best part of my college experience and I love that I could see these special friends again.

I also was able to see Melissa, a friend I made while working at the US Bank call center after I graduated. I didn't work there long, but Melissa and I have tried to keep in touch as much as we can. I was very thankful to have lunch with her and hear about her life since then.

 

I had been a little concerned that my time in Fargo/Moorhead would be really busy, but that wasn't the case. Everyone was pretty laid back and I even had an entire morning to stroll downtown by myself.

In the years I had lived there,  I had never taken the public transportation. But now, I didn't have a vehicle -- so, feeling a little adventurous and not up to long walks in the heat, I took the bus. It was a little surreal. The bus driver was super friendly and helpful, the bus wasn't crowded at all, and once I found the bus station it was really easy. The only part that had me worried was that if I missed the bus, I'd have to wait an entire hour for the next one! Leave it to me to stress out about taking a bus in Fargo when I take the bus in SF everyday! 

Also in my down time, I discovered a quilt shop! I spent nearly an hour there picking out fabrics for my upcoming projects. I found four cute patterns that were all 50% off! Score!

And in case you wanted to see a pregnant lady mini-golfing, I've leave you with this:

The next stop on my tour of Minnesota was technically in North Dakota. I stayed with my brother John in Fargo and spent a couple of afternoons hanging out with a few other college friends.

Katie, one of my very best friends from college had come back to the states from Australia for a brief visit. Of course, I had to arrange my trip home to co-inside with hers! I've blogged about Katie several times over the years, but let me just proclaim it publicly again, that I love this girl! She has been "by-my-side" since we met through a Campus Crusade trip to Panama City Beach in 2004. We've never really lived in the same city (or state) since I graduated, but we've kept in touch on a very regular basis. I'm just so blessed and thankful for her friendship.

Sarah, my college roommate during my second year at MSUM also joined us making it somewhat of a mini-reunion. Sarah and I met in the college cafeteria one day and joked about being roommates the following year during that very first conversation -- seriously, God, thank you for that "chance encounter!" Who would have thought that it would have worked out - but I'm so thankful it did. We had so much fun that year together.

The three of us along with Katie's Australian roommate, Lisa roamed the Fargo/Moorhead Area for two days, making stops at Hobby Lobby (going there with other crafty friends was more fun that I would have imagined), Thunder Road for a round of mini-golf, and Cold Stone Creamery. It was a gorgeous summer day, but I was not used to the heat and humidity at all.

We also drove over to our friend Skip's house to visit him and his family.  Skip made a brief visit to SF a few years ago, shortly after we moved to the city.  I think we had a whole 20 minutes to catch up then. I hadn't seen his wife since their wedding and now they are expecting their 4th child! Life goes too fast!  It was great to sit around and catch up and enjoy the energy of his children.

With the six of us hanging out in the living room, I was reminded of the times we'd gather in the commons area at college or in one of our apartments. We had a pretty stellar group of friends and did almost everything together.  They were the best part of my college experience and I love that I could see these special friends again.

I also was able to see Melissa, a friend I made while working at the US Bank call center after I graduated. I didn't work there long, but Melissa and I have tried to keep in touch as much as we can. I was very thankful to have lunch with her and hear about her life since then.

 

I had been a little concerned that my time in Fargo/Moorhead would be really busy, but that wasn't the case. Everyone was pretty laid back and I even had an entire morning to stroll downtown by myself.

In the years I had lived there,  I had never taken the public transportation. But now, I didn't have a vehicle -- so, feeling a little adventurous and not up to long walks in the heat, I took the bus. It was a little surreal. The bus driver was super friendly and helpful, the bus wasn't crowded at all, and once I found the bus station it was really easy. The only part that had me worried was that if I missed the bus, I'd have to wait an entire hour for the next one! Leave it to me to stress out about taking a bus in Fargo when I take the bus in SF everyday! 

Also in my down time, I discovered a quilt shop! I spent nearly an hour there picking out fabrics for my upcoming projects. I found four cute patterns that were all 50% off! Score!

And in case you wanted to see a pregnant lady mini-golfing, I've leave you with this:

My trip to Minnesota: Part 1

I'm going to try to keep this as chronological as I can, for my own sake really. I've gotten pretty horrible at keeping a journal or a scrapbook so this will have to do for now.

My visit to Minnesota was something I had been looking forward to for a long time. I hadn't been "home" since my sister's wedding in 2011 and a lot had changed since then. Cousins had gotten married, cousins had kids, classmates had kids and friends moved. I was so thankful to be able to take off a week of work and spend time visiting with the people I missed most. (No, I didn't get to see all of you, that's true, but hopefully next time!)

The first stop was Minneapolis where I stayed with my Aunt Carol. (Big fail here as I have no photos of her or the other family members we saw! Darn.) She put on a little dinner social with my Great Aunt Sylvia and Aunt Judy and her husband Chris. My mom had also driven down to spend the weekend with me. Carol also took us to a few garage sales as well as IKEA and the Mall of America where my mother spoiled me with maternity clothes. (Yeah!)

Also that weekend, mom and I drove to my cousin Mary's home to visit her and her growing family. She has 4 kids now and I so desperately wanted to see them. We practically stayed the whole day! It was wonderful.  I had sewn quilts for her youngest girls and was able to get a photo of them both with their quilts. We played and talked and ate and just had a great time together.

 

For dinner on Sunday, I met up with one of my roommates from collage, Michelle. We had a great time catching up and I was reminded that no matter how much you keep in touch via facebook or even a phone call, spending time with someone face-to-face is special.

 

Stay tuned for more! More photos will be posted to Facebook as I find the time! Thanks for reading.

I'm going to try to keep this as chronological as I can, for my own sake really. I've gotten pretty horrible at keeping a journal or a scrapbook so this will have to do for now.

My visit to Minnesota was something I had been looking forward to for a long time. I hadn't been "home" since my sister's wedding in 2011 and a lot had changed since then. Cousins had gotten married, cousins had kids, classmates had kids and friends moved. I was so thankful to be able to take off a week of work and spend time visiting with the people I missed most. (No, I didn't get to see all of you, that's true, but hopefully next time!)

The first stop was Minneapolis where I stayed with my Aunt Carol. (Big fail here as I have no photos of her or the other family members we saw! Darn.) She put on a little dinner social with my Great Aunt Sylvia and Aunt Judy and her husband Chris. My mom had also driven down to spend the weekend with me. Carol also took us to a few garage sales as well as IKEA and the Mall of America where my mother spoiled me with maternity clothes. (Yeah!)

Also that weekend, mom and I drove to my cousin Mary's home to visit her and her growing family. She has 4 kids now and I so desperately wanted to see them. We practically stayed the whole day! It was wonderful.  I had sewn quilts for her youngest girls and was able to get a photo of them both with their quilts. We played and talked and ate and just had a great time together.

 

For dinner on Sunday, I met up with one of my roommates from collage, Michelle. We had a great time catching up and I was reminded that no matter how much you keep in touch via facebook or even a phone call, spending time with someone face-to-face is special.

 

Stay tuned for more! More photos will be posted to Facebook as I find the time! Thanks for reading.