Land of Tumble Dryers and Target boutique

First, thank you to my parents who were wonderful hosts, babysitters and always a loving mom and dad. And thanks to M and R for driving so far to see us. The visit was short but we were really glad to have some time with you, as were the kids. I will write a bit, but I plan to post pictures. They likely tell the best story. We had a wonderful time (although too short) with everyone we saw and we’re sorry for the friends and family we missed.

We arrived safely with only a bit of drama. We headed for the airport on the tube (three suitcases, stroller, carry on and two children). We had to change trains three times, hauling our things up and down stairs, escalators and elevators. Thanks to a guardian angel (a business man from Seattle, moving back to the USA) we exited one train just in time to catch the correct train. It took around 1 ½ hours. We raced to the airport to hear flights being canceled due to snow (thank goodness in Seattle.) We waited in line as three employees checked in a hundred people or more? Then waited again at security, we ran all the way to the gate while they announced last call for our flight. S was a dream and X was being 2 ½. Oh, and despite having booked our seats in August, they reassigned all four of us to different cabins. (A two year old can sit alone, right?) No employee seemed interested in helping us. Each one said just ask if anyone will change with you. Thankfully, I was seated with 4 seats in a row with a couple in the middle and a single twenty something woman traveling alone. So, I asked if she would trade and sit in the aisle seat in back so I could have the two seats for X and I. Easy for her right? No, she doesn’t like to sit in the back! REALLY? !@#@!#!*&! (I hope she had a connecting flight that canceled.) Well, I finally found two very kind people willing to trade and some others even traded with V and S and we all ended up near each other. The one flight attendant did come and check on us later. X and S did wonderful once we were seated on the plane. Of course, open season on watching movies never hurts! My mom and dad even had a steak dinner planned for us, we waited until the next night. We were just too tired to eat. T-bones mmmm.

From our second day on, it was a blur of events. However, with many more days, I would have needed to get a job to pay our Target tab. Just think 7 months of pent-up longing for Target. Oh my.

The first day we did dentist and eye appointments and V had a night out with CE and TE at Famous Dave's Restaurant. I know they had a great time. Next we spent a fab evening with the H family. The girls were in heaven, but actually told the sitter-we are tired let’s go to bed. (Can M come stay with us?) DH even managed to come out for dinner with us at Outback despite being up for 24 hours dealing with the latest snowstorm. Thank you! I miss TH so much. We have raised the little ones side by side for so long and I have so often watched TH with the kids and thought, “what a good idea, I am going to do that.” I cherish her friendship. Ok, I will try to stop being so sappy.

Next we spent a lovely Christmas with my mom and dad, V's mom and dad, the VG family, the J family, etc. It was fun and we thank everyone for adjusting their Christmas plans to see us. Santa and everyone else brought us wonderful gifts. I am still not sure how we carried it all back. We could take 50 pounds in each of our suitcases and 50 pounds they were.

I even got two shots with my StA Moms: a play date for the kids (thanks JP) and a coffee date. I have been gone 7 months and yet it felt like no time had passed. I wish I had the time to see each one for a night of chatting. V went sliding with friends at Buck Hill, I am sorry I missed them.


Next it was time with my HS friends. It was a really fun evening, although I think the waitress was glad to see us finally leave! Funny how you can know people for so long (30 plus years), experience a thousand different things, live in different places, and still be at home with each other with out a blink.

Shopping and lunch with the UST girls (I missed you K and P). I was so glad to see S and J. They caught me up on the latest. And by the time I am home next there will be two new babes in the mix. (Theirs, not mine!) I can’t remember what V did.

Mom, S and I had a brilliant lunch at the MOA and got S her first American Girl doll. She is so into the stories. We have read the entire Kit, Mollie, Felicity and Josephina series including the mysteries. She chose a Felicity doll. Mom and I split the cost. I swore S would never get one, they are too expensive. And it isn’t the actual money, but the idea of spending that much on a doll. Never say never. I must admit, it was really fun to be so indulgent. S sleeps with her Felicity doll nightly.

Off to the water park of America. Thanks for planning it SM. Two nights in the hotel and all day in the water. I think I am still dizzy from floating the girls, I mean mermaids, around the lazy river and saving fairies. I loved every minute of it. SM and I could have talked all day. The V’s were even able to join us and we were grateful to see them. But I have had it, I think both AV and KV are taller then me now! So grown up, ahhh. Seems so recently they were the babies on the boat with us.

Can you believe we were only home 10 days! I haven’t even included all the shopping and popping about we did.

We dropped the kids with Mom and Dad and headed to Buca’s. We had 11 friends get sitters and brave the weather from Eden Prairie to Rogers, just to spend some time together. The always group. Sorry we miss you SK. Next time.

New Years was spent with the E family (we missed you K family, but hope you are much better.) CE and TE put out a fabulous spread and we even ended the evening with balloons and dancing. I think we are glad to be old enough to celebrate New Years at 10:00 pm!!! Oh, that was for the kids benefit right?

Our final day was spent with some friends from V’s work, at their new home. The house and food were both lovely. We will be excited to see them here in June. I hope they bring the guitar.

Oh and on the tumble dryers, I really miss them (of course, I barely used it when we were home~thanks mom!)

Also, my best Christmas present was my mom’s book. She wrote my grandmother almost everyday when they moved to NB in 1970 and my grandma saved the letters. My mom has spent the last 10 years typing and editing the letters into a book (700 pages) and adding pictures. It is our growing up. I read a page here and there, but can’t bring myself to read it straight through~a little too homesick when I read it. But I am so very glad to have it and will cherish is always.

Well, I guess I fibbed, I wrote more then a bit. And looking over it, I realize yet again how blessed V and I have been in our lives to have so many very good friends and family. And can you believe we didn’t see everyone? And as we say now, “It was Bril!” Always.