Minnesota Vacation

Our trip was a few weeks ago now - I couldn't post anything as we had problems with the camera software. Danny finally had a moment to fix it for us yesterday so we are back on track again but have some catching up to do.

Minnesota was fun - it started out with a very early flight from Baltimore. This is a shot of everyone at the airport pulling their own luggage, including a suitcase full of books to give my sister. While there, we went to the Mall of America and took the younger two boys to a place where you build your own remote control car - it reminded us of Build-a-Bear, but with cars. It was one of the coolest places we have ever seen!!

One night the "guys" went out to see Dark Knight - the batman movie. Left to right is Uncle Ed, Matt, Danny, and Uncle Chris. It was really neat to see Matt going out with his Dad and two uncles...

One day we rented a pontoon boat and cruised up and down the St. Croix river (a three hour cruise I think) with Danny as our captain. We saw a ton of wildlife! And it was a beautiful day as well.

Here is our faithful Captain Danny - who was getting phone calls from work while we were out in the middle of the river!!

My beautiful neice Rebecca, who, incidentally, looks a lot like Drew Barrymore!! haha

Okay, I had to post this one - my sister Cathy went up to the front of the boat with some of the kids, and Danny couldn't resist trying to knock her off the boat by jerking the steering wheel - now THAT was a sight to see!!

We went to the Minnesota Museum of Science where there was a Star Wars Exhibit. That was pretty neat, but it didn't have everything the boys were hoping to see... but still fun.

Luke Skywalkers landspeeder

This is a view of Stillwater, MN, from the rooftop of, believe it or not, the town's beautiful public library! I told my Dad that I would give my right arm to have that library in my town - it had fireplaces everywhere with leather chairs for reading, curved bookshelves, stain glass windows, three stories of books, private study rooms that you can spread out and close the door (perfect for homeschool planning) and a rooftop terrace where you can eat your lunch as you view the St. Croix River!!! I think I would LIVE in that library if I lived there!!

This is a view of the indoor amusement park at Mall of America - very fun!

Hannah got to go horse-back riding one day, which included getting to take off the saddle, rub down the horse, brush it and feed it some treats. It was absolutely the highlight of her trip...

We ladies (me, Hannah, my mom and sister Cathy) went to a tea room in historic Stillwater. They have hats for you to put on and bottomless pots of tea - it too was a highlight for us. This is Cathy "putting on the airs" of an english tea-drinking lady!!

A great shot of Cathy, Hannah and Mom (Mom looks like she belongs in the Red Hat Society!!)

And lastly, Hannah posing in one of the many hats she wore that day. (She is practicing up for motherhood!!!)