Minnesota!

We headed up to MN late afternoon on Wednesday the 26th of July, getting in around 10:30pm so we didn't see the kids until the next day.  We got them out of Nana and Papa's hair for a bit and took them to the library for story time!

And showed Daddy the penny horse!

We met up with Nana and Papa and checked out Crazy Days!

Parade!

We won this crayon either with bottle ring toss or the leap frog game, can't remember!

And then spent some time at home with Sara's old speak and spell!  They just don't make them like they used to anymore!

Late afternoon we headed to a pizza farm in Waseca to eat, play and listen to live music! What an awesome idea and the pizza was yummy!!

On Friday afternoon we headed up to the Cities to spend time with Jeff, Dawn and the girls.  We got to see their new house too!  Trevor and Leah were two peas in a pod, wanting nothing to do with anyone else!

Old vs young - the younger of the old players might have hurt himself showing off some of his soccer skills!

Hillins cousins!

Before we knew it, it was bedtime!  Trevor bunked up with Leah...

...Ashley and Brooke bunked up together!  And Lauren gave up her room for Brian and Sara and slept on a couch in the basement.  

After the kids went to bed we hung out at the bar in their house!  Pretty cool!

In the morning Uncle B made the kiddos pancakes.  Lauren was already at a swim meet!  Boy can these kids put down pancakes!!

We headed out around 9 but not before Trevor did a few flops on the girls' new bean bags - they are huge!  As always it's nice for the cousins to see one another and have the time together!  Hope to see them again this Fall in AZ!

Kids Special Time with Nana Jeanne and Papa Steve

From the minute that Trevor figured out we could 'easily' drive to Nana and Papa Steve's he has had his heart set on special time with them - in his words, no Mommy and Daddy, just him and Ashley at Nana and Papa's.  Mommy liked the idea - she remembers spending special time with her Grandmas when she was growing up.  So on Thursday July 20, we decided to drive to St. Louis so we could meet Nana and Papa and see Uncle Francis and Aunt Faye.  We went to Golden Corral for dinner which might be the kids new favorite restaurant given that they have cotton candy!

After spending the night in a hotel we enjoyed breakfast with Uncle Francis and Aunt Faye where they spoiled the kids with stuffed animals and sent Sara home with yummy Casa Gallardo salsa and tortilla chips!!

So good to see them!!!!

It was at that point that Mommy headed back to Arkansas and the kids special time with Nana and Papa started.  Nothing like an 8 hour car ride to kick that off :)  The next day Nana and Papa met Uncle Jim, Sam and Elena at Como Park!!!  

After that they stuck around Owatonna and did all of their favorite things!!!!

Slime!!  All the rage right now!

Facetiming!  Missing those buggars!  Plus had to show them that a cat kept visiting our back patio!

So what did Mommy and Daddy do while the kids were in MN?  We had a picnic outside the AMP and listened to some country music!

We went to Walmart's Saturday morning meeting then headed out furniture shopping!

 Found the perfect piece for under the stairs to fill the space but still make it feel open!

We had a double date night with friends!

We chilled by our club pool, what a treat!!  And hit up our favorite winery!

We sent this picture to the kids and they wondered why we went without them!!  LOL

Mommy also got the blog caught up so that it was now only a year behind!!!  YAY  And before you knew it, it was our turn to head to MN and be reunited!!  Couldn't wait!!!