When I found out my children had a four day weekend at the same time my great aunt turned 90 years old we planned to be there for the celebration. We flew in on Thursday just in time to rent our brand new Pacifica, eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp for dinner and ride some amazing rides at Camp Nickelodeon before spending too much time in the Lego Store and heading to our hotel. I must say the AmericInn's great swimming pool in Shokopee was pretty hard to tear the children away from in the morning! But Aunt Hope's home and 10 acres is a destination location all on its own. I'm so glad only the poplar trees had shed their leaves before we arrived. With forest and hay bales, the creek and Hope's papillon dog, Tiny, there was plenty to enjoy with the family being together. On Saturday, K opted to stay home with my mom and Aunt Hope while Dan and I took the other children to tour Fairlawn Mansion and visit the Richard Bong center in Superior. Danny really absorbed the latter and is thinking about joining the Air Force instead of the Army after this trip. (Don't tell my dad.) I'm sure cousin Lee's model airplanes helped with that too. Saturday night we were treated to having both Hope's sons and their wives and Clif's daughter Maddie joining us at the house and making us a delicious "dump" dinner using a turkey frier to boil enough water outside. It was so good to see them again and even better to have my cousin Nate and his fiancé Annie join us the next day at the party along with cousin Oliver. I hadn't seen Oliver for a really long time and it was great to talk to the soon-to-be high school graduate. The party was wonderful, with over 100 in attendance. Chris made gluten free cupcakes and the punch made of apple cider and cream soda was a big hit.
Side note: Hubby figured out a much easier way to deal with hauling a huge car seat around and skipping the stroller business. Genius.
Monday was a sightseeing day to Glensheen Mansion, Betty's pies for lunch (sooooo good), and Split Rock Lighthouse. Glensheen was new to all of us and I decided that if I had to live 100 years ago in Duluth, I was definitely want to work there. I am happy we could share Betty's Pies and Split Rock with my mother and K too since they had opted to stay at Hope's when we visited a couple years ago. We highly recommend the raspberry peach and the 5 layer chocolate at Betty's and to take your pictures at Split Rock before the fog comes in! Our last night we ate at Perkins with Hope and her friend Jean. They have known each other since before my mom was born!
It was time to pack up and say goodbye and begin the 3 hour drive to the airport before we knew it. The children didn't want to leave one bit. I don't blame them.
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