Minneapolis

Friday, July 26th:
The boys, my mom, and I flew out to Minneapolis for a long weekend visit at the end of July.

We had a couple hour delay waiting for our flight to MN. The boys hung in there pretty well. Thank goodness for plenty of snacks and my iPad and their Leap Pad:

Aiden zonked out shortly after we took off. Pretty typical for him to sleep on planes:

 Reid stayed awake the entire time which is pretty typical for him:

I snuck in a little knitting. Still hoping to get my shawl done before it turns cold. I'm almost halfway done. Here's a link to the pattern, in case you're interested.

Both were awake for landing. The pressure bothered Reid's ears a little bit. I told him he could suck his thumb to try to relieve the pressure. He got very mad at me and sternly reminded me that the "doctor" (dentist) told them not to suck their thumbs anymore. Eric and I were just talking about their thumb-sucking this morning. Since our visit to the dentist, it appears that both of them have quit, which I really can't believe. Quitting was so hard for me to do.

Reid helping David make up the hide-away bed in his office:

Eva wanted in on the action:

Eva and Aiden playing with David's Bobcat models:

Saturday, July 27th:

Even though the boys shunned their homemade beach robes, Eva seemed to like hers:

Watching Curious George on my iPad:

We visited a trampoline facility, which the boys loved. Reid was especially a jumping machine and never stopped the entire hour:

My cousin Julie is living with David and Kelsey this summer while she works a summer internship:

There was a zone in a different area for smaller kids, but that was a lot more chaotic than the main area where we hung out:

Jumping Julie:

Eva was lukewarm about jumping and spent some time with Grandma on the sidelines:

Yours truly:

You bet they took a great nap that afternoon:

Music time:

I brought along the title and keys so we could sell my car to Julie's boyfriend, Kris. We affectionately refer to him as a "hipster", because we're boring and old and he and Julie are not. He's starting seminary in St. Paul this fall.

You may recall that Eric drove the grocery-getter up to Minneapolis in October, 2010 so he could have an airport car while based in Minneapolis. During the same trip, my mom, the boys, and I flew up to Sioux Falls to meet up with Eric and my dad so the boys (and Eric!) could meet my Grandma Ringkob for the first time. My dad drove our support vehicle with all of the boys' goods. Took quite the effort to travel with two babies. Since Eric is no longer based in Minneapolis and the car is due for an emissions test IN COLORADO, the timing was perfect to sell it.

David posted this picture of The Hipster and his sweet ride this week. They had to install a new battery, but it sounds like the grocery-getter is about to enjoy a 3rd life. (First driven by my mom, then me.) Appropriately enough, Kris is working part-time at a grocery store. Perfect fit!

Reid loved playing Kelsey's guitar:

Julie brought out her ukulele too!

Eva and Aiden:

Kris, Eva, and Aiden:

I tried to get Aiden's attention for a picture about ten times. He finally turned around and gave me this look. I left him alone after that. (On a related note, one of the boys' favorite things to say to us when we're trying to get them to stop playing is to buzz by and say "We're too busy!" and then run off again. Minding your parents is over-rated.)

Sunday, July 28th:

While David, Kelsey, Eva, and Grandma went to church I took the boys to an indoor play area. Reid really enjoyed shooting baskets:

Aiden liked cruising around:

There was a gigantic climbing structure which a think was 3-4 stories tall. I joined the boys to begin with, but then sat out for a little while to let my knees recover.
Reid is about halfway up this picture:

Aiden's head is peeking out from the second to top level:

Reid is now on the top level:

The dilemma with going to a place like this is trying to get your children to leave. It took me a looooong time to locate my climbers. Luckily, they tend to stay together:

That evening we ate a picnic supper near the Lake Harriet band shell:

Aiden and Eva are playing in the sand/water while Kelsey and Julie look on:

Reid is on the far side running around while David (white shirt) is looking on:

I met up with one of my college friends, Alyssa, who also has twins! She had the smart idea of having them pose on the climbing web. Helped to keep them wrangled together:

So good to catch up with Alyssa! Mamas of twins- we get each other because having twins is definitely a completely different ballgame than having a singleton.

Hard to beat the cuteness of a cousin bath-time pic:

Reading time:

Helping Auntie Kelsey make cookies. She always makes the most delicious meals when we visit:

   

Monday, July 29th:
More music time- Reid on the guitar; Aiden on the bell:

We made a quick trip to a neat children's bookstore in Linden Hills. It's filled with lots of creatures too.
Lizard:

Rats in a cage below thick Plexiglas:

A hen:

Reid liked a little chair that was just the right size for him:

There was a little kid door built into the big main door:

Adios, Brother. Thanks for a great time, David, Kelsey, and Eva!

Even longer delay on the way home:

Finally, Hector the Otter arrived from Denver:

Honk shoo:

Grandma enjoyed an empty row so she moved over to the window seat. And probably wanted to distance herself from being associated with us as both boys threw HUGE fits right before we got on the plane. Their patience was had after having to wait so long for our plane to arrive. I finally had to grab both of them in my arms and drag them on the plane, as Grandma had boarded too far ahead to help. I successfully avoided eye contact with any of the other passengers after that. I'm really hoping traveling without Eric can be kept to a minimum in the future. Uff-da!

Better times back on the ground in Denver: