Minneapolis Vacation 2019

It looks like I am blogging once a year, after an amazing vacation. This year we didn't want anything to costly or far like the last two. We decided to cut costs we should go see my brother in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has lived there for 13 years, of which I had only visited 3 previous times. In those years he has never had a siblings full family visit.

We started planning this in January and originally planned the trip for June. We figure Tim's busy season would have slowed by then and our vacation would be done and over and could enjoy the summer. Well, June approached and with all the rain and flooding we have had Tim's busy season was just picking up. After talking to Bryan we decided to come the fist 6 days of August. It did give us something to look forward to all summer but I also felt like we were wishing out summer away.

So August 1st approaches and we hit the road bright and early. On the way we made several stops  and got to see a lot of fields and wind farms, something we say on the way to Colorado a few years before. BUT there was one thing I spotted that I knew we would have to try out on the way home...

We arrived to Bryan's apartment about 6:30p where he was in the parking lot waiting for us. Once the car was unloaded and re-arranged we wasted no time and loaded back in the car, this time Bryan was driving, and headed to his favorite place to get a Juicy Lucy. I have had one of these burgers before but we were both super excited to have Tim and Carter try one. They are so amazing they come with warnings.

The burgers didn't disappoint. Tim and Carter demolished them.

Friday we were up early and out the door by 9am and headed to The Mall of America. Carter was in awe and wanted to walk into every store, Oliver and Evan wanted to enjoy the theme park. The mall is a lot to take in but we went with a plan. We got tickets to the mirror maze, which Carter and Oliver didn't want to leave. 

It was a definitely an experience, and Oliver and Evan ran into a few mirrors. I ended up sitting out with Evan after a few rounds. Once they were tired of that we headed to the Crayola Store to try out the Crayola Experience. We spent over 3 hours in that place and still didn't finish the experience. If you are going with little ones I highly recommend this experience.

 Once we left that store we were all starving so we headed to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. where we got to sit and rest before doing more walking. We finally called it quits about 5p and headed home. We were all tired of walking that we decided to stay in and watch movies. Bryan made us the most delicious mexi-dish and spend the remainder of the evening relaxing.

Saturday was another early morning. Our first destination was Foshay Tower, it used to be the tallest building in Minneapolis. We got to see the city from 30 stories up. It was a beautiful sight. We also enjoyed the little museum that was at the top of the Foshay Tower that gave us the buildings history. Once we completed the tour we headed to the restaurant at the bottom called Keys  Cafe. Bryan and I were the most excited about this place because this is where we got these Ruben Balls we have spoke about for a year. See, we ate them last year when I went to visit him and we loved them so much that my mom surprised us with them at Christmas. SO we were very disappointed when we found out that they no longer made them... Tim says the looks on our faces was priceless. We still enjoy the food, service and atmosphere.

After leaving the Cafe we needed to walk off our food so we headed to the Stone Arch Bridge. It used to be a train track turned into a walking/running/biking path. It is built of all stone and has the most intricate arches. This bridge crosses the Mississippi. It was a nice walk with a lot of bikers and runners. Evan got to see a few princesses (brides) and in the end we enjoyed some Kona Ice (shaved ice). Evan started to get a bit cranky after this so we decided to head back to Bryan's place for naps, which Evan, Uncle B, Tim and Carter all took naps (I may have gotten about 20 minutes in there too).

When we woke it was raining and were worried we weren't going to get to finish our sight seeing. We finally decided to head to Black Sheep Pizza until the rain quit. This place is AMAZING! Out of three pizza's there were only 2 pieces left, that is how good it was. The rain actually let up before we arrived to eat so once we were finished we headed to Sculpture Gardens. Where the boys got to enjoy the art, a art piece that was also a swing and a lot of ducks and geese.

When we left here Bryan suggested we walk to this ice cream place up the road from his apartment. We aren't a family to turn down ice cream. He was right, it was only a few blocks (city blocks) from his house and all up hill... but we made it. Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream is the best ice cream in the world... by the Keller's opinions. We each got different flavors and they all were equally as amazing.

Once we got back to his apartment it was basically bed time and no one was fighting to lay down.

Sunday was a lazy morning and were able to take out time getting ready. About noon we headed out the door to a Twins v. Royals Game. Once inside the stadium we headed to the sport shop because Carter and I wanted a hat and we couldn't leave without getting Olive and Evan a foam finger.

 With the Twins in first place we knew this game wasn't going to disappoint.. and it didn't. They won 3-0. This was Oliver and Evan's first MLB game and they did amazing. After the game we headed to the two story Target Store, which happens to be my favorite place to visit when I got to see Bryan. It is like a mini mall and carries SO much more than ours here in Illinois. After the Target tour we headed to Bryan's friends house to swim. They boys played so hard that when we left at 9p Oliver and Evan didn't even make it out of their subdivision before falling asleep. We couldn't get them to wake to bath so we let them be, obviously changing them into jammies.

Monday was the day we said "until the next time" to Bryan and headed home. We made many pit stops but there was on that was planned and that was in Waterloo, Iowa at the John Deere Museum. The boys, including Tim, were in heaven. 

They had hands on items, displays of old engines and tractors, cut outs that told stories, a drawing board to draw your own tractor, a time clock to punch to show the date and time we were there, and designated tractors to crawl on. We spent a good hour to hour and a half here and the boys talked about it for another hour after. We finally made it home about 8p and we were whooped.

I purposely took off Tuesday to unpack, get the yard back in order and get laundry caught up because school starts a week from today and I wanted to not have to worry about vacation stuff.

Family Vacay 2018 - Gulf Shores

The last two weeks people gave some funny looks when I say we went on vacation with a grand total of 40 people.... all relatives. The ages were 60+ to 4 months old. To be honest we are used to being with these people, maybe not for a full seven days, because they are the same people we camp with. 

Photo Credit: Judith Buescher

We rented a 12 bedroom / 12 bathroom house, Morning Glory, on a private beach in Gulf Shores and it was gorgeous. 

We left Saturday, July 14th about 8am and headed to our first stop, Lamberts Cafe in Sikeston, Missouri. When I was a kid we always stopped at this Lamberts on our way to visit our Aunt and  Uncle in Mississippi. Needless to say I was a bit disappointed. They didn't walk around with the sides that they used to and when it came to throwing the rolls they never made it to our side of the room, they would stand in this one door way and throw. 

Leaving there bummed we prepared for another 5 hours in the car.... hitting just about every gas station and rest stop from Sikeston to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I was proud of Evan telling us he had to pee BUT it was almost every hour. We stopped for the night in Tucsalloosa, grabbed a bite to eat, found a hotel and called it a night. 

The guys chose Waffle House...

this picture represents how that 

made me feel.

We were up and on the road again by 8am on the 15th with only 4.5 hours left to drive. Once we got to Gulf Shores we grabbed a quick lunch and then headed to our meeting spot "The Hangout." 

Where the boys played in their sand area, enjoyed some Dragons Breath and a good foam party. 

We checked out the beach and then headed back to the car to dry off and head to the house. 

Once we were all unpacked some headed to the beach and others headed into the private pool.... and others went and hid from their wives and kids. 

Monday through Sunday was full of many memories. We played at the beach most the time, I participated in sand volleyball and beach yoga. We swan in the pool at the end of each evening. There were many board games, card games, bags tournaments and video game playing going on. 

The littlest littles watched Moana about a million and one times. There were some ladies that took advantage of the outlet malls, however I did not. 

Our little family went out to eat a few times. One place was on my "have to eat" placed and that was Whataburger. I know it is just a simple fast food place but I haven't had it in a good 20 years.... it is basically a Steak and Shake at the speed and prices of  a McD's. It is delicious for fast food. My brothers Bryan and Randy and his family went out to eat on Wednesday to Lulu's, which is Jimmy Buffet's sister's place. 

There are gift shops there, plenty of things to for the kids to do while waiting for a table, a great atmosphere and the food was amazing. We also went out with Randy and his family on our last night in Gulf Shores to The Hangout, again. This time we ate there. The wait for a table was an hour and a half so the kids played in the sand area again. Oliver, Stella and Chloe jumped on the bungee trampolines while Carter enjoyed his second Dragon's Breath of the week. Poor Evan and Tim didn't enjoy themselves as much. Ev's was going to "jump jump" like Stella BUT as he was being called to the trampoline he all of a sudden had to pee. I tossed him to Tim who went running to the bathroom... but they didn't make it and both ended up wet. He rushed back to the house, showered them both, and rushed back just in time to get their food. After dinner we hung around outside a bit longer before calling it a night and heading back to the  house. 

My baby brother even joined us.

Not everyone in my little fam enjoyed the full vacation. Tim got an ear infection that kept him at the house and medicated. Evan had a rash on his legs from the sand and his swim trunks and Carter got some funk under his arm that none of the medical personnel in my family (1 doctor and 2 nurses) could agree on what it could be. Hell, even our family doctor didn't know. These three stayed at the house from Wednesday through Saturday just giving up on beach life. 

Mine and Tims greatest memory is going down with our boys and enjoying the week. Our plan was to enjoy us 5 and the other people there were a bonus. We did exactly what we wanted to do on this vacation and that was absolutely nothing. We spent the days doing exactly what we wanted, when we wanted, eating out as a family and enjoying my families company. 

Carter's biggest memory, I think, is that he got to turn 12 in Gulf Shores. Even though he had a f unk going on he got to do whatever he wanted on his day... if that meant playing video games on the beach then so be it. He got tacos for supper and a cookie cake. He though life was good. If turning 12 isn't Carter's favorite memory than his second would be night crab hunting with the big guys. They would be gone for hours. 

Oliver's favorite memory was playing on the beach. He is my beach bum. Every morning he would ask to make sure I was going to the beach so he could go. Oliver didn't miss a day at the beach and when we left he said he had already missed it. His least favorite part would probably be getting stung by a jellyfish. It didn't keep him away from the beach but it did keep him from going further out into the water. 

Evan is not a beach baby... he preferred the pool, which was good with me because that was where Tim was. However, Evan's favorite part of this vacation would probably be his cousins Stella and Jackson. It could be 5:30 am and if he heard one of them awake he would sit straight up in bed and want out of the room asap. These three would run around together until they were forced to go to bed. The morning we left to go home Evan was begging to see them however, Jackson's family had already left and Stella's family was still sleeping. So the whole 12 hours home he begged to go see Stella and Jackson. 

It was a fun week but we were all glad to sleep in our own beds. We don't know if we will go on another vacation where we stay with more than just us 5 but it was all worth it for the memories. 

A Weekend of Literally Doing Nothing...

This weekend we did absolutely nothing... kinda. Friday night we did head to Tim's parents to visit with his dad's friend Fred. We stayed until 10p where we headed home and went straight to bed. 

I forgot to mention we got a new cat... His name is 

Muddy Britches, from the movie Cars 3. 

Oliver named him but he loves Carter the most. 

Saturday Oliver and Tim went with Tim's brother to check his traps, Carter parked his butt on the couch for a Harry Potter marathon and I made grocery lists, went through the pantry, went through some clothes to donate to a house fire victim and took down some Christmas decor. When Tim and O came back I showered and we headed out to grocery shop. I hate going shopping only to grab fast food before heading home because you are too tired to cook... but that is what we did. Once everything was unpacked and everyone was fed we all settled on the couch to resume Carter's HP marathon. 

This kid HATES hair cuts. He literally started crying when we

pulled in the parking lot and repeating, "No, no hair cut"

However, our hair lady rocked because he cried the first few

minutes but then spent the rest like a big boy... and was happy after. 

Sunday Tim left early to goose hunt with my dad while the boys and I slept in... and they all slept until 9:30. It was glorious! When we got downstairs I made myself a cup of coffee and Oliver a cup of cocoa only to get to the living room and find Carter have the HP movies on...AGAIN! I got caught up on laundry, we took down ALL Christmas decorations and relaxed the rest of the day. 

So it was a weekend of not having to do anything but got a lot accomplished. What did you do this weekend?

2017 - A Year In Review

Well, this year flew by and I blogged very briefly throughout however, memories were made and although they aren't journaled, they are forever in our memory bank. 

January Tim turned a whopping 33. We celebrated it two nights. The first night was the gifts, since Carter would be at his dads for Tims actual birthday and then the night of with cake, ice cream and his dinner of choice. It was also the same weekend I took a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks to meet up with the Vasquez women to celebrate my Aunt Judy's 50th birthday. 

February Carter got signed up for another year of baseball, I think this made year 5. We also had our 10th Annual Family Valentine's Dinner. Something I started when it was just Carter and I has exploded and is looked forward to every February. I worked on updating the house... but didn't get far.

March Baseball practice began and Oliver got signed up for t-ball. Aside from the running there wasn't much else going on this month. My niece Harlow was born this month... this made my 6th niece. I went on Freeda's Road Rally with my brother-in-law, Lacey and a few friends.

April Tim's dad retired so we had a surprise party for him. We celebrated with Easter with the Seboldt's and my mom. My dad and step mom broke it to us that they were moving out of the house, the built 9 years prior, to buy a run down country home and fix it up. I attempted to visit my brother Bryan in Minnesota only to have my flight completely cancelled, was put on standby twice and then at 10pm, after being in the airport for about 8 hours was told I couldnt' get a flight out until Sunday morning, which was when I was to return.... this meant my trip was cancelled. I attended an adult easter egg hunt with some girlfriends and had an awesome time. Carter performed in a chorus concert, one of the last ones he would ever perform in. 

May Oliver's prek class put on a Mother's Day skit where they sang songs to their Moms. Baseball started for Carter so did the traveling to different towns. We had the opening of the Vasquez Clubhouse the weekend of Cinco de Mayo... I didn't fair well with the tequila. Oliver's last day of prek (year 1) was on May 11th. On Mother's Day I was asked to be Harlow's Godmother. Which I was super excited and accepted, of course.T-ball started later in the month for Oliver... this was something to watch. Carter's last day of 5th grade was May 17th and on May 18th I was finally enroute to visit my brother Bryan. The trip started off with flight delays but in the end we made it. By we, I mean I brought my mom with me to surprise Bryan. We also camped Memorial Weekend, which my brother Bryan surprised us and came home for. 

June I started the month off with a bang... meaning I backed into Tim's uncle's truck. It wasn't pretty. We swam at my Grandma Ruth's a few times, in our own pool most the time and just enjoyed the outdoors. My Grandma Ruth was put in the hospital for a few reasons. Carter sang with the chorus at the St. Louis Cardinals Stadium. It was during the 7th inning stretch they sang Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Oliver and Carter attended VBS. Carter went for the first time to Florida with his dad. Carter got to enter his stuff in the 4H Show-a-Rama but since he was in Florida didn't qualify for State. Oliver turned 4 and we celebrated the day with cake and his meal of choice and that evening we swam. That following weekend we threw a birthday party for him and it was in the theme of "Fireman". We also camped that weekend to make it easier on us, since we were having it at the clubhouse. Later that month I attended #imomsohard with a large group of girlfriends. We met at a restaurant for dinner and then headed to St. Louis for the show. Once the end of June approached baseball and tball were over. 

July Evan got his first haircut, which he was NOT happy about. We camped for the 4th of July weekend and again the following weekend for the Vasquez- Treveer Float Trip.Evan got moved to a big boy bed, mainly because I was tired of dealing with the baby bed and Evan didn't seem to sleep well in it anyway. We swam a few times at my moms and more at our house. Oliver, Evan and I went to see Cars 3 at the theaters and they did so well. Carter turned 11 and we had  grandmas and grandpas over for pizza and cookie cake. I played Bingo for the first time in years with my future SIL, that is right... Matt and Lacey got engaged in July and we are so excited for them. We also celebrated Everly's 1st birthday... and we came home with 3 extra kids... for a cousins slumber party. We ended the month with the Monroe County Fair. We had gone several nights.  Oliver enjoyed leading sheep for some friends, the figure 8 races and the demo derby. He  and Evan enjoyed the ride night, I didn't so much because it rained... a lot. 

August We started the month off in Colorado. On a family trip with the Keller family. We visited The Rocky Mountains, Fort Vasquez, Mount Evan, a few brewery's and towns. We saw a fox, mule deer and moose. There was a lot of fun had but when it was time to come home we were all ready... and drove 16 hours straight with only a few stops. Carter started Jr. High that following week and he was nervous but after the first day he said that he loved it. I decided to chop my  hair off... but nothing to drastic. We enjoyed a few more hot nights in the pool before it was time to close up. Tim and I celebrated out 5th Wedding Anniversary, the year of wood. The following night we celebrated Matt and Lacey's engagement (they are getting married 7 full days after our 6 year anniversary).

September We visited my Aunt JoAnn at Lake Shelbyville on Labor Day weekend where we boated and visited with them and their kids. Oliver started this last year of preschool on the 6th. Evan got to ride in a combine for the first time while Oliver and I went to a Fire Muster and he got to watch the firemen play with water. I worked on Evan's 2nd birthday party decor. Later this month Tim's grandpa passed away. I celebrated my friend Tiffany's 40th Birthday.

October We started the month off pumpkin picking where we got over 40 pumpkins, mainly to use for Evan's party decor. We made Halloween crafts for Oliver's teachers and our babysitter. Oliver and Carter attended the 4H meeting at the Maeystown Firehouse. Oliver came home excited to start 4H in a year. We threw Evan's party, in the theme of Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin, the weekend of my 38th birthday. My phone shot craps and had to get a new one... this is frustrating because my phone was only a year old. The same weekend my goddaughter got baptized. On Evans birthday we celebrated with his favorite foods and an ice cream cake. I started on Halloween costumes.... fireman style. We carved pumpkins, decorated for Halloween and enjoyed all things fall. The weekend before Halloween we trunk or treated, and visited all the family we could. On Halloween we took the boys to a small rural town where we walked around going door to door, which is something we don't normally get to do. I also attended Oliver's Halloween party at school. 

November Carter had an Application Awards Banquet for 4H where he won three awards. We camped for the last time also closing up the clubhouse for the winter. This was the same weekend we also took the 10 mile bike ride that I decided would be easy to pull a bike trailer with two toddlers in.... never again. Hunting season began. I saw a huge 8pt buck on opening day but he was moving to fast to shoot. I saw nothing the rest of the weekend. We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Vasquez's and the next day met them at the Belleville Santa Clause Parade. We also decorated for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. The following weekend we were off hunting again. Tim got a 10 pt buck the first day... I saw many deer that weekend and got nothing. Everyone else saw one and shot it.  

December This month was full of Christmas preparation and a little hunting. The first weekend was also the last of November so there was still hunting going on. The last day of the weekend Oliver and I went out... and saw nothing. The following weekend was Oliver's Christmas Program, which is always cute watching littles sing their little hearts out. I joined a friend at a sip and paint event at a local distillery. We had Tim's Christmas party for his work and the following weekend my work Christmas party. We followed that up with starting Christmas weekend at my mom's, a break on Saturday, Sunday we were with my dad all day and Monday with the Seboldt's. 

It was a busy year. We always had something to do or were headed somewhere. I can't wait to see what 2018 brings.

Another Christmas Gone...

It is hard to believe that 2017 is almost over. It literally seems like just yesterday we were coming home from Colorado and I was fighting the thought that summer was almost over. Now Christmas is over and there is 5 days left in 2017.

Our Christmas started on Friday the 22nd and went until Christmas Day. Granted there was one down day in between our first Christmas gathering and Christmas Eve it didn't seem that way... the 22nd Christmas was celebrated at my mom's with my siblings, their wives and my nieces. This is one of our favorite gatherings because it is the first time we get to hang with our brother Bryan, who always come home from Minnesota. 

We get him all or ourselves before having to share him with like 30 other people. The kids look forward to it because they find out who their Secret Santa is... the cousins exchange names and it is a lot of fun, even for the little ones. This year we got to celebrate in pj's, which I have decided is the only way to celebrate Christmas... no fancy clothes or worrying about eating to much. 

This year's godfather gifts from their godsons

We spent the evening playing games and laughing, a lot. Tim and I planned on spending the night of all our boys crashed but Evan (and his twin cousin, Stella) were still going strong. We know we weren't going to get him to sleep so we loaded up about midnight and headed home. 

Saturday was a rest day but everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, was in an extremely foul mood so we talked to no one and hid from everyone... then went to bed at 8p.

The twin cousins. Where one is the other is close

behind... and they could pass off as twins.

We had an early start on Sunday and wouldn't you believe it, that was the day our boys decided to sleep in. Even Oliver was still sleeping at 7a when we had to wake him. We were off to my Dad and Stepmoms house where my boys LOVE hanging out because there are actually boys to play with, my stepbrother has 2 boys. 

My Niece Baleyn and I.

We hung out there watching Christmas movies, playing gift exchange games and laughing it up. Before we knew it we were headed to see my Grandpa Zip for a few minutes before heading to my Grandma Ruth's house for Christmas with the Vasquez Family.

Grandma Ruth opening her gift.

 Here we visited with many relatives, did our sock gift exchange and the kids ran like crazy. 

These are going to be my lucky BINGO socks.

I started not feeling to good so we left there about 10p, the boys passed out about a mile down the road and Tim and I enjoyed the quiet 50 minute ride home. 

Monday Oliver woke us at 6:30. We asked him if Santa came, unsure and scared he ran into Carter's room to wake him and have him go downstairs with him to check. Once they saw all the gifts Oliver ran back upstairs and woke dad (Tim) up... and attempted to wake Evan up, who could have given two craps about Santa and presents. Oliver enjoyed the fact that "Santa" took two bites of two cookies and drank all of his milk. Carter, God love him, doesn't believe but plays along and it is just the cutest thing. We enjoyed the morning with our boys opening gifts and playing with them. I think they were all excited about their beach toys, trunks, chairs and vacation (hell, I am too and I wasn't even surprised with the vacation). 

We were at Tim's parents by noon for the Seboldt Christmas where I kinda laid low because my headache was still giving me lots of pain. 

We left there about 6p, drove around looking at Christmas lights before heading home and heading to bed. 

Tuesday I was lucky enough to be off work and allowed my boys to recover from their Christmas hangover in the comfort of our home. Where they played quietly with their new toys and allowed me to get a few things done. 

Like nap with Evan.

We really just took it easy most the day and about 2p finally changed out of our pj's... so when Tim came home from work he didn't thing we were bums all day. 

The weekend flew by but a lot of memories were made. Look out 2018, we are coming for you.

Weekend Wrap Up

It was a laid back weekend. Friday I was off for Veterans Day so the boys and I lounged in the morning then that afternoon made a Target run, which I don't know why I went with kids because I didn't get to really look at anything and spent most my time getting on to one of the three for touching something they weren't supposed to, arguing with each other or just down right getting on my nerves. Once we left there I had a few stops in Waterloo before heading home. Carter wanted a few friends over to play that evening but only one could make it... They enjoyed hanging out while I enjoyed the tv. Once Carter's friend left we all headed to bed. 


Saturday we were up early and headed to Rural King so I could buy a ground blind to put in this sink hole I am going to hunt. Once we got back home we spent the afternoon setting up deer stands and sighting in our guns. Carter went with Tim's mom to trivia night at the church while Evan and  Oliver spend the evening at home playing and watching movies. 

Sunday Tim, Oliver and Evan made biscuits and gravy for breakfast. While Oliver was at Sunday school, Carter was still sleeping and Evan was napping I was able to get laundry folded. Before I knew it we had to head to Tim's Aunt and Uncles for a going away party for his cousin who is moving to Idaho. Once we were back home the boys and I napped while Tim winterized the camper and put it away. We spend the rest of the night getting ready for Monday.... I also did a little online Christmas shopping. 

What did you do this weekend?