When you ask a kid where they want to go on vacation, most likely, they will not say Minnesota, home of 10,000 lakes. Why? Because, well kids who live in Texas know very little about Minnesota except that it snows there. Ask an adult who's never lived or visited, and they may whistle a little Purple Rain.
But for us, Minnesota was our vacation spot. Last spring, we made our plans - we were looking for a lake, outdoorsy stuff, and cool weather. We also wanted to see K's old law school room mate, show the kids his old house, see the Twins play in newly built Target Field, and of course, ride the indoor roller coaster at the Mall of America.
Oftentimes, a trip on paper doesn't work out so well in real life. This trip - well, it did. It was uneventfully wonderful. After a 3-hour flight to Minneapolis, and a 4-hour drive almost to Canada, we arrived at Ludlow's Lodge, an island resort in the woods. For the first four days, I woke to open windows surrounded by trees, cool breezes, birds, and a lake in view. Truly picturesque. And the sunsets, oh. so. beautiful. We chose a cabin that was most like a tree house, 4 floors and K and I lived on the top. We spent the days fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and touring the small northern town of Cook, MN. The kids also played in the FREEZING water but not without a lot of fanfare - "MOM - I"m going to go in! I'm REALLY going in. Watch me!" Of course right next to my shivering children were true Scandinavian kids - all blond, blue-eyed and a different kind of blood pumping in their veins who merely hung out in the freezing water like it was bath water.
I learned a great deal about my kids that week, things I already suspected, but this week really brought it home. Despite their spirited and talkative ways at home, at heart, my kids are introverts. All of them. There were several families at the resort, families who come every year to this place and have it all figured out. My kids would watch these 12 or so kids their age interact but never really cared to get in the mix of it. They were satisfied just doing their own thing. While I pushed them to, "go play with those girls over there" more than once, they were just as content not making new friends. They did all string worms on their lines together and laugh at the fish wriggling off their hooks, but as far as bff's - not this week. It was an interesting study for me - and since I love to analyze . . . and talk . . . I did.
The rest of our vacation was spent in the twin cities - doing all the things we hoped to do. We visited with Kenny's law school room mate, Erik and his wife, who I'd never met and who I really liked and the kids, my introverted kids, really took a shine too. We sat through a 2 hour rain delay and watched the TWINS (at least the first 5 innings) who went on to win 3 straight games after a long losing streak. We experienced that MALL, took the girls to the Barbie Experience, found the store that sells the best caramel ever (Tina and I found it years ago and I haven't been back since college), and we rode those roller coasters. Perfect.
On our last day, we had to take the kids by Kenny's old house and to see the Minnehaha Waterfall. Not only for the silly name, but because some 16 years ago, Kenny stumbled upon this waterfall completely frozen, gorgeous, and snapped a picture. That picture has sat on our shelf for years. We wanted to see it again.
It was one of those days - one of those Norman Rockwell days. For Texans, I liken it to that first cool day in October when you can't help but be outside. The Twin Cities' folks had a record-breaking cold winter, then a deluge of Spring rain, so on that day, our one day to explore Minneapolis, every. single. person was out to feel the sunshine and I was wrapped up in it. I was ready to buy a house that day and start a new life in this awesome city, with these sweet little homes that has a Lutheran church and school on every corner.
Of course, I had to remind myself that I dislike the cold something fierce and so I quickly shook my Twin City fantasy as we headed back to the airport for our flight home.
I loved our little trip, even more so because it was in Minnesota and not a typical tourist spot. I asked the kids where else they'd like to go so we could plan a spot next year and I got a great answer. I think it was Lydia who said, "We don't know what there is to see!"
I can't wait to show them.
I love to travel, despite my fear of flying that I try to hide from my children. It happens often that I get the itch to go somewhere, anywhere else but where I am. There is nothing better for the soul then a new landscape, new weather, new history, and new people. And there's nothing better for a family then taking that adventure together, and bringing it back, tired and exhausted, to this place we've carved out called HOME.
And then make plans to do it again, somewhere new.
Some more favorite Pics:
Oftentimes, a trip on paper doesn't work out so well in real life. This trip - well, it did. It was uneventfully wonderful. After a 3-hour flight to Minneapolis, and a 4-hour drive almost to Canada, we arrived at Ludlow's Lodge, an island resort in the woods. For the first four days, I woke to open windows surrounded by trees, cool breezes, birds, and a lake in view. Truly picturesque. And the sunsets, oh. so. beautiful. We chose a cabin that was most like a tree house, 4 floors and K and I lived on the top. We spent the days fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and touring the small northern town of Cook, MN. The kids also played in the FREEZING water but not without a lot of fanfare - "MOM - I"m going to go in! I'm REALLY going in. Watch me!" Of course right next to my shivering children were true Scandinavian kids - all blond, blue-eyed and a different kind of blood pumping in their veins who merely hung out in the freezing water like it was bath water. I learned a great deal about my kids that week, things I already suspected, but this week really brought it home. Despite their spirited and talkative ways at home, at heart, my kids are introverts. All of them. There were several families at the resort, families who come every year to this place and have it all figured out. My kids would watch these 12 or so kids their age interact but never really cared to get in the mix of it. They were satisfied just doing their own thing. While I pushed them to, "go play with those girls over there" more than once, they were just as content not making new friends. They did all string worms on their lines together and laugh at the fish wriggling off their hooks, but as far as bff's - not this week. It was an interesting study for me - and since I love to analyze . . . and talk . . . I did.On our last day, we had to take the kids by Kenny's old house and to see the Minnehaha Waterfall. Not only for the silly name, but because some 16 years ago, Kenny stumbled upon this waterfall completely frozen, gorgeous, and snapped a picture. That picture has sat on our shelf for years. We wanted to see it again.It was one of those days - one of those Norman Rockwell days. For Texans, I liken it to that first cool day in October when you can't help but be outside. The Twin Cities' folks had a record-breaking cold winter, then a deluge of Spring rain, so on that day, our one day to explore Minneapolis, every. single. person was out to feel the sunshine and I was wrapped up in it. I was ready to buy a house that day and start a new life in this awesome city, with these sweet little homes that has a Lutheran church and school on every corner.
Of course, I had to remind myself that I dislike the cold something fierce and so I quickly shook my Twin City fantasy as we headed back to the airport for our flight home.
I loved our little trip, even more so because it was in Minnesota and not a typical tourist spot. I asked the kids where else they'd like to go so we could plan a spot next year and I got a great answer. I think it was Lydia who said, "We don't know what there is to see!"
I can't wait to show them.
I love to travel, despite my fear of flying that I try to hide from my children. It happens often that I get the itch to go somewhere, anywhere else but where I am. There is nothing better for the soul then a new landscape, new weather, new history, and new people. And there's nothing better for a family then taking that adventure together, and bringing it back, tired and exhausted, to this place we've carved out called HOME.
And then make plans to do it again, somewhere new.
Some more favorite Pics:
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