Minnesota...

I should have known how the trip would play out as our first airport "experience" was when we placed the carseat on the rollers for security and 1,045,972 carcasses of goldfish crackers and fermented cheerios spilled all over the place...little did I know we were headed for a bit of traveling pain! But, as we Gibeau's do, we endured and ventured on... it seemed if it wasn't one thing (spilling goldfish crackers in the lap of a first class passenger while Reese is screaming the entire time, banging into every fool who decided to board ahead of us with all the kiddo paraphernalia we had for the flight, not having fed the kids prior to take off and ordering the joke of a "box" lunch, praying Reese would finally fall asleep, having the OLD gentleman in front of us ask if Reese was going to kick the seat the entire flight after she had bumped it once...) it was definitely another (credit card not working at rental car place, inability to take a short walk to the rental car, no one adult (parents were already there and too far from us) knowing how to navigate once we actually get out of the rental car maze, trying to have iPhone (do love this thing) find our way in MN, grumpy children who haven't eaten, grumpy parents who need more than food and 5:00 traffic through Minneapolis)...and this was day one! :)

The second day of our trip was much more calm as it was my family reunion and seeing my family gives me peace. Leaving them (and some friends) to move to Washington was the hardest thing I have ever done. Holidays and gatherings while great, are not the same without them. The girls took to them instantly...the second day was also made easier as my parents joined up with - being with my parents also gives me peace...

Day three was Mall of America and Camryn got to go to the American Girl Doll store. Bless her heart she went in with awe and picked two "prospects" (we were not quite sure we were leaving with this small fortune doll) and proceeded to walk/play at the mall for 2 hours without mentioning whether or not she was getting one of them. Before we left however, she was sure to remind us that we needed to go back and pick out the best doll for her. We did and Elizabeth is the newest member of our family (she also traveled everywhere with us and was securely seat belted into our rental car on all trips - that cracked me up!) That evening we got to spend some awesome time with my soul friend, Megan and her family. Megan and I have been friends for 21 years and our connection grew stronger when I moved to WA. She and I have that friendship where we pick right up where we left off - whether it be a day or years - our connection is not that of friendship but of a soul bonding. She and her family mean more to me than words will ever allow me ... I am sad we are so far apart...always hard to hug her goodbye.

Day three of our trip was the 12th year anniversary of my cousin Adam's plane crash. I always struggle with the day but this year got to spend it the best way imaginable. We hung out with my aunt, uncle, cousin and her kiddos and went to eat at Adam's favorite restaurant. We had such a great lunch and watched some videos of Adam and reminisced about him...after, we visited him and although the hardest emotionally for me, it was the most therapeutic to see how my aunt and uncle are living without him - there is no way to get over death but seeing them live out his memory helped my heart. His death impacted me in ways I can barely describe but being home and celebrating his life with them was awesome.

That evening was spent with some great family friends I personally haven't seen in years. It was really great to reconnect and we had a wonderful evening/dinner with them. The kids enjoyed themselves so much and it was so great for all of us to be together again!

The remainder of the week was spent visiting other family and friends - we knew we ready to come home when on the last day we had there Reese, Camryn, my girlfriend Megan and her daughter and I all went to meet up with an acquaintance I haven't seen in 18 years. Our outing started with Camryn opening a heavy metal door onto her foot, breaking her toenail, ripping back the skin in two places and needless to say, BLOOD & TEARS!!! While trying to console Cam we tried to situate the other two kiddos and Reese decided to spice things up with taking a 12 oz hot cocoa and dropping it from 4 feet high directly onto the floor...GOOD TIMES! This wasn't going well and we tried to move onto lunch however Reese obviously hadn't had enough attention and decided to utilize the window versus a napkin in smearing her mac n cheese lunch all over the restaurant window...I thought that was all I could take when the good Lord decided, nope, one more...and Reese took a FULL Starbucks organic milk carton and turned it into a fountain in the rental car - milk and hot cars are not a good combo!

At this point, we couldn't fly home to normalcy fast enough...we had had a good time, Court had enjoyed MN, he got to play golf and it wasn't painfully humid at all! He actually said we will visit again...but we were spent and ready for our home, beds and routine!

Travelling with children - well, we may drive next time :)

Being back in Minnesota is good for my heart and I love knowing I have two homes to return to!!