friends and fun in Minnesota

The drive up to Minnesota from Chicago was about 7 hours. I didn't plan it very well, though. We hit St. Paul right at 5:00 p.m., and so it took me 1 hour to drive through downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis to get to Minnetrista where the Keatings live. Oh, well. Colton did really well on the drive. He got a bit cranky that last hour through the cities, but he was excited to see Brody. Here's a picture from our drive. Colton eats plenty of snacks from his cup, and apparently, when he is finished, he puts it on his foot.

When we got to Sean and Tricia's house, the puppy was outside, and Colton was so excited. That's the thing ... he likes the puppy from afar. From inside of the car, he was all, "PUPPY! PUPPY!" He even ran up to it, before he realized that it was as tall as him and looks him in the face! Then he gets scared. Mac is a good puppy ... a bulldog ... uh ... lab mix, I think. Anyway, he's a rescue dog, and he's very good with kids. But he's still a puppy, so he's jumpy and excited around new people. Colton did not want any of that. They got used to each other ... mostly. Colton doesn't appreciate dog kisses! Isn't Mac a cutie?Aunt Tricia saves Colton from a "Mac Attack"! Poor puppy ... all he wanted to do was love Colton.

Before bed on Thursday night, Brody shared with Colton his pre-bedtime routine. Dancing! The boys had a blast, and it was so cute to watch them boogie in their diapers. What fun!

So cute dancing in their diapers ... they were laughing so hard and having so much fun!

On Friday morning ... early ... like 4:30 a.m. (and Tricia and I didn't go to bed until 1:30 a.m.), we got up and picked Gwen up from the airport. We were more than happy to do it, though, because we were so excited that she could make it out for the weekend! After an hour and a half nap, Colton and Brody enjoyed a tasty breakfast.Brody and Colton eat a breakfast of waffles while watching cartoons. Colton LOVED this picnic table ... he wanted to sit there all of the time. I'm going to have to look for one for our house!After breakfast, Tricia read the boys some books while we just lounged around and hung out.We had to relax after such an early morning! While the boys took a nap, Gwen stayed with them while Tricia and I ran some errands. When we got back ... Steph, Andy, and Lindy had arrived to hang out for the day! It was so fun to have everyone there ... and it turned out to be such a beautiful day to be outside.The boys liked to go down the slide. Another toy that should be at our house!Action shot! Gwen gets a pass from Andy, and Mac takes a flying leap to catch it.Aunt Stephanie takes Colton for a ride around the driveway.Aunt Gwen pushes Brody around the yard.Colton found some of Brody's bikes. He couldn't peddle, but he just loved to sit on it and pretend!Aunt Gwen pushes both kids around.Colton pushed this car to the middle of the front yard, and then he just sat in it. Waiting for whatever ... all by himself ...This is such a popular car! Colton and Brody, also, wanted to play with it at the same time.Everyone hanging out on the lawn together. Good times!Colton driving around in the jeep.Brody stopped for a little snack that afternoon. He had some yogurt, and he really enjoyed it! It was SO cute!Digging around in the yogurt cup.Forget it! I'll just drink it down.Messy boy! What a cutie!We had a good Friday afternoon together, and of course, we enjoyed some delicious haystacks for dinner. It was so fun to sit and chat late into the night.

On Sabbath morning, Sean, Tricia, Brody, Gwen, Colton and I went to Wayzata, and we went for a walk in the park along Lake Minnetonka. It was a gorgeous morning to be outside! The lake was beautiful and lined with such lovely flowers. Wayzata would be a great place to live, but it's just a bit too expensive for me!Brody throwing rocks into the lake.Colton enjoying the rocks and the lake, too. Such a gorgeous day!This was the funniest moment! The boys walked up to these girls, and from afar, it looks like they are contemplating hitting on these girls. If only we could know what they were thinking ... "hey ladies, fine day we're having here ..."Colton peeks through the hole.The boys on the swings ... Colton hates swinging for some reason. I don't know if he's scared or sick. He used to like it ... so I'm guessing scared. Hopefully, he'll grow out of it.Colton and me in front of Lake Minnetonka.Isn't it a beautiful morning?Tricia, Gwen, and me enjoying our morning together.Two Mommies ... four friends.Tricia is 18 weeks here, and I'm 26 weeks. She's so small ... it looks like she's making fun of my big belly! But we're both pregnant. Sabbath afternoon, Andy, Steph, and Lindy came back for a barbecue lunch and to hang out by the pool. The food was so yummy! Andy did a great job grilling ... and Brody did a great job entertaining us while we ate. He's such a ham!Colton hanging out by the pool.Everyone enjoying the sunshine.The boys together ... if Colton scooted over, Brody scooted closer. They made good friends!Colton cheesing by the pool.Cole and Lindy. He wanted to get up there with her on the chair.Brave Brody about to jump off of the diving board into his Daddy's arms.JUMP!Splash into the pool!A full starting line-up from UC Lady Warriors Basketball Team: #1 Point Guard--Steph Larson (at 39 weeks) #2 Shooting Guard--Gwen Gerling #3 Swing Guard/Forward 3-Point Shooter--Lindy Page #4 Baseline Forward--Tasha Heinrich (26 weeks) #5 Center--Tricia Keating (18 weeks)It was such a fun day filled with delicious food and great company! We had a blast hanging out together. We were all wishing Steph would go into labor, so we could meet Baby Boy Larson .... but to no avail. She kept him in there all day long. After the long day in the sun, we decided to go out for ice cream at Adele's. It was so yummy! Of course, AFTER we filled our bellies with ice cream, we took a picture of the three pregnant women.Steph at 39 weeks ... Tasha at 26 weeks ... Tricia at 18 weeks.Wow! My belly looks big for 26 weeks!

On Sunday morning, we took it easy. Tricia was hosting a Baby Shower for a friend for a few hours, so Gwen and I ate a delicious breakfast provided by Sean. What a great guy! Gwen and Sean took turns reading to the boys.Aunt Gwen entertaining Colton.
Sean uses his iPad to read fun books to Brody and Cole. What a cool app!We took it easy most of Sunday. Tricia came home and the boys played outside a bit. We decided to go out to eat with Gwen for dinner before we took her to the airport. Tricia and Sean suggested a Mexican restaurant close by their house, so Sean could take the boys back while we took Gwen to make her flight.The boys enjoy their quesadillas!Aunt Gwen with Brody (23 months) and Colton (18 months).Sean took the boys home and treated them to some ice cream sandwiches. They loved it! This video CRACKS ME UP!!!! Aren't they so cute!?! Eating their ice cream together.

On Monday, Tricia and I took the boys to the Como Park Zoo. They had so much fun looking at all of the animals. This zoo was great, because it's not too big ... but it has everything they really need to see. There were seals, a polar bear, penguins, sea lions, giraffes, buffalo, lions, tigers, leopards, zebras, and monkeys. The boys did so well at the zoo. They had fun and behaved so nicely. It was a blessing for two moms who had a long weekend!The boys looking at a seal playing in the water and dancing for everyone.Hanging out with their Roots hats at the zoo.Watching the giraffe ... the baby was just born this year.The lions.Colton taking a look at the lions. He roared and roared at them.That night, the boys were having fun wrestling each other and jumping on the pillows. The more Brody and Colton hung out the more fun they had playing together.Then we did a little reading together. I loved having two boys around. Okay ... sure, the same age of boys was busy and tiring, but it was so fun to have them playing together.Here's my little buddy, Brody. Isn't this face just the cutest? He's a doll!

Our last day visiting, we did some shopping and ate at my favorite place: BIG BOWL! It was delish, as always. We had so much fun hanging out with Tricia, Sean, and Brody. I wish we lived closer. Colton even got to go on another tractor ride with Uncle Sean.And he got more story time with Aunt Tricia.We took some goodbye pictures, and then we took off on Wednesday morning.The boys taking their last pictures together until next time.A kiss goodbye.Good buddies ...Another set of good buddies ...I love Tricia and Brody!

On our drive down to Kansas City, I had to stop in Imes, Iowa ... the bridges of Madison County! I stopped there ... 10 years ago (yes, that's right) with Gwen for the first time, and now, it has become a tradition. Last summer, I stopped with Colton, and we took some pictures. It's become a tradition for Colton and me. Here are some pictures of the Imes Bridge in Madison County.Colton in front of the bridge.Road Trip 2011! Ten years later!!!!! Miss you, Gwen!Colton and me in front of our graffiti.Me with 10 years worth of memories.Me in front of our bridge. The only thing missing was Gwen.

We had a pretty good trip down to KC. It was only about 7 hours, and we made good time. I was exhausted when we got here, and I was so thankful for a good night's sleep. I did absolutely nothing today! Well, Colton and I played outside, but I didn't have to "go" anywhere. That felt so good! I really miss Billy, and I know Colton misses Daddy. We will have fun here in KC, and then we will be glad to get home to see him. Just a couple more weeks left of this vacation ... it's gone by so quickly! Perhaps, because we are so busy!