We Had a Fair Time

  

  The Minnesota State Fair is infamous in reputation.

We had never been. And since Nana came up for a visit, it seemed like a great time to go ahead and see what all of the hype was about.

It was a great experience.  The girls were in heaven. For example, have you ever been to a Fair where you just magically happen upon such things as a magic show, and then get chosen to participate in it? What luck!

Or, can you take rides above and over the entire park? Yep.

Ferris Wheel Experience

What about bubbles to wade around in (added bonus....no bath needed)? Yep, they have those too.

At the end you decide you're hungry and are left with more choices than you can imagine, although in my opinion some choices are quite easy....fried pickle anyone? Um, no.

Fried Cheese Curds....a Mid-Western Tradition

Eventually, if you are our children, you opt for the ever-healthy corn dog, which turns out to be a choice between a 12 inch and 18 inch dog.

Can you believe they finished every bit of corn dog???? And, with no resultant tummy-ache? (Which I was hoping for, to prove that greasy food isn't good for you....) 

I think this picture sums up the experience well :)

It was fun. Glad to have experienced it. Now, what else does Minnesota have hidden?

Taylor Falls

We went somewhere new this weekend.

Exploring new areas can be a lot of fun.

It can bring out the best in us.

Make us forget about the how tired we are.

And it can show us the most amazing creations.

We're enjoying the view.

Where It All Began

Everyone has a place where it all began.  Our place is in the mountains of Virginia, White Oak Mountain to be specific.

This is where we were engaged and from then on have been virtually inseparable. Over ten years have passed since that moment.

It's amazing to see where we are now.

I hope the kids remember this place too, when they grow up.

Our New Baby

Just over nine years ago Joe and I were married...and somewhere within that first year he gifted me with Roland, the digital keyboard. This was no small feat and should not be overlooked - living on a grad school salary (<20K), overseas was an interesting time for us...and a digital keyboard which cost, well, too much of that meager salary was huge.

Poor Roland...relocated to the basement.

Roland has been with us through it all - traveling to Sweden to live, coming back to the US, stopping in Virginia, staying in Wisconsin for 5 years (at 5 different residences) and then moving up to Minnesota - you should have seen the box after all of the moves, duct tape anyone? He has been played, our oldest has begun to learn how to play on him and the youngest likes to pretend to play. With a full keyboard, weighted keys, sustain pedal and custom-made stand (thank you to my father-in-law), I shouldn't ask for more...but, there has always been one thing missing....Roland is NOT a piano. To function electricity and speakers are needed, something which is hard to forget...especially when the speakers start to fail.

Meet the newest inanimate member of our family.  It's not a sexy, top-of-the-line piano, but it is a piano.  A nice piano.  Which in my opinion is perfect for the family with children under the age of 10, a dog and a tendency to move. I'm so excited! Unfortunately, this has meant that our family room is now relocated into the basement...unfinished...so now our house resembles more of the disorganized college time-period....but still, we.have.a.piano :o)

I'm not the most gifted pianist...in truth I have to practice a lot and I respect those individuals who have the natural ability to just sit and play.  My time at the keys is from the heart - maybe that's why it means so much.  Maybe one day we'll purchase the dream piano, maybe not.  For now we'll have an actual instrument and that is something to celebrate.

P.S. To my neighbors - we apologize for the banging that I'm sure will follow, especially as the youngest starts lessons :)

The Little Ballerina

Our little ballerina.

Is growing up a little too fast.

But it is a beautiful thing to watch.

If you ignore the chaos that goes along with it.

Memorial Day Memories

This weekend, we experienced Memorial Day in a new way.  We took a trip to Chillicothe, MO where Joe's mom's family is from. Great Grandma made the trip up to Minneapolis and then we piled into our "spacious" vehicle and made our way to Chillicothe, only about a 6.5 hour trip.

We went to visit grave sites where various family members have been laid to rest and honored them with flowers.  It was at the first grave site we realized the girls had no idea what a graveyard was - educational lesson #1.

Along the way we heard stories of the area and enjoyed the roller coaster roads (the girls favorite part).

Grandma and Grandpa Shafer's house

One special stop was to the childhood home of Grandma Great (Grandma Turner and Aunt Betty). We stopped by the house which is in the process of being remodeled, and were treated to a full tour by the brand new residents (moved in 1 day prior to our drop-in visit).  Grandma Turner and Aunt Betty made sure to let the new home owners know that the pump in the front of the house had been placed backwards. It was quite the experience for both Grandma Turner and Aunt Betty to see the changes to their childhood home, and amazing for us to see and hear how things used to be.

Lovely ladies standing in front of the backwards pump

Of course a big reason for the visit was for these ladies to see each other. It was an amazing visit.

And while the girls had a lot of fun riding the roller coaster roads, getting candy at the Amish store and playing with presents from Aunt Betty, we still found a play ground - because what would a trip be without a trip to a park?

The girls and we learned a lot on this trip. Not only did we learn about where one side of the family came from, but also the importance of remembering those who have passed.

Happy Memorial Day.