Minnesota- Part 3

Saturday, September 5th

-My dad visited, and we spent the day at Margo's relaxing 

-My cousin and her boyfriend came over for dinner

Sunday, September 6th

-Margo, her boyfriend, Alex, and I headed to the State Fair! 

Probably my favorite food of the day- a strawberry and rhubarb malt!

Monday, September 7th (Labor Day)

-Spent the morning and early afternoon at the Como Zoo and Como Town with my dad. The girls had a blast!

(Gemma held the map the whole time we were in the zoo. She kept saying 'I love the map!')

-In the afternoon/evening we went to Alex's parent's house for swimming and dinner

Tuesday, September 8th

-Freya's first day of preschool! We got to wait for the bus with her and see her off. 

-Gemma and I visited my friend Sara and her little girl in the morning

-After dinner we celebrated Freya's first day of preschool with a trip to Dairy Queen (pumpkin pie blizzards for me and Margo!) and a playground

Wednesday, September 9th

-Gemma stayed with grandma in the morning while I did shopping/errands

-Played with grandma and Freya in the afternoon

-Gemma and I met my friend, Heidi, for dinner

Minnesota- Part 2- Duluth!

I hadn't been to Duluth (where I went to college) in over 3 1/2 years, and I love the town, so this was on my list of 'must dos' this trip. My mom, Margo, Freya, Gemma, and I took a mini-vacation there for 3 nights and had a wonderful time!

Tuesday, September 1st

-Arrived, checked into our hotel, and took a 45-minute cruise on Lake Superior and the harbor on the Vista Queen

-Went to my friend Molly's to have dinner with her family. It was wonderful!

Wednesday, September 2nd

-Watched a thunderstorm (Gemma happens to be obsessed with them at the moment) over 'the big lake' in the early morning from our hotel room

-Swimming at the hotel in the morning 

-Explored the De-Witt Seitz building and the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Canal Park while we waited for the rain to clear

-Lunch at Fitger's Brewhouse

-Duluth trolley tour, Canal Park, and the Lakewalk after Gemma's nap

-Dinner at Old Chicago, then dessert at The Portland Malt Shoppe!

Thursday, September 3rd

-Went to Grand Rapids to visit my cousin, his wife, their new baby, my aunt and uncle

-Back in Duluth, I visited my friend Courtney at her house while everyone else explored Canal Park. After dinner Courtney and two of her kids met us at Playfront Park. 

Friday, September 4th

-Watched the sun rise over Lake Superior from our hotel room

-Swimming at the hotel before checking out

-A stop at the Positively 3rd Street Bakery to get some cookies, lunch at the Duluth Grill, then headed back to the Cities

-Once we were back, Margo took care of Gemma so I could make a solo trip to the Eagan Outlet Mall

Minnesota- Part 1

Back on Friday, August 28th, Gemma and I departed Dublin for a 2 1/2 week trip to Minnesota!

She was a great little traveller. Unfortunately she didn't sleep at all during the 17 hour journey (door to door with a connection in Chicago), but she was in a great mood! By the time we arrived in Minnesota she was delirious with tiredness! She ran right into grandma's arms!

Saturday, August 29th

-Gemma was awake around 5am and singing, 'it's still dark outside, and we're feeling jet lag'!

-Went for an ice cream treat after nap time!

-Swimming in the pool at Margo's condo complex 

Sunday, August 30th

-Minneapolis Farmer's Market in the morning- got so much yummy produce! I really miss fresh from the field sweet corn in Ireland, so that was a must!

-Brunch with my mom

-Playing at Margo's

Monday, August 31st

-I took the girls to Toys R Us and the library in the morning

-Oak Hill splash pad in St. Louis park in the afternoon

-Dinner with grandpa

-And a quick trip to Target!