MN Girl in Eire

Minnesota- Part 4

Thursday, September 10th

-Gemma spent the morning with grandma again while I ran some more errands, then we spent the afternoon with Freya too when she got home from school

The heat and humidity did a number on Gemma's hair!

-Mom, Margo, Freya, Gemma, and I had photos taken together

-Dinner at Chipotle, with some dirt cake for dessert back at Margo's!

Friday, September 11th

-Played at Margo's

Dance party with grandma!

-Went to a Vehicle Fair and activities at Freya's school in the evening

Gemma LOVES Caesar the cat!

Saturday, September 12th

-Played in the morning

-Had a birthday party for the girls in the park across from Margo's in the afternoon- it was a great day!

Freya got an Elsa dress for her birthday, and we had brought Gemma's with us, so we had two Elsas that evening!

Sunday, September 13th

-My dad came for the day, and we went out for brunch

-Played at Margo's, then had another attempt at some photos of the two girls

They could have gone better!

Monday, September 14th

-Departure day :(

-Saw Freya off to preschool

-My mom took us to the airport

-We flew to Chicago, had a few hours there- played and had dinner- then got on the long flight back to Dublin. Luckily we got 4 seats for the 2 of us, and Gemma slept about 95% of the flight!

-We arrived back in Dublin at around 9:30am local time on Tuesday, September 15th (3:30am Minnesota time). We were both very excited to see Paul- as soon as Gemma saw him she ran at high speed to him!

On Wednesday it was back to work and creche!

We had an AMAZING time in Minnesota. Thank you so much to everyone who hosted us and visited us! See you again soon!

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.