Week Twenty Two

June 1, 2013

Kristin and Owen Get Married!

Week Twenty One
May 25, 2013

Photo Credit : rachelbeckphotos.com 

On May 25th, I got the honor to be a part of one of my best girlfriends wedding day.  She married the perfect guy for her and I am so happy for their new life together.

Note:: I was originally waiting until I got to see all the wedding photos before I picked the one I wanted for this project.  But I still haven’t seen them and I’m ready to get up to date with my 52 week project and my Project Life posts.

Minnesota 2013 | Part Three

Day four, our final day in Minnesota, was much slower.  We took our time getting up in the morning and mom and I went to Southdale, the mall she used to work at.  Afterward, we went back to the hotel to pack up and then we headed to Minnehaha Falls.  The falls were beautiful!  We had Abby and dad wasn't feeling up to walking over to the falls so mom and I went to see them.  After the falls, we started our long trek back home.

 ^^ Minnehaha Falls

^^ Dad and Abby waiting for us to return.

Our mini Minnesota trip was just perfect.

And so many great memories were made.

I hope we don't wait another 15 years before we go back again.

Minnesota 2013 | Part Two

Day three of our trip was so so special.  This, by far, was my favorite day of the trip.  Not everyone was excited about excursion, but in the end everyone loved it.  (They are always hesitant about these things and end up loving it in the end.)  On day three we traveled three hours north to Lake Superior and saw Split Rock Lighthouse.

 ^^ The view was breathtaking.

^^ The water was so clear. 

^^ After the lighthouse, we took the scenic route back to Minneapolis.  We stopped at a little outlook and played around by the water. 

^^ I was bummed you couldn't see Abby in this photo :( 

^^ Abby surprisingly really liked the water and laid down right next to the shore.

 ^^ The water was SO cold!  I read that the average temperature is 40 degrees. 

^^ Oh northern Minnesota, I could love you forever.

Minnesota 2013 | Part One

The last few days we have been in Minnesota.  I was born there and we moved away when I was nine. We never went back.  If you are doing the math, we have been gone for fifteen long years.  While there are some things that I remember, I was shocked at how much I don't remember.  Granted, a lot has changed in the last fifteen years, but still...  I remembered almost nothing about Minnesota.  I remembered my house, the the school playground (that was just down the street from my house.)  But that is about all.  It was like exploring something new with the faintest deja vu.  Prior to the trip, I was concerned about how I would react to coming back to a place that was 'perfect'.  Nothing could ever harm me there.  It was safe and I never knew heartache during my time there.  That is what makes childhood so precious.  Thankfully, this trip was not all about reliving the past and the good days because this trip was so so good.

We left on Saturday around 10am.  The drive went a little faster than we expected and mom and I went to Mall of America to have dinner with a friend.  

^^ Mom and Mary, my God Mother.

^^ Me and Jenna.

 On Sunday, we traveled to Minneapolis.  Our plans got ruined because there was a huge parade and they closed off all the big roads we needed to get to some of the places we wanted to see. It was very frustrating. 

^^ Mom in front of St. Anthony Falls. 

For lunch we stopped by one of our favorite restaurants, LeeAnn Chin.  The style is much more fast food like now, but it is still oh so good!  Since Abby came on the trip with us we found a nice park to have lunch in.  

^^ Abby likes LeeAnn Chin too! 

After lunch we drove by our old house and my old school/park.  This part of the school that I'm standing in front of is all brand new.

^^ They have the best park.  I spent so many hours playing at this playground.  And, of course, I had to play this time too! 

^^ We have a very similar photo to this one when I'm about 5.

After the park, we went back to the hotel.  Mom and I went back to Mall of America to ride a few rides.  When I was little, if I wasn't at the park, I was at the amusement park at the mall.

^^ This was the ONLY horse I would ride on the merry go round.  Seriously, I would cry if someone else got to the horse first....

After the rides, we met my god parents at dinner.  It was so good to see them and to catch up!