Minnesota Trip

We took a little trip up to Minnesota last week.  Cade and I flew out early Wednesday morning (our flight LEFT at 6 am!)  We made it to Minneapolis around 10:30 and Kirk's dad picked us up and we headed to the middle of nowhere--Mora, MN where Grandma and Grandpa live.  Cade had never met any of Kirk's grandparents and since they were having a 60th wedding anniversary party, we thought this would be a good time.  Tom, Lisa and Connor drove out from Utah to meet us and be with the family.  Kirk was able to take a couple of days off work and flew up on Thursday morning.  We mostly spent Thursday hanging out.  We went for a walk, played at the park and went out to lunch. 

Cade's first swing ride

Lunch with the ladies

Friday I went with "the guys" fishing and left Cade with Kirk's mom.  I was a little nervous.  I'd never left him for so long and this was in a new place with people he didn't know very well.  Lisa said he only cried when she changed his diaper though, and that's normal.  We had fun fishing.  Kirk caught a boatload of northern pike, I caught one (but at least I got that)  and Connor caught some zzzz.

Saturday was the big party and we spent the morning setting up and getting food ready.  We got to see some more family and hang out with Aunt Marsha, Uncle Steve, Kyle, Cody (cousins), Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Jack and Miles (cousin). 

4 Generations of Morris'

Grandkids and Great-Grandson

Sunday morning Kirk had to head back home.  Tom, Lisa, Connor, Cade and I went to Lisa's mom's cabin on Love Lake in Wisconsin.  It is a beautiful place with an awesome lake.  We went swimming a few times.  Tom took Cade and I on a golf cart ride (Cade loved it!).  We picked some fresh strawberries and played some card games.  Cade did really well with Skeeter (Tom and Lisa's dog) too.  I wish I had a picture.  Cade liked to chase Skeeter around.  After a few days Cade found Skeeter's empty bowl on the floor and liked to tip it over and push it around the floor.  Skeeter wasn't too sure of this and kept a close watch on him the whole time. 

Picking strawberries

Riding in the golfcart with Grandpa

Great Grandma Maxson (Lisa's mom) and Cade

We found an old rocking chair just Cade's size.  I think he had more fun pushing it around than sitting in it!

Lisa's sister Molly came up on Tuesday and we took the speedboat out.  Molly and Lisa both did waterskiing.  I went for a wild ride on the tube and then tried kneeboarding.  It took me a bit to get going, but then I made it around the lake twice.  It was pretty fun and I was sore afterward!  The only downer to this part of the trip was the heat.  We were over 90 each day with significant humidity and no AC.  We left Wednesday morning and hung out at Molly's house before Cade and I had to go to the airport. 

Cade and I had 3 seats to ourselves on the way home and he loved climbing all over them.  He fell asleep during our layover in Chicago, woke briefly during loading and take off and then slept the rest of the way home.  When we got off the plane,  I had to put him in the stroller, walk to baggage claim, get our suitcase, put him in the carseat and then his crib at home and he never moved.  We got home around 11:30 p.m.  I was kind of sad to miss the fireworks on the 4th, but we did get so see several as the plane was taking off and landing which was kind of cool. 

I was nervous about taking Cade on this trip.  He has had such a hard time dealing with strangers and we would be seeing a lot of them.  He did really well.  He cried when I left the room, but only if he noticed.  He loved walking around with Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Connor and was fine with them taking him places and playing with him.  I'm really glad that we all had the chance to go, even though Kirk couldn't stay as long.