Doesn't Everyone Go to the Midwest for Spring Break?

The third week in April is spring break here in the Northeast.  We decided to try making our annual trip to Minnesota and Wisconsin during that time, to make the summer a little less hectic.  Given the time constraints, we flew, which was a real treat.  Sarah and I hadn't flown since we moved to Massachusetts.

We flew into Minneapolis/St. Paul and spent the first night with Rachel and Matt.  The next morning, we visited Don's parents, then drove nearly five hours to Waunakee, WI, to see Emily, Omar, Sophia, Omarcito, and Lola (their German shorthair pointer).  The relatively short road trip affirmed our decision to fly, as evidenced by this exchange between Don and Sarah:

Don: "You're driving me crazy!"

Sarah: "No, I'm driving you nuts!"

McDonald's is the highlight of any road trip for Don and
Sarah (me, not so much).

We packed lots of fun into the two nights and one day we spent there.  Sarah and Sophia got along great and entertained themselves for the most part, with no disagreements or hurt feelings (the first time ever, I believe).  Omarcito was in constant motion (so many things to do when you're almost two) and seemed quite comfortable with us.

Saturday morning, we cheered on Sophia as she played soccer, then drove to downtown Madison for the D*ne County Farmers' Market, which takes place around the State Capitol.  

For lunch, we walked all the way down State Street (one of my favorite places to window shop and people watch) to the University of W*sconsin Memorial Union, which sits on Lake Mendota.

Upon returning home, we relaxed for a while, then enjoyed a wonderful Mexican dinner prepared by Emily and celebrated Sophia's 7th birthday.

One of the girls' favorite activities was to play on each
others' LeapPads.  Yeah, I know.

Omarcito loves to "drive" the lawnmower.

Sunday morning, it was time to head back to Minnesota.  We decided to swing by our former house and stopped in to see our back-door neighbors, Jim and Linda.  It was wonderful to catch up with them.  They, of course, enjoyed seeing Sarah.  I think it's nice for her to maintain a connection with the place she lived from ages one to four.

We arrived in the Twin Cities in the late afternoon, picked up Don's mom, and headed to Dale and Pattie's (his brother and sister-in-law) for dinner.  Rachel and Reid joined us.  Sarah hadn't spent much time with Dale and Pattie before, and I was really happy she had a chance to.  Pattie presented her with a gift bag full of arts-and-craftsy items, which was a big hit.  She enjoyed them the rest of the trip.

Sarah and Grandma

Sarah and Auntie Pattie

Sarah and Rachel

We spent the remaining nights of the trip at Rachel and Matt's.  Although Rachel had to work while we were there, she and Sarah squeezed in some time in the game/dining room, playing cards and board games.  Matt was generous with his nice camera, and his time, showing Sarah how to use it. It was her favorite evening activity.  She also wrote in her travel journal and did one of the crafts Pattie gave her.

Monday, we met Reid at the B*ll Museum, at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis.  Don has wanted to share it with us for years, as it's one of his favorites and he worked there as a grad student. It is known internationally for its natural history dioramas, created mostly in the 1940s and 50s, depicting Minnesota ecosystems.  Sadly, I took no pictures of the dioramas!

Reid, Sarah, and a disembodied moose

Sarah portraying a bear in its den

Sarah in a terrarium

Afterward, Reid took us to the G*thrie Theater to view the Mississippi River as it runs through Minneapolis.

A Minneapolis icon, the Gold Medal Flour sign
sits atop a former grain elevator.

The 10th Avenue Bridge in the background and
start of the Stone Arch Bridge in the foreground

The Stone Arch Bridge, an old railroad bridge,
crosses the river below St. Anthony Falls.

Then it was my turn to choose, so we went to the M*nneapolis Sculpture Garden to see the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture.

That evening Sarah helped Rachel make tacos for dinner.

Tuesday was something of a "down" day.  Don spent the morning with his parents, while Sarah and I went shopping.  Not my usual vacation activity, but she had been wanting a sports jersey to wear to school on spirit days, and we decided a Vikings one was in order.  You've got to admit she's pretty darn cute in it, even if you're not a fan.

That evening, we had dinner with some of Don's friends (and former colleagues from the F*sh and W*ldlife Service).  Sarah charmed them all by, first, being Sarah, and second, making each one a sweet card with her new markers and paper.

Wednesday morning, the three of us went to the C*mo Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul.  We'd been there a couple of times before and enjoyed it.  It was a blustery day (40s and breezy), and it felt wonderful to step into the warm, flower-filled Sunken Garden.

Luckily, most of the animals at the zoo can be viewed from indoors, as well as outdoors, so we made our way from building to building without getting too cold.

On the way to Don's parents' apartment for dinner, we swung by the house where the family lived when he was about three-to-nine years old.  We enjoyed one more evening with Grandma and Grandpa, and then it was time to go home.

Sarah and Grandpa

Sarah has always loved playing with these Christmas
coasters that Grandma made long ago.  She hands them out to
all of us, then collects them all.  

Even though an upper-respiratory virus was making its way through the three of us throughout the week, I think this was one of the best trips to the Midwest we've had.  Eliminating about 40 hours of driving might have had something to do with that. :)  Sarah has also matured a lot over the last few months and is much more flexible than she used to be.  Whatever the reason, I'm sold on flying and hoping that cross-country road trips are in the past.