To Minnesota and Back

We flew to Minnesota this year, which meant Owen's first flight! He earned his wings from the flight attendant and determined to be a champion passenger. He conked out for most of the flight both ways. We, on the other hand, weren't so confident at the beginning of the trip that traveling as three would work. The wheel on the stroller fell off before we had even made it into the airport. But the trip proved otherwise and we arrived safely in Minneapolis with the Ostebos picking us up from the airport.

It's been a year since we've been to the great state of Minnesota. This time however we were visiting during the wonderful season of summer, which needs to happen now every time we visit. I've never been so cold in all my life, than when we visited for Thanksgiving last year. Driving down the streets of St. Paul, I don't know how so many people willingly survive Minnesota winters. 

That being said, summer there was absolutely beautiful. We had overcast days, afternoon thunderstorms, muggy humidity, and we were serenaded by the summer bugs. It was so fun to visit the Ostebos. I can honestly say, we soaked in every minute. 

Our mornings started slow, visiting with each other and then we were off on adventures each day. At the end of the week, we were finished eating dinner and Rob says "Now I'd like to take a minute and talk about what we did each day." And he proceeded to review our week together. Mark said he would do that after they took a four week camping trip across the US. Mark would ask his dad at night to help him remember what they did so he'd never forget, and his dad would then begin to tell them about where they went. 

Our sightseeing included going to Minnihaha Falls, a Twins game, and a riverboat ride down the Mississippi. Kathy had all the Schaal family members that were available come over for dinner one night. Dinner was delicious and the company was even better. Owen's great grandpa Jerry and grandma Karen came over which was especially neat to have four generations under one roof. Grandpa Jer is a wood carver and gave Owen one of his original carvings. Owen delighted at his very own carved bear. 

Owen got our hearts going a bit when we woke up one morning around 6am to him struggling to breath with a croupy cough. We loaded him into the car and made our way to the closest ER because everything was still closed that early. He got a steroid shot, and sounded better as the day went on. But he didn't feel well that whole day and was a real trooper. 

Rob and Kathy guided us on a great tour of St. Paul. We saw the Ford plant where Rob worked that is now no more. We drove by Rob's house where he grew up and his parents' home. We saw hospitals where the kids were born and the historic district of St. Paul. Mark takes after his parents and took Owen and I on a tour of his old high school North High. 

We ended the trip going to the North St. Paul ward where Mark saw many of the people he had grown up with. And we got to see Bishop Ostebo in action and meet Kathy's girlfriends. 

Until next time! I take back what I said about visiting in the winter. I'd love to see the day when Owen can skate with Mark on the ice rink Mark grew up skating at.