Quarry Hill

Monday morning in Minnesota, we went out to Quarry Hill. It's a nature reserve for walking, hiking and rock climbing (an outdoor rock wall), and there is an indoor center, too. Despite being overcast, it was a very warm day for October!

Turtle watching at the duck pond.

Still banking on the new "Strike a pose!" phrase.

And some ducks came, too.

My favorite trees are those that I can eat from, but the movie My Girl engraved willows onto my heart forever. I love willows!

Weeping willow with your tears running down,

Why do you always weep and frown?

Is it because he left you one day?

Is it because he could not stay?

On your branches he would swing,

Do you long for the happiness that day would bring?

He found shelter in your shade.

He thought his laughter would never fade.

Weeping willow, stop your tears,

For there is something to calm your fears:

You think death has ripped you forever apart,

But I know he'll always be in your heart.

--Vada, My Girl

Continuing our walk through Quarry Hill, we saw these trees with red leaves covering the trunks!

These trees are awesome!

A group of 5th graders arrived on a field trip. We now know what rock climbing is and can try doing it sometime.

Land of 10,000 Lakes

Ever since elementary school, I've fantasized about Minnesota. Reading the Kirsten American Girl books piqued my interest in the Swedish settlements, Swedish culture, and the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Even that title just sounds wildly exciting and adventurous to me. Mystical. 

We stopped in Minnesota on the way to Wisconsin to visit our Grandpa Dodds, a dear, sweet man who established a mutual "family" with Shad 10 years ago. We were excited to see him, but not nearly as excited as he was to see us. His daughter, Stephanie, who he lives with, said that when she told him we were coming, he just started giggling with delight. He spent the few weeks preceding our arrival smiling more than he had in months, and giggling spontaneously. That right there made it all worth it to me. Actually seeing him was just an added bonus.

When we pulled up at Stephanie's house, her brother Dale had raked a pile of leaves. He figured that we'd probably be excited to play in leaves, coming from Kansas. Oh, how right he was!

Katie's favorite thing to do is sweep, so raking just tickled her fancy!

Until the boys ruined her lovely piles. I had to convince her that this was okay. (This boy is Owen, Dale and Kirsten's son. I didn't get pictures of them. Dale is Grandpa Dodd's son.)

Dancy would only stomp through the piles. No jumping and playing for her.

Our kids took to Grandpa Dodds quickly, asking him to read books, help with shoes, or cuddle during Phineas and Ferb.

Did I mention Katie loves to sweep? She asked for a rake any chance she got.

Again with the sweeping!

Katie wasn't overly thrilled with the destruction of her leaf pile, but we made her join in the leaf fight. She and I teamed up against Tommy and Dancy.

Inside, Samson had fun teasing the cats.

After having a Sophia the First and popcorn night, we said goodbye to Stephanie in case we didn't see her in the morning before we left. Thora might have already gone to bed.

Saying goodbye...with vicious sunglare in our eyes! Thora, Megan, Don Dodds, Shad and Samson / front: Tommy, Dancy, Katie

Stephanie, Thora, Don, Shad and Samson / front: Tommy and Emma (the two-year-old Stephanie nannies), Dancy and Katie

Gorgeous vines with fall colors, covering the interstate walls.

Southeastern corner of Minnesota, almost to Wisconsin.

One last lake! I didn't get to see enough of what I think of as Minnesota (apparently I have to go farther north in quest of that), so I will be back some day.

Crossing the Mississippi River into Wisconsin.

End of Omaha and on the Road Again

We finished our Saturday night in Omaha by going to the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge, which crosses the Missouri River and connects Nebraska and Iowa.

Standing in two states at once!

Then we went to the Heartland of America Park and while we enjoyed watching the fountains, Shad and I were a little disappointed that they never turned the colored lights on.

This is what we wanted to see! (Picture borrowed from Google) 

And we were there past dark and still the lights never came on.

Hotels make for really fun sleepovers. Didja know?

We love staying at Super 8 because of the breakfast waffles!

I tried so hard to get in contact with Sister Atkins while we were in Omaha, but with no success. Finally we threw in a last effort and went to the singles ward we thought she was assigned to. Hooray, we found her! Love this girl and all her English/Aussie goodness, except that it means she'll be so far away when she's done with her mission. We had such a good talk during the Sunday School lesson. Yep, we were those people.

It was fun to see different terrain when we drove through Iowa. At one point, there was a sign for Hawkeye Point, which is the highest natural point in Iowa at 1,700 feet. I laughed!

A taste of the Land of 10,000 Lakes! Southern Minnesota left a bit to be desired in that area, as well as Scandinavian culture, so I'll have to sample Minnesota again someday. But it was still exciting to finally see this land that I have longed for nearly 20 years!

But they had loads of trees for us to enjoy!