Guest Post from Erika: Midwestern Adventure, Part Three

Ok, I have to start this final Midwestern Adventure post off with an apology. I have NO pictures of anyone over the age of 6 in Minnesota, except my darling husband! Where is the picture of Jason, in his TIE, picking us up from the airport? Where is the picture of Becky driving a freaking motor boat at top speed around Lake Minnewaytooconfusing while mediating a meltdown between her two little darlings (yes, simultaneously)? Where is the picture of the "grown-ups" (sheesh, when did WE become the grown-ups???) frolfing through frog fat in flip flops? Sorry, inside joke. Where is the picture of the FABULOUS new deck??? Or all the great meals we shared?

But really, Becky and Jason are people that I love very much. Good looking, good natured people! But the kids are still cuter. And so here goes: pictures of the 3rd leg of our Midwestern Adventure, aka The Drew Residence and environs in Shorewood, Minnesota.

Minnesota was all about cousins, hanging out with cousins. Unfortunately I never did get a picture of all three of the kids looking at the camera at the same time. Here is an example. I could get a:

or b:

but never all three at the same time. Those kids move fast! Here they are at the arboretum, rocking the double stroller:

And here they are sporting mohawks in the bath tub:



Martin loved hanging out at the Drews, especially in their big, beautiful backyard (a far cry from our tiny apartment deck). Here is Martin, with everything he needs in life to be happy.

Oops, forgot the most important thing he needs – mini Martin.

Awwww.


We don't see nearly enough of those Drews.

Guest Post from Erika: Midwestern Adventure, Part Two

Top Five Reasons We Love Visiting Elk Point, South Dakota
5) Pineapple Brats (no, REALLY)
4) Twin Bings! (It's actually a Sioux City thing, and now cousin Becky is addicted too)
3) Plum Dumplings, home made by Denise's Mom and helpers
2) Game Night: Sequence! (you didn't think these would ALL be about food, did you?)

but really, the number one reason...

1) Our wonderful South Dakota "family", which consists of Denise and Randy Briggs, their beautiful sweet daughter Cara, son-in-law Aron, especially delightful granddaughter Celia, parents, brothers, aunts and various and sundry other relatives who are all such wonderful, generous, fun and interesting people!

Here are most of them. Don't they look happy? That's because they are.

Denise looking for turtle eggs with Celia by the river.

Here we are, happy to be enjoying the lovely summer weather.

And there goes Peter. Bye Peter!

Those pictures were of our big outing. Mostly, we just sat outside and chatted. And ate. And chatted some more. Martin is helping them learn Czech. Celia is teaching Peter all sorts of things. She is going to be a star some day – that girl can Perform!

Randy and Denise have a lovely big yard, full of flowers. And a nice deck, perfect for BBQs. Denise's mom lives next door. Here are four generations of Denise's family (five are living):

We think Randy was secretly plotting to get us to leave Peter behind. He needs a new technician in the shop.

Cara and daughter Celia, plus one more who you can't see yet. S/he will make his or her appearance in another 7 months or so.

Celia was quite the task master. Got Peter to sweep up the place.

But it wasn't ALL work.

Peter even got to go for a bike ride! Now isn't that the most luxurious toddler ride you've ever seen?

Martin took him down to the garage to "help out".

Have I mentioned that we love visiting Elk Point? :-)

Oh, I almost forgot. We *finally* got Denise to fly in Martin's plane. The woman had not been in an airplane since 1978. Three years ago she made it all the way to the end of the runway, and walked all the way back. We are so thrilled that she did it this time! Yay, Denise!!!

Guest Post from Erika: Midwestern Adventure, Part One

Well you already heard all about Part One (San Carlos -> Elko), so I'll just post a few photos to make you really feel like you were there (without the air sickness part).

Here is Peter, flying like a champ. See how he amuses himself? (For a full 20 seconds?) I won't post the picture of him screaming his head off because I still want you to think he is adorable all the time.

Here is Peter, overjoyed to be out of the airplane in Elko. Uncle Dave is herding.

Captured!

Later that evening, Peter enjoyed a spaghetti meal with all of his senses. And I do mean ALL. "What sound does spaghetti make when dropped from six inches above the plate?" Martin's biggest question was "Why the heck do they put spaghetti (the messiest food there is) on kids' menus anyway???" Ok, but it *is* hard to eat spaghetti with just a spoon. Give him a break.

Peter helped Martin load up the plane on Sunday morning as we prepared to fly to South Dakota. The paint job is still pretty cool. We got comments everywhere we landed, almost all positive. Example: "Did Ted Nugent influence the artist?" (from the control tower in Casper, Wyoming). My favorite though, was the negative, somewhere in very rural Wyoming, or possibly Colorado:

Surly gas guy: Well that's an *interesting* paint job you got there.
Martin: Uh, thanks?
Surly gas guy: It wouldn't exactly be *my* first choice.
Martin: Oh, really? What would your first choice be?
Surly gas guy: I think they look best painted white with a little blue stripe.

He warmed up when he saw the faux bullet holes though. Turns out he had the same ones on his truck. Bonding with the locals!


Next post (and I realize this next post will actually appear *above* this post, confusing all of you linear types out there): Home Sweet South Dakota thanks to Briggs Last Chance Garage!

Guest Post from Erika: First Leg of Travel (Elko, Nevada)

Well, we flew to Elko yesterday from San Carlos and it was a pretty bumpy ride over those mountains. I learned several valuable lessons:

1) Always carry an extra barf bag (ok, what is the politically correct term? air sickness bag?) in case one has a hole in it.
2) A sleeping bag, even a wet, very smelly sleeping bag, is still warm when the cabin temperature drops to 32 degrees.
3) The person who gets motion sickness should not be the one in charge of keeping the head set on the upset wriggling toddler for 3 hours.

Doesn't flying sound glamorous? :-)

You all can extrapolate the rest. At any rate, I was never happier to see my dear Uncle Dave's smiling face when we landed. He kindly chauffered us to our hotel, and then took us out for a real Basque meal (Peter's first!). I think we were all a bit disturbed by the amount of food we were expected to eat, but managed to enjoy ourselves nonetheless with Beth and Kristen helping to keep the little guy happy and occupied until well past his bed time.

Congratulations to Jan and John Maas who have been married for 50 years, and whose big old celebration provided the occasion for this mini family reunion! I told Martin we are definitely having dancing at our 50-year wedding anniversary party. Woo hoo!

We depart in a couple of hours for South Dakota, and I have a new pre-flight checklist that includes Drammamine. Wish us luck!