2nd DAY IN MINNESOTA - CABELAS & COMO ZOO

Our 2nd day in Minnesota, we spent the morning at Cabelas. We thought we'd give Tim some "man" time!


In the afternoon, we went to the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. We ended up only having an hour there, so we only got to see the animals. We want to go back some time and check out the botanical gardens. They also have a really cute little amusement park for little kids. It's a really neat place, and it's free! They only ask for a small donation to help keep it running, but it's voluntary. Here are the girls in front of the greenhouses.

We love the penguins!

Sitting on a turtle statue.
I thought the kids would enjoy this little video of a baby chimp we saw at the zoo.

MALL OF AMERICA 3RD POST

MOOSE MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE GOLF

After the rides, we played goofy golf at Moose Mountain, on the 3rd floor of the Mall.


Amanda hit a ball that stopped halfway through a log. She had to stick her club through the hole at the top of the log to hit it again. It was pretty funny.

The girls did really well golfing - they got a lot of 2's and 3's. Amanda even got a hole-in-one! However, it seemed like whenever we got the video camera out, they... well, they struggled. Here are a couple videos. Be patient...watch for the looks of frustration!





This picture of Eliza demonstrates how we all felt after our long day at the Mall.

MALL OF AMERICA 2ND POST

NICKELODEON UNIVERSE

The highlight of the trip, in my opinion, was Nickelodeon Universe, but then I am a huge fan of amusement parks! Every time I go to an amusement park, I am a big chicken at first - terrified to go on any but the tamest roller coasters. But I am easily influenced (apparently), and end up going on rides that look scary to me and LOVING them! Eliza is a rollercoaster freak and will go on just about anything!! On our Florida trip, she went on a roller coaster that I think would have stopped my heart, and she loved it. So at Nickelodeon Universe, the story was the same. Eliza wanted to go on everything, Amanda and I weren't so sure about some of them and Tim couldn't go on anything. The first ride we went on was a rollercoaster called the Fairly Odd Ride, named after the Fairly Odd Parents show. The thing you rode in rotated, so sometimes you were riding backwards and couldn't see what was coming next. That's such a weird sensation, to suddenly plummet backwards with no warning. We loved it, though. Unfortunately, we don't have a video of that one.

Next, was Avatar Airbender. Oh my goodness. I did not ride that one twice! It was super scary (for me) but way fun. The girls LOVED it! If we ever go back, I would definitely go on it again. Tim got an amazing shot of us on this ride - I'm in the front in the white shirt, Amanda's in the middle with her head down and Eliza's next to her in the black jacket. The video is of us on the ride even though you can't really see us on it.






Eliza talked me into going on the Spongebob Squarepants Roller Coaster. I swore I would never go on a rollercoaster that has a straight-down drop, but this one wasn't very long, so I decided to try it. You can't see it in this video, but it also goes straight UP before the straight-down drop. You are actually laying totally back and all you can see ahead of you is the ceiling! It was SO fun, we went on it again and would've gone more if we'd had time.




Eliza and I walking off the Spongebob ride.


This next one, the Tak Attack, does not look as scary as it actually is. But it was a blast! Eliza and I went on it first. Amanda's tummy was feeling sick, so she waited and went on it later with Eliza and I didn't go on it again cuz my tummy was feeling sick! Here's a video of Eliza and I on it. Eliza laughed hysterically through the whole ride, which made me laugh!




Amanda and Eliza waiting for the Tak Attack ride to start:

Finally, here's a great picture of the girls and I on the Log Chute. I don't usually like those pictures they take of you on rollercoasters, but I thought this one was great!

MINNESOTA TRIP - MALL OF AMERICA

MALL OF AMERICA

March 26th - We spent the day at Mall of America. Tim endured hours of giggly girls shopping and then watched us ride rides he couldn't go on because they make him sick. But that's how he wanted to spend his birthday - just spending time with us and seeing us have a great time! What a great guy!! If you've never been to the Mall of America - plan to wear very comfortable shoes - you will be doing a lot of walking! It is HUGE!! There are so many restaurants to choose from, it's mind boggling. And we have never seen so many prom dresses in our lives! It was a great day...

Eliza needed to find a nice black dress for the Choir group called Session that she is in, so in the process of finding that, they both also had fun trying on prom dresses at Deb's.

Eliza sings a Solo!

Eliza was asked for the first time to sing a solo at a Choir Concert. She did a great job! Unfortunately, the director told her to step down to a microphone that hid her behind the director from where we were sitting, so you will see her with the choir, but then she kind of disappears behind the director when she sings her solo. Bummer, but at least you can hear her.

Amanda's awesome serve!

More video of Amanda playing volleyball

Amanda's Volleyball

Amanda's been playing volleyball on the Janesville AAU club team since 4th grade. She had a great time this year, playing in Saturday tournaments through February and March. Here are a few pictures and a video of her playing. Watch for #10!

Visit with Tim's Family

Before heading back to Iowa, we were able to spend a few hours with the Cross side of the family. Tammy & Heather, Lauri, Matt, Susannah, Melanie & Megan visited with us at Nana and Papa Bear's house with Julianna there, too. We visited for a while and then had a YUMMY dinner, not to mention snacking on Nana's famous chocolate chip cookies (well, they're famous to us, anyway!) It was so wonderful to see everyone even though it was such a short time. We love all of you so much!

After the Funeral

After Granddaddy's Funeral, we had the wonderful opportunity to visit the house my Granddaddy grew up in.

Here Granddaddy's sister, Rose, stands by the back door. She was full of wonderful stories for us about her childhood with Granddaddy.


The tall white house in the background behind Mom is a house she spent some of her childhood in. That is actually just half the house. The other half is the house behind it (the white house, not the dark red one). Granddaddy cut the original house in half and moved half of it to the lot behind the house and sold it.

Tammy and I in front on Mom's childhood home.

Dinner at the Golden Corral. Uncle Nate made HUGE ice cream cones and Tammy and Amanda were the lucky recipients!

Granddaddy's Funeral

Our year started out with a trip to Maryland and Virginia for Granddaddy's funeral. Granddaddy passed away on January 1st, 2010. Though a sad event, it was a wonderful time to visit with family and see relatives we haven't seen for many years, and in some cases, have never even met.

Gathered around Granddaddy at the viewing.



Eliza and Amanda with Aunt Ceil, Grandma Wornom's sister.


Eliza and Amanda with Aunt Rose, Granddaddy's sister.

Eliza and Amanda hugging Mom.


Emmy, Amanda, Sara & Eliza


My sisters and me - Stacey, Kim, Tammy, Me

At the gravesite.