Every year, we spend a good chunk of time back in Minnesota and Wisconsin so we can see our family and friends for an extended period of time. This year the kids and I spent a solid three weeks there during the month of August. (Jon flew in for the last week.) We drove back so that we could have the flexibility to drive back and forth between Stewie and Hudson, and also to see friends in Rochester and the Cities during the day. So after a 12 hour road trip, which the kids rocked, we arrived at my parents' house in Stewartville. The very next day, my mom hosted a bridal shower for my cousin, Lauren. Her sister, Hanna, had a cute idea to take pictures with everyone and a "Congrats, Lauren" sign. I stole this picture of Kylie from her facebook page. As seen in the pictures below, we were quite busy and active during our trip. Take a look...
We spent quite a bit of time with my Grandma King (aka Super Grandma).
She and Kylie played badminton.
We went for walks in my old stomping grounds.
We played at the park.
We went for gator rides at the farm.
And Jeep rides!
We drew with chalk.
We went to the Crayola Experience at the Mall of America!
We attended Thursdays on First with friends in Rochester.
It's one of my happy places!
Blair, Brooks, Kylie, and Halle at Thursdays on First.
Brooks began his transformation into a lllllllizard.
Grandma Susan with all of her grandkids.
Emmit, Kylie, Brooks, and Lydia.
We spent another morning with Halle and Blair.
Brooks made a lion mask!
We visited some of the Pink Stars in the Cities.
These are some little Pinks: Brooks, Kylie, Emma, Henry, and Henley in the background.
My dad made a barn playhouse!
After about 10 days, we drove up to Hudson to spend the rest of the time there.
We went to the beach in Hudson, on the St. Croix River.
The kids made box forts.
Bergen colored.
We went to Como Zoo.
Brooks and Espen on the left.
Bergen, Elias, and Kylie on the right.
We jumped on the trampline...A LOT!
We gave each other wagon rides!
Elias and Espen made a homemade pinata.
We spent 20 minutes or so trying to break it open.
All 5 Barlow cousins.
Elias and Kylie in the back.
Espen, Bergen, and Brooks in the front,
Grandpa Doug dressed Brooks in this all coral ensemble.
Jon and Tony engaging in some brotherly competition.
They each won one round.
We had a campfire and made s'mores on our last night in Hudson!
Then we drove back to Columbus so Kylie could start school.
But after just one week, we flew back to Minnesota for my cousin's, Lauren, wedding over Labor Day weekend.
This was the only picture I took at the wedding.
But is was a beautiful wedding at a cool venue in Minneapolis.
We helped pick tomatoes in the Barlow Roots garden.
We drove down to Rochester to celebrate my mom and dad's 40th wedding anniversary.
We were a week early, but it was a fun celebration!
The "wedding pose" that is frequently recreated!
Grandpa JJ with the King grandkids.
Kylie, Lydia, Brooks, and Emmit.
We had to take a picture with Snoopy in the Minneapolis airport!
Once we had landed in Columbus, the pilot pulled these two aside and let them sit up front with him!
Brooks was amazed!
We are so grateful that we were able to spend so much time with our family and friends this summer! Now it's back to the real world in Columbus, work for Jon, and school for Kylie and Brooks!
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