Minnesota in the fall

In late October, we headed up north to visit my family in Minnesota. We hadn't been up to my original home state since Finn was a baby(!) and since we are going to have a newborn around here in a few weeks' time, we wanted to squeeze in a visit before the baby's arrival.

The drive was beautiful – the rolling hills of Wisconsin comprise much of it, with their just-past-peak fall color. I knit in the car, while Nicholas drove, and the boys did pretty well on the long drive (lots of snacks always help).

When we arrived, we ate dinner, which was beef stew in the crockpot that my mom had made, and I brought homemade sourdough bread to accompany. The next day (Saturday), we had a slow morning at my parents', with coffee and breakfast. Nicholas taught Cooper how to play mancala and chess for the first time, and the boys played with marbles and agates and any little items (anything novel and small enough to hold is deemed fascinating). After an early-ish lunch, we headed out for some fresh air. It was a beautiful October day! Sunny and breezy and crisp. My brother Matt had the idea to take the boys to a really neat park nearby and they loved it. Cooper ran around nonstop and Finn enjoyed himself too, after a car nap. We did a walk around a nearby pond, as well.

And then after a quick stop at my parents, we stopped by another park and my brother generously took some family photos of us (as well as some of just Nicholas and I). The boys ran around and we had to check out a bridge at the park before heading back to my parents for supper.

On Sunday, we all went to church in the morning. My mom got out the Lincoln logs my brother and I played with when we were little, and boys really enjoyed them. After lunch, Nicholas and I took the boys to see a childhood friend of mine, Lauren, and her family. It's so special to think that we were friends with each other when we were the ages of some of our littlest babies! We had snacks and the guys watched football, The kids jumped in leaf piles and played with bubbles, and then we all walked to a nearby park for a bit. It was another beautiful day. And what a gift to have some uninterrupted conversation with my friend Lauren, to talk about good and hard things in parenting, grief and loss, and God's goodness and faithfulness through it all.

That evening, we had burgers and then visited with some of my parents' friends and neighbors for a bit before bed. Such a full and wonderful day.

Other favorite little things:

• Seeing the boys ride the wooden rocking horse that my Grandpa Bob made for my brother and I.
• the joy on the kids' faces as they jumped in leaves and ran around the front yard with our friends' golden retriever
• my mom and brother reading to the boys
• snuggling under quilts my mom made
• Finn becoming very attached to a "teeny tiny book" of shadow puppets that was my mom's and insisting on wearing his red rain boots for the entirely (clear skies) visit
• splitting an acorn squash with my mom (we are the only two who really enjoy it)
• making coffee with my dad (and choosing a mug from my parents' mug collection)
• The boys playing with a very large stuffed bear (aptly named "Bear") that my brother and I used to prank each other with

It was such a sweet visit! Beautiful fall weather, lots of time outside and fresh air, as well as precious time with my family and friends. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for hosting us!