Skip to main content

We Almost Didn't Make It to Doors Open Minneapolis



Theo thinks its okay to stand on tables.

It's not.

We had errands to run in the morning. I wanted to get to Costco right when it opened but we made it a half hour later.

After we spent too much money at Costco we returned some bulbs to Menards. They were a tad too bright. Ok, they were blindingly bright.

Since we were in the area we stopped at Once Upon a Child to get new hiking shoes for Meadow and walking shoes for Theo.

We had planned on biking around today, but it was cold and rainy.

Meadow and I prepared our lunch.

You knew we were going to have leftovers, right?

Theo got new rain boots.

Hey marshmallow man.

His rain suit is a bit large, but it does the job, especially with the new rain boots.

He'll grow into it.

This weekend was Doors Open Minneapolis. Like the Minneapolis St Paul Home Tour but for businesses.

Buildings of all kinds. Big and bigger.

Our first stop was the Van Dusen Mansion. Meadow couldn't believe you could have your wedding here.


Could you imagine living in a place like this. The Gilded Age, man.

Our next stop was JB Hudsons. They are the oldest continuously running business in Minneapolis, opening in 1885. 

Though they have moved around downtown a few times.

They still use the original cases and had vintage Coco Chanel jewelry. They also gave Meadow a light up ring for visiting.

Meadow eyes also lit up looking at the opulent jewelry.

Then we went to the Foshay Tower and up to the gusty observation deck.

I didn't think they'd let us on the observation deck. It was a nice surprise.

Views for days. Too bad the wind was freaking me out.

We ended our little adventure at the Orpheum Theater where we got to stand on the stage. So many greats have played here.

What did you do to your legs Theo?

Don't worry, he's just joking around.

For dinner we had a meal that even G.G. would approve of. Swedish Meatballs, egg noodles and smashed potatoes. Meadow loved it.

Before going to bed Meadow made a fort in the bottom bunk.

Party time.

Excellent.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sisters, a Brother and Walking Chicago

  Summer always seems to mean one thing: weddings. Whether I'm shooting or attending, we're bound to end up at a few every year.  This time around we were heading down to Chicago from my big sister Katrina's nuptials. I feel like all our vacations are centered around a wedding or something wedding related. I wish we could go on a vacation without having to worry about being somewhere.   It also means a few repetitive trips down I-94. There aren't nearly enough unique stops off the interstate. One outlier is Foster Cheese Haus , the only organic Wisconsin cheese shop I know of. Run by the folks behind Castle Rock Organic Farms , we always try to stop by. Unfortunately for us they were closed on Wednesdays, but at least we got to spy on their darling garden out front.    Brooke and I arrived in Necedah. We decided to stop at Brooke's sister Brittany's home along the way to cut the ride in half and get her dressed hemmed.   ...

Dakotas Road Trip: Badlands and Black Hills

  I thought we would skip Wall Drug this time since we've seen it before but Scott was gun ho on going.  Come on. You can't go to the Badlands and skip the world's greatest tourist trap. First stop ice cream.  We thought we would have lunch here but after seeing the prices decided we would cook something at the park instead. But first we had to take a couple tourist pics. When we we decided we were coming here I was expecting it to be 90's and hot. Did not think it would be rainy, chilly and foggy.  I always make Brooke look cool. She on the other hand always finds a way to take a pic at the most awkward possible moment. Either that or I'm just really awkward. Earlier this year, I asked Theo where he wanted to go on vacations this year. He said he wanted to backpack camp at the Badlands because he was sad he didn't get to go yet. This is all for you buddy.

Chicago Chrismukkah + Michigander Xmas

 Before heading out on our trip we let the kids open their Christmas gifts from us. A knitted sweater for Theo and a kitty dress for Meadow (I fixed the straps for her) both made by me. I wanna a sweater. Scott got them new compact sleeping bags. We all got smaller sleeping bags this year and we'll now have a lot more room in our car. This year we had talked about hosting my family at the cottage. Then meeting up in Milwaukee, then meeting in Chicago. But in the end we made stops in Chicago and Lowell this Christmas. We left on a Sunday which was nice to have a few days to prepare. On the way down to Chicago we stopped at our favorite roadside restaurant, Foster Cheese Haus. We had plans to break up our drives so we didn't have to rush like we normally do. We had made it just before the cheese haus was set to close for the winter. Just not enough folks stop here in winter and snowmobile season is becoming shorter and shorter this far so...