Originally Scott was supposed to be gone this week on a work trip. I had asked my parents if they could come to help with the kids while I was at work.  Unfortunately  I wasn't going down to shoot one of the big boat shows in Florida. On the plus side we'd get to spend time with G.G. on her 70th birthday weekend. With the trip cancelled I asked if they still wanted to come. Before they arrived Meadow made neopolitan cookies.  These were some of the best cookies we've ever made. Thanks, Meadow's cookie cookbook. The next morning Theo asked grandpa if they could snuggle together. I had plans to take my parents to a pizza farm. Since the drive was an hour away we tried to find things to do in the area. We picked up some food for a picnic and hiked at Rice Lake State Park.  I feel like this is the second time I've had a job and Brooke's taken the kids to this state park.   True story. Most of the leaves are gone near the Twin Cities, but not down here.    ...

It's finally warmed up here and my maternity leave is getting close to ending. I want to take Meadow to as many places as I can before I go back to work.  On a whim we decided to go over to the Minnesota Zoo. With the warmer temperatures I figured it would be busy on the weekend so we went on Friday afternoon. 

My parents came up for the annual visit. My uncle had come up for Mayday a few years ago and my dad has been wanting to come up for it since.  That being it said it was Mayday weekend and low and behold they showed up! I made some cinnamon rolls for the occasion. Brooke forced me to make some glaze, but I had to use sugar that I ground in the food processor. It turned out a bit gritty. Actually it was my mom who thought it was crazy that we were going to serve them without any glaze. Today was supposed to have nice weather. We thought up ideas on what to do for the day and settled on the Minnesota Zoo. We didn't realize that quite a bit of the zoo was indoors. I guess that makes sense in Minnesota. My dad insisted on renting a stroller for Meadow. She loved climbing in and out of it all day.  "Fish, fish."  Meadow enjoyed the fish. Meadow was having lots of fun seeing all the animals. Kids under two are free so it worked...