Minnesota - Day Seven

We said goodbye to Bonnie and drove away from the farm - will I ever leave Sebeka without tears?!?! Atleast I'm much more subtle in my old age! After a quick stop to say good bye to Uncle Cork and Aunt Evie, we were on our way back to the cities. We met family for a late lunch at Perkins!

Hannah and Aunt Buzzie

 Momsie, LaRae, and Lilly!

 Momsie and Lilly

 Johnny and Lilly

 Johnny, Tom, Gary, and Dad

 Afterwards we headed to the hotel for a swim and to relax before flying out the next morning!

 The next morning we were off for our Colorado return - Joshua found this PERFECT shirt at the airport - he got completely bitten up with over 50 welted bites in Minnesota!

Thanks so much to Dad and Mom for this wonderful vacation with them!!!

Minnesota - Day Six

What a thrill! They were bailing hay Monday morning :-)  We watched for the longest time!

 

 Then it was off to lunch with family :-)

...with my amazing Godparents...

 and the whole gang - Dad, Mom, Auntie Lo, Bonnie, Sue, Dale, Gary, Butch, Joshua, Hannah, and me!

 Afterwards we headed north to Itasca State Park - site of the Mississippi headwaters!

 You can actually walk across the rocks where the Mississippi River starts to flow!!!

 We hiked around to see the giant Red Pines, too!

 ...and Gary, Joshua, and Hannah climbed to the top of the fire tower!

 oops - can't make a drive through Menahga without saying HI to St. Urho - legend says he saved the grape crops in Finland!

 We returned for the highlight of the trip.  Early that morning Dad and I had gone in search of Grandma Olga's rock...  In the 1920s his dad had her picture taken on this rock, in 1990s I went back and had my picture taken there, and now it was Hannah's turn!  Our cousin Gale had gone back while we were at Itasca to clear the high grass and post signs :-)  Love it!!!

 That night we enjoyed a fireworks show in the yard - compliments of Gary and Joshua :-)

Minnesota - Day Five

Sunday morning - waking up on a peaceful lake!

 Off to "Grandpa's church" - Zion Lutheran in rural Sebeka, Minnesota! The Milbradt family packed the pews :-)

I had to get an Audrey fix before they headed home!

 Dad, Mom, Joshua and Hannah by Auntie Lo's crocheted "The Lord's Prayer"

 Dad, Uncle Cork, and Gail

After church we stopped at the Zion Cemetery with some of the cousins for a little trip back in time :-)

 ...hanging out and visiting at the farm - 

Brian, Margie, Joshua, Dad, Gail, Gale, Steve, Gary, and Mom!

 ...staying cooooooool...

 Bonnie's beautiful flowers!

 Margie and Gini with the kiddos

 Large group shot!
Margie, Steve, Gini, Gary, Gail, Ang, Bonnie, Sandy, Joshua
Me, Gale, Mom, Dad, Hannah

 Late that afternoon, we snuck in a few games of cards and then hit Frame's Landing in Nimrod for some swimming in the river!!!

...and then off to Aunt Toots' that night - beautiful sunset!!!

Click here to watch a little jig - love these fun, silly, wonderful women!

 Mom and Hannah doing a little dance!

 Aunt Toots and the kiddos!

 Helen, Mom, and Aunt Toots

Another wonderful action-packed day!