We got back from Minnesota yesterday and I am tiii--red. It is a whole new ballgame traveling with 2 children! We had a fun time, though, and I'm glad we went. Those accents up there in MN kill me! I just about laughed every time I bought something and was asked if I wanted the receipt in the "big" (Bag). We recently saw the movie New in Town so that's where the title for this blog came from. I couldn't resist:) Anyway, I'm going to try to make this post short and sweet. Basically we went to MN for Rock the River- a crusade type event aimed at youth and put on by BGEA. It was neat to be a part of it and to see what Roy's been experiencing for the past 3 weekends. I was really nervous to fly with Roy Austin--the thought of having the airplane door shut and to be stuck inside for 2 hours in a plane seat really frightened me. Lucky for us, Roy's dad allowed us all to fly up to St. Paul with them. Thank you Jesus!!!! My father-in-law RULES!!
RoyBoy's first flight experience! He did very well and even got to help fly the plane. Yikes!Dolly, Michael and my parents also flew up for the weekend, so it was nice to be able to spend time with them, too. It was also Michael's first flight experience. I'm sure Dolly will be blogging about that. The weather up there was SO nice. I am very ready for fall time now, since we experienced low 70's temps with breezes blowing. On Sunday afternoon, Dolly, Caroline and I stopped by Starbucks, where Dolly and Caroline enjoyed telling people to "ROCK THE RIVER" as they passed by. It was funny!
Here are my parents with the kids as we walked to the event. We went a little late so the kids could nap before hand. That is the mighty Mississippi below.
Roy Austin with Mel, or as we call him, "Cuz" (he and my FIL are cousins). He enjoyed feeding RoyBoy clementines. I'm trying to get him and his wife to keep RoyBoy for a weekend, but each time I mention it, all Cuz does is laughs??
"Oh, ladies.....Anyone want a ride?" He can drive carts, too.
Kathie, Dolly, Amanda and me. Dolly was really into this RTR thing. Just about every picture I have of her, she is doing this pose!Someone asked me the other day why RoyBoy is crying in just about every picture on my blog. It's because he is always on the go and hates to be still or posed. Exhibit A: asking him to look at Mommy and say "Cheese" to get a picture with Linda. I promise my son is not always like this.
This is better. Goofing off with Uncle Wil:
***By the way, WHERE IS CAROLINE IN ALL OF THESE PICTURES?!!! I feel like the mom who is showing favoritism among her children! I promise, this post is not an ode to RoyBoy!!!Sweet Caroline was with Roy most of the afternoon, and he was walking around the event. I had RoyBoy most of the day/picture taking time. Sorry, Caroline!!!! I love you!!!***
My sister-in-law, Kristy, and her little girl, Hannah, also flew in for the event. It is always great to spend time with her and catch up. And by the way, she flew by herself with Hannah!!! She is a very strong woman!!
Roy Austin and Hannah got to spend some good quality time together, too. He even stole a few kisses from his cousin! Isn't she cute?! She is so tiny!
The whole event was planned around various Christian Rock Bands. The main attraction that night was a band called "Fly Leaf". Roy has come home from each RTR talking about this band, so I made him go up so I could get a picture:
My father-in-law brought Kristy and me right up on the side of the stage and we got a great show! It was loud, but fun. We felt like cool moms:) Kristy even knew one of the songs, so she really IS a cool mom!
Here is a van full of Grahams on the way back to the hotel that night:
And here are three cousins getting a quick bath before bedtime, which just made my kids more hyper and even more not ready for bed.
Phheew! This post is wearing me out! Are you still with me? If so, here we go.........
We stayed in MN for an extra day with my parents and Dolly. I feel bad because Daddy and Roy really wanted to go see where the Mississippi River starts (3 hours away), but we ended up going to the Mall of America. Poor boys...they were good sports. Here are some various pictures of our day there:
Riding the swings in the mall...
...and the carousel....
Roy took Caroline on a lot of the rides while we shopped around. We visited The American Girl store, too. I didn't know there was one here, so it was a special treat. Actually, I was more excited than Caroline. I think she was a little over stimulated.
After spending about 5 hours at the mall, I made a whopping $15 dent in our checking account. This mall is so overwhelming it's almost not fun to shop there. It definitely needs to be shopped without kids.
Tuesday we left the Twin Cities to return to the Queen City. Just for some added insurance, I gave RoyBoy some Benadryl to help ease the pain. Here he is at the gate getting ready to board (approximately one hour after dosage.) At this point, he's starting to feel a little woozy, not sure why he's experiencing double vision, and getting a teensy bit tired:
Mom and Daddy were feeling a little nervous for me. (Daddy wouldn't pose in this picture for me):
Here she is!! Caroline thought she was such a big girl getting to order a coke to drink on the plane. She never gets Coke, so she was excited:
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow"!!!!! After about an hour of off and on screaming (yes, screaming), either the Benadryl kicked in or he gave out. Whatever the cause, we were most thankful. He slept the second half of the flight:
I think it's safe to say that I will not be putting myself through the torture of flying with RA until he can understand the concept "sit down and stay down".
That is it! Hope you enjoyed that long post that was supposed to be short!
21 comments:
It was a really nice weekend. We enjoyed it all.....even the loud music (which wasn't really that loud after all). Minneapolis is a great city, and it's too bad we didn't have more time to see things. There's sooo much to see. It's always good to get home, though, and today it's back to business. Check this event off, and on to the next!! Nice pics!! Good post!!!
looks like you guys had a great time. i can imagine that mall of america would be better as a "without kids" experience. don't know if i would've made it out only spending $15? that's impressive!
That's it!!!! That's it!!!! This is the final straw!!!! You purposefully make Roy cry and now....now....you DRUG HIM!!!! Someone needs to intervene. LOL!
I laughed at the pics of Dolly doing the RTR sign. Way to be enthusiastic, Dolly! It looks like you had a very fun weekend. That was neat that you got to go and spend time with both sides of the family.
I agree about Mall of America, I was on total overload when I went. I think my body and central nervous system just shut down completely.
This post ROCKS (pun intended). Ahhhh, Minnniiesnowta....I'm having flashbacks. My favorite picture might be your very last one and Caroline's face. That is HAlarious. She was totally copying you.
Benadryl is the bomb dot com except last time it backfired on me and had the reverse effect.
Your getting to be more of a pro everyday, Donnie. Way to go, girl!!!
What a great post. The recap is great and it was fun to see a photograph fo Amanda in there too.
My question is who took the photo of you on the plane? Did you ask a neighbor across the aisle to photograph you guys? Great recap!
I just realized that Roy may have been able to be on the returning flight with you...wasn't sure if he had to stay on.
Donna, Caroline reminds me so much of you in that last picture. She's posing just like you! That's adorable.
Woohooo, private planes, jet-setting weekends, what is next? Whaaaaaat is next? You're practically a celebrity you know! I've always wanted to get on Jonathan's private plane...just to see it. Jason flys around with him - he'll bring it up in casual conversation, "I've gotta fly to Dallas with Jonathan for the weekend". Our family teases him a little about it! :)
Okay, you're so lucky that Benadryl works on RA! It has the opposite affect on my kids and I found it out the hard way. They were cranky and bouncing off the walls. Will even got jitters.
Another thing...your parents are so energetic. They are my heros! They are hopping around to different cities, playing with your kids and loving life. That's how I want to be at that age. (That very YOUNG age - in case Jenius sees this:)
Whew, long comment. That's what you get for such a long post! ha!
What a fun post! Looks like a great time, it is good for your kids to experience what their Dad does.
I am so happy that my kids understand the concept of what my husband does for a living... Anna tells people that "he makes sure people are going to heaven when they die" whenever someone asks!
And, let me tell you, I feel your pain when it comes to traveling with RA...Lindsay is quite the traveler now (thanks to the little dvd player and Dora!) But, Scott used to say "she'll peel the paint off the inside of the plane!!" and don't get me started on kicking the seat in front of her! (and people's ugly reactions to it..she is "special", okay!??
It looks like Big Roy took the benedryl instead of Roy Boy.......! We missed you at Tweetsie!
What happened to going to Walnut Grove, Sleepyeye, and Mankato?!! I guess shopping always wins out plus all the attractions they have at Mall of America. I'm glad you had a good weekend. It's always nice to take little short trips! Love you.
I'm so behind in my commenting. It's been so busy since we've been back. Great post! I'm laughing especially at the pic of Cuz and RA and the fact that he just laughs when you ask him if they want to keep RA for the weekend. That's hilarious! I can just see him now.
Donna, you were a great teacher to me on how to travel with kids. I'm glad the first trip I traveled with Michael was with you. You handle your kids great even when RA is screaming in the airplane! hahahaha! I can still see your face laughing. You're a good mom!
It was a fun trip together and I had fun "ROCKING THE RIVER" with Caroine!
Oh, and I'm LOL at your post title! You're so funny.
Wow! This is an exciting post. You travel like a celebrity...or like Kate Gosselin. JUST KIDDING! It looks like such a fun time and I love your discription of the Minnesota accents and the lady saying "big" for "bag" I can just hear it now.
LOL on Dolly and her RTR shout out and hand sign. Cant wait to see Dolly's post about her flight experience with Michael.
Sounds like y'all had a great time...but welcome back to the South! I'm totally with you about the overwhelming-ness of the Mall of America. I went in college with the volleyball team and was amazed. Unfortunately, all those girls wanted to do was shop at Abercrombie and American Eagle...as if we didn't have those back in Knoxville!
Oh, Donna, it looks like a wonderful weekend! I'm so glad y'all had a great time and that RA did OK on the ride home. I think he looks adorable in all his pictures. I'm sure he'll resign himself to a lifetime of picture-taking one of these days! (Of course, I'm still working on Brent!)
Umm, way to throw in a picture of the two Roys with the private plane in the background. Are you trying to rub it in that we have to fly JetBlue? Go ahead...put another picture of the family golf cart on your next post.
What a fun weekend! My good friend, Jana, was at the Mall of America this weekend too. Minnesota was the place to be! You girls look so cute and stylish all the time - what's your secret? I'm loving your big sunglasses too. Now, what age can you give a child benadryl? And can you give it to them when you're just hanging out around the house???
Funny about your dad smiling so big when he's supposed to be looking nervous. Jenius did a good acting job though! And I LOVE the last picture...HILARIOUS!
Okay, I'm feeling it...I'm feeling like I may be ready to enter back into blog world after that long comment.
How fun! You have such a wonderful family, Donna. And I know this has nothing to do with the post but you are so, so pretty. :)
Oh my! That was too Funny! That Roy Boy! I totally feel your pain! That Brody Boy....
Looks like a fab trip and the mall....swings???
This is funny. Matt is actually from Minneapolis and he can always tell when I've been talking on the phone to my northern friends b/c I sound "normal" for a while. HA!
Great post. It sure was fun Rocking the River with everyone. It was really fun rocking on that stage with our ear plugs:) Thanks for the pics and the memories. The plane picture cracks me up. I hope that sleeping pic is me on my way home.
Loved your post and all the pics--so fun! And I was cracking up laughing @ the last pic where RA is sleeping on the plane. haha I flew with Jesse once and so I can totally relate. Nothing worse than being rushed to your connecting gate with a HUNGRY baby and no warm water on the plane to make a bottle until AFTER take off. Lord, help! :)
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