MN visit!

The ladies of the house took a 5-day trip to MN to visit grandparents, cousins, and attend a bridal shower in the Twin Cities.  Here are a few of the highlights:

Campbell, Baby Piper, and Auntie Manda came to Rochester and the babies met for the first time.  The big kids played in the sprinkler (one chose not to wear clothes, one was cold and very concerned about sun protection)...

Elsie thought it was really funny to pretend to fall off the deck...Campbell was very concerned, and would yell, "Mimi (Grandma RJ), save her!".

After outside time, everyone wanted to be naked while they shared a snack and watched a show.

Oh, the joy of shared fruit snacks!

All the kids lined up, and the big kids though the whole process was quite funny. 

The babies are actually about the same size, despite their 7-wk difference in age.

They recreated this photo, taken on the same blanket when Campbell was two weeks old and Elsie was 5.5 months:


At the Bridal Shower, Great Grandma Dorothy met Sylvie for the first time.  Sylvie loved Grandma Dorothy, and they sat together and smiled for quite a long time!  People who didn't know the family thought that Elsie and Campbell were twins and Sylvie was their little sister, and that Piper was Manda's only child!

Manda, Josie, Elsie, Sylvie, Campbell, RJ, Piper

After the shower, we went to Campbell's house to play.  Campbell took a really long nap, though, so Elsie had some solo play time on his fun new climber!

Rock-climbing like a pro!

I did it!!!

When Campbell woke up, he wanted some alone time.  When he was finally ready to play again, they had a great time with farm animals and a barn...one of Elsie's favorite things to do!

"Hey, so I guess we are cousins or something.  How's YOUR nuk taste?"

A good-bye hug- a touching moment, until they hugged so tightly they both fell over and cried.

On the way back to Madison, we stopped again in Rochester and helped Papa Todd celebrate his birthday at a surprise birthday party lunch.

Elsie had a blast with all the yard toys and water fun.

Her favorite part was playing with the big kids.  What a fun, unexpected day with her step-cousins!  A perfect way to wind up the long vacation.

The normally 3.25 hour ride home took about 6 each way, but we made it with lots of stopping, a few for potty breaks and a few for rest-stop playgrounds. Elsie was a trooper!  She is growing up so fast!