Second Week in Minnesota -- Mall of America

On the last day in Minnesota, Becky and the boys and I headed to Minneapolis to stay the night. (I had an early flight out the next morning, so we needed to stay in a hotel near the airport.)

This gave us the perfect opportunity to spend the day at the Mall of America.

The highlight of the mall, of course, is the enormous indoor amusement park in the center pavilion. The very first ride we did was the log plume ride. I love these, but you always get wet!! And sure enough, as we headed toward the first dip, as if by magic, five compact gallons of water lifted up and over the front of the boat, and deposited themselves right into Luke's and my lap. If it were not for Luke, I would have been soaked from the crotch down. Luke, unfortunately, was soaked from the waist down, but he loved it!

Becky and I took turns riding the various rides with the boys, and then toward the end of the night, we enjoyed seafood at Bubba Gump's.






Here are Eddie, Luke and Becky on the very cool "Fairly Odd Coaster".


And here are Luke and Becky on the "Sponge Plunge!"

First Week in Winconsin

Here are some photos from Becky and the boys' first week in Wisconsin visiting Grandma and Grandpa Duke. The boys got to enjoy the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, lots of boating on the lake, and of course, relaxing by the lake reading People magazine.

Eddie also put together this great video full of birdwatching tips! Hilarious!!

Live Blogging the Journey Home, Day Two -- 5:30pm

Yay! My family is home!! So happy to have them back from a very extended vacation!

On the good side, they return home safe and sound to a house that is spotlessly clean, and very ready for their return. On the bad side, however, there isn't a scrap of food to be found in the kitchen. I spent most of last week nibbling on whatever I could find in the fridge or pantry. I suppose in some ways, it was a useful method of cleaning the fridge and pantry--having me stay home alone for three weeks. Every egg is gone; we haven't had milk in the fridge for weeks. Hell, I even ate the old can of sardines in the back of the closet--the one dated before Luke was born.

It's not that I can't cook--I can--but it's just no fun cooking for one.

Live Blogging the Journey Home, Day Two -- 1:00pm

The family has had lunch at the fine Scottish establishment--McDonalds! (You didn't know they served Scottish food, did you? I mean, McDonalds IS a strong clan name ... ever try their McHaggis? Delicious!)

Next stop, home!

Live Blogging the Journey Home, Day Two -- 9:30am

Everybody had a nice rest at the hotel last night. The boys got to work off some energy in the hotel pool, and Becky took Frank for a very long walk--which they both needed. And despite a few kicking boys in the night, I think Becky and her Mom both got pretty good rest. They're finally back on the road and making good progress. Let's hope the storms and rain don't slow them down too much.

Live Blogging the Journey Home -- 6:00pm

I'm glad they've arrived safely at their hotel for the night. I'm sure that the boys will enjoy the pool and the luxurious Applebee's next door.

Live Blogging the Journey Home -- 3:00pm

Live Blogging the Journey Home -- 11:00am

I have a special link with the GPS unit in Becky's car. It's called her cell phone and me calling her every ten minutes to find out where she is. Obviously, I'm a little anxious to get them back home.

Camp Nana

We had a very nice visit with the family in Minnesota this week. The larger Harris family stayed in a cabin at the Shing Wako Resort in Brainerd, MN. This was an especially nice visit, since we really had not gotten to know the two youngest cousins, Joshua and Cooper, before this. They have really grown now, and developed quite the personalities.

Joshua is the closest kid of all the Harris kids (mine included) to being a clone of me, both in looks and personality. He is a very bright child, but has a wild streak a mile wide. But behind his occasional tantrum lies a very intelligent child who misses nothing!

Littlest Cooper was quite a character. For some reason, my little three year old nephew took to me immediately. At dinner, he insisted that I sit by him, and he stayed on me like glue the whole first day. When I asked him if he knew who I was, he of course, said "No."

I told him, "I'm your Uncle Scott," to which he replied, "Oh, I have an Uncle Scott, but he lives far away."

Later in the day, Cooper cheerfully informed me that I was a "big fat guy" and had a "big fat head like a pickle." I tell you, I did not find this insulting in the least! I was rolling with laughter (like a tub full of jelly, I suppose). Later, as Cooper walked in on me changing out of my bathing suit, he also informed me that I had a big fat "peanuts". Nothing like keeping it real, Cooper!

Emma and Nathan have grown too, but they are still the same sweet kids we already knew. It was nice seeing how our own kids, Eddie and Luke, paired up and repaired up with the various kids through the week. Everybody really got along well, and it was nice to see them truly enjoying each other.

More Lake Edward Photos

Reunion!!!

I've finally rejoined the family at Lake Edward! Mike and Carroll and their kids, Mom and Dad, and of course, Becky and the boys and I are all staying at a nice cabin on Lake Edward, near Brainerd. It's pretty nice up here, and the kids are absolutely loving the lake.