Spring Break-Part 1 MN

It's strange to think that one year ago I was also in Minnesota for spring break.  In some ways, the year has flown by.  This trip was very different from the last in many ways.  For one, MN was having record high temperatures.  Last year, I remember shoveling the driveway with heaps of snow so tall on either side that there was no where for me to pile it!  This year, the grass was green and flowers were starting to bloom.  Last year was a bit more adventurous and this year's trip was a bit more house project focused.  We didn't work the whole time though.  For one, Parker's mom Sue was there.  The last part of her spring break overlaps with mine, so we were able to spend some quality time with Sue, Marsh & Kate.  We ended up seeing this movie together...

 ...and then went out to Kipps (an Irish pub) for dinner afterward.  A good time was had by all!  Sue also had a beautiful flower arrangement awaiting Parker & I, and she worked wonders on the flower beds around Parker's place. 

 

  

I was deemed qualified to tape before painting

The boys worked on the guest bedroom closet and built some walls in the basement.  I made a few runs to Goodwill, put two coats of paint in the spare room, and cleaned.  Parker is still much better at fine details, such as cutting around the windows and ceiling, so I left those parts for him.  

Goodwill, here we come!

A nice clean stove...again

 

Of course Parker would have an organized 

cart for painting projects!

Gobi desert...a.k.a realtor beige according to Home Depot

The master painter hard at work!

The future second bathroom!

Framing for door over the old well room

Parker and I did some relaxing too.  We couldn't make the trip without visiting Punch for pizza or walking around his cute neighborhood.  Marshall also makes the most delicious bread.  He tried a new white cornbread recipe and also made me my own special loaf.  Don't they look like they belong in a bakery?  They taste just as good as they look...amazing!

We also did a little wedding planning.  We picked up Parker's ring and also worked on invitations.  A big thanks go Kate for all her help and her artistic talent on the invitations! We hope to get them out in the next few weeks. 

The trip back to the airport was very...well let's just say more adventurous than either of us had planned.  We planned on taking the bus, so we started out walking the 1 mile with our rolling suitcases.  Yes, slightly nerdy, but economical.  Unexpectedly, Parker's sweet neighbor Bob honked at us after just a few blocks of walking and offered us a ride.  All was well, except for when we arrived at the bus stop, Parker realized that he forgot his wallet at the house.  It was 8:17 and the bus was scheduled to come at 8:23.  I'm definitely starting to panic at this point.  Parker remains cool and collected.  He hands me $4 in coins and tells me to get on the bus as planned.  I assume that it will take me to the airport, but apparently there is a switch once we get to downtown.  I'm really starting to freak out now that I'm going to have to ride not only one, but two buses by myself!  I start crying and hugging Parker, thinking that I'll not see him again.  Meanwhile, Parker call's Bob's cell to have him come back to give him a ride to get his wallet.  Surprisingly, Bob's wife shows up and makes us a deal.  If we both go back with her, she'll get her purse, Parker can get his wallet, and then she'll drive us both to the airport!  Thank you Lord for working out the details and for generous neighbors.  Your ways are always better than ours.