Telford Party of 5

SURPRISE trip to MINNESOTA

At the beginning of the summer we made a "to do" list.

We each listed something that we wanted to do as a family before the summer was over. Camping in the motorhome. See Harry Potter 7.2....to name a few. All very doable. Then Penny throws out, "See the Yankees play" and I believe Tom's exact words were, "is that all?!?"

(Side note: The difference between the Salt Lake Bees and the NY Yankees is minimal in her mind. Both professional teams on some level...both play baseball. She said it for her brother. She's nice like that. So, to be fair, a day trip on Frontrunner probably would have sufficed in her view.)

BUT....it wouldn't have been nearly as fun.

Still not sure exactly how we pulled it off, but the stars aligned and it just so happened that the weekend before school started, Tom had to go to Minnesota for business. AND..... it just so happened that the Twins were playing the Yankees that very weekend! So, we told Jack and Penny we were going school shopping and drove to the airport instead!

We left Jamo with my sister because well...he would have been painful. Sad, but true.

It was one of the funnest weekends in my parental memory bank.

First up: Super hip, downtown Minneapolis hotel. Next, the incredible new Target Field Stadium. Seriously, that place is UNREAL! It truly was the most exciting MLB game I have ever seen. 26 hits. I mean, there was actual ACTION!! It was fun to see a couple of the only baseball players I could actually name, Jeter and A Rod. Don't hate.

Jackson was in absolute heaven. Plus, Jim Thome (whom I couldn't have named before this night) hit his 600th homerun the night before, making him only the 7th (?) player in history to do so. There was a big presentation before the game started. It was just a very cool evening all around!

The next day we hit The Mall of America.......AND YOU AIN'T KIDDIN'!!!!!

That place is insane. It's its own city. Seriously. There is an entire amusement park in center court. And it's not carnival size either. Full size rides. We road a couple. The kids LOVED them! Tom and I literally felt our brains giggling loose.

While the boys wandered for a bit....Aspen and I had lunch at the American Girl Bistro. It was like a dream. I honestly can't put into words how much I loved this experience with her. It is going to sound ridiculously cheesy, but, it was truly magical. There really isn't another word to describe it. We forgot her doll at home, so on a very indulgent whim, we bought the adorable Miss Rebecca and she joined us for lunch. Tableside. In her own clipped-on chair. I was dying. They gave her her own mini saucer and lemonade that somehow kept magically disappearing ;) and a cookie. At the table was a cute little conversation box that had questions to ask each other while you waited for your food. We had the best time together. Eating and talking. Oh the wonderment of a girl and her doll....and the most perfect aumbiance ever.

I always tease Aspen that she is my American Girl Doll.

The whole afternoon was touched by an angel.

The one bummer was that my camera battery died...so the pics are all from my phone.

Not the best clarity...but forever clear in my mind.