Minneapolis, MN

On a rare, gig-free weekend, we took a drive north on I-35.

We got to hang with Uncle Mike, who has an uber-cool loft in downtown Minneapolis.  The kids could not wait to see him--they've been asking about Uncle Mike for months (he babysat them last December on my girls' weekend while Mark had a gig).  He's kind of hard to pin down, citizen of the world that he is, so this was a treat.

 We visited the Science Museum...

 Sneaked into inviting hole-in-the-wall restaurants to escape the cold...

 And spent a little time at just-your-average shopping mall.

Our little artist took inspiration from a Spiderman DVD, and emerged from the bathroom to reveal her latest masterpiece.  NEVER get between that girl and her art.

Then we got to visit my high school best friend, Kelsey, and her sweet family at home.  It felt like a big reunion, because her Kansas relatives were there visiting, too.  (I enjoy talking to Kelsey's dad, who has a social work practice and, among many things, helps psychic kids cope with their abilities.  We always have the most fascinating conversations.)  And it was only the second time I'd seen sweet Eva, already a year old!

 Fall comes early in Minnesota.  And it's beautiful.

 Thanks for hosting us, Mike & Kelsey/David/Eva!