Maddens 09

We just got back from Brainerd today and it was quite a trip. Avery enjoyed herself thoroughly and I must say I did too. I'll start with what we did from the Friday evening we got there.

We arrived around 5pm and stopped at Target for a floaty and beach ball for Avery and Claritin for Dad. We at at a place called Pancho Lefty's and it was pretty bland and blah for Mexican food. When we got back we got in the pool even though the weather was cool, the outdoor pool was heated and it was nice. There was a icecream shop called Chrissy's where they had really good Kemps icecream. There was also stuffed animals and candy in the shop.

AJ (my dad's old boss) and Jack (the person who took his position when he got promoted) were there with their families. AJ and his wife Jodi had a boy named Devon and a girl, Kelsie. Jack and RoseAnne had a boy Ryan, and a girl Samantha. Samantha was 13 and she immediately took a liking to Avery. They all played together pretty well and Avery really liked Sam too.

Saturday we went to the Cafe in the main lodge area and had a pretty good breakfast. My dad went golfing and we had slept in till about 9:30 even though a alarm in an empty room went off from 6-7 am. When my dad got back he took Avery to the Adventure Cove park and Mom and I went to the Westgate Mall. I was not impressed. It was worse than Stevens Points Mall, and I thought that was pathetic. So we didn't waste much time there. When we got back Avery went swimming with the kids and I watched. They had a bonfire and Avery had smores and hammed it up with AJ who she was feeling pretty chummy with. I had icecream at Chrissy's again.

Sunday I was woken by the alarm again which this time when we called the front desk, someone actually came and turned it off by 6:25. But by then the damage was done and I was awake for good. I took a shower and went to the coffee shop to read for about an hour. I came back around 8:00 and my dad was up then but Avery and my mom were still asleep. He was going golfing again and we had facial appointments at 10. Avery was supposed to stay with the kids but she didn't like being alone and came with me to my appointment. It was okay, but I'm not comfortable with people touching me and it was half facial, half massage so I wasn't too thrilled. We finished before my mom because she was getting an eyebrow wax too so Avery and I went back to the room. We had lunch at the cafe and my dad joined us after golf. We went swimming for a bit and my mom got in while I took a shower and went to check out the free magazines and snacks a the meeting place. At 5:30 we dropped Avery off at Adventure Cove for the kids party while we went to the awards dinner. It drug on till about 9pm when I went and got Avery.

Monday we let Avery and Dad sleep in and we had a great brunch at the "town hall" I think it was called. We were stuffed and came back to the room so dad could go golf in the Classic and we could go to the Pine River Riding Stables for horseback riding. There were kittens lounging in an old stroller and they were absolutely adorable. A little grey tabby took a great liking to me, and loved to stretch his claws on my legs. Avery didn't want to ride her own horse so she went with me. My knees definitely took a beating and by the time we were done, they weren't feeling too great. They also had donkeys, goats and an emu there. Also in a little pen called "Puppyville" were spaniel puppies and golden retrievers. They were chompy little fellas and Avery mostly spent the time trying to get them not to steal her sunglasses off her shirt. We went back for the company picnic. We had some time before it so Avery and I got a rootbeer float while mom napped. At the picnic there were games and a jumpy for the kids. The food was really good and she had a fun time. I got a little bit of a sunburn for the first time.

Tuesday (today) was our last day there and mom and I got up for brunch again. We woke Avery up around 9 and got ready to go. On the way out of Brainerd we stopped at Paul Bunyon Land and Avery had a blast on a bunch of rides. There was also a small petting zoo with some really bored looking animals. The donkey paced backwards and fowards nonstop. The chickens didn't move a muscle, but the goats were pretty fun. They had a little play ground looking thing outside. There was also a small cow who happily chewed on my hand when the food was gone. We headed home after that. Avery's playing in the tub, and I think she might actually sleep all night in her own bed. I'm crossing my fingers.

Brainerd

Friday Avery, my parents and myself will embark to Brainerd, MN for a grocers convention and general weekend getaway. We are staying at Madden's on Gull Lake. I have never been there before, but apparently its a great place. Avery will be going to a kids day camp, my mom and I will be going to a spa (her for a massage, me for a facial) and other random activities yet to be determined. We'll be back Tuesday and I will resume work Wednesday! So a nice, and needed, couple days off.

I redyed my hair last Saturday and got a haircut Tuesday. The shortest layer is significantly shorter than I've had my hair in a long time, and yet no one noticed. Oh well, I like it and I think it looks good. If only I could chop off pounds of my middle like my hair...

That's really it as far as news goes. We've been trying to go to Stillwater Summer Tuesdays, but so far the past two have been rainy and blah. Avery gets excited to see Mikai, then I have to tell her its not a happening deal. Today I scooped water off the tarp on her pool twice. Many bucket loads. Not fun, and she's only been in that thing twice. I'm sick of this weird July weather. Give me a real summer eh?

Cirque du Soliel

Today was a exciting day for Avery and myself. Avery had Mikai's 5th birthday party to attend and I had Kooza. Avery put on her swim suit at about 10 am to be ready for the party we didn't need to leave for until 3 pm. She was more than ready. When we got there she swam for awhile (I had to get in too, she wasn't enjoying the life jacket business). So we played in the water for 45 min or so, then got dried up and had some food. It was a county fair theme so there was corn dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, etc. Very cute and fun. Tim got there around 5:45 and I had to take off to get back to the house by 6:30. They finished eating and played games, ate cake, and opened presents without me.

I think this is my 4th Cirque du Soliel experience if I recall, and it was great. It makes me want to run away and join the circus! I'd have to become super flexible, or something amazing first. Guess that won't be happening any time soon! But its late and bed is sounding good. Pictures to come.

Hello Honey & Ella

Today we added to our furry friends with Honey (a light tan dumbo eared rat) and Ella (a blue hooded rat). Ella is short for Cinderella and Avery named them both. I have been waiting for a blue dumbo from Har Mar Pet Shop for over a month, so I have given up on them and went to a pet shop in Maplewood where Avery selected 2 that were to her liking. They're quite young and very skittish but hopefully they'll settle down after a few days in their new home. I have had the supplies (bedding, food, treats) for the past few weeks and the cage I have used for rats in the past so we were all ready for them when they came home. The only thing we're missing is a water bottle. I plan to pick up one tomorrow after work, but in the meantime its just in a dish if they venture up to the top level of their cage. All in all, a very exciting night for Avery. It wasn't really planned, but it worked out!

Chilly

So Avery has been asking every day to swim in the pool and finally today when it reached a whopping 80 degrees, I let her and Tierney get in with the warning they would freeze their little butts off. So that they did. They were in for a total of about 15 minutes before teeth were chattering and lips were blue. But pool time was had, and everyone was glad for all of an hour. Tierney just went home now with the fanfare of normal tears and whining.

This weekend is still up in the air. Tomorrow Avery will be at Robin's and I have the day off with no plans other than to go to ToysRus to get a Tag book for Avery that's on sale, and the new Dean Koontz book at Borders that's half off. I'll head over to Lorna's at some point to watch a movie with her and hang out (she just had surgery so nothing too crazy). Then the rest of the weekend is undecided. No plans for the 4th and I'm not sure if I want to change that or not. I guess I'll decide when it happens!