Annual Trip to Minnesota

We just got back from our fun-filled trip to Minnesota. We head up there every year to see family and friends and eat our way through all of the great restaurants in Minneapolis. See pics below for some highlights of our trip.

Jameson enjoyed the rides (and climbing) with Uncle Bill.

We rented a pontoon boat with Chris's family and spent the day out on Lake Minnetonka. The cousins had a blast swimming and playing in the water.

Beautiful Stillwater, MN! Jameson and I went to visit a college friend and her kids in Stillwater. It's been years since I've been there and I forgot how beautiful it is. We enjoyed a historic tour by trolley and climbed some of there many staircases in the downtown area.

The house we rented this year was across the street from Minnehaha Creek and the house came with tubes. What a gorgeous float and a relief from the heat and humidity.

Arches

We also hit Moab and Arches National Park on the way home. We did not have our bikes with us but will definitely return to the area with bikes in tow. We loved Moab!

Grand Canyon

We took a different way home to Colorado (from Arizona) this time. We enjoyed the views at the Grand Canyon. This was a first visit for Chris and Jameson. See pics below.

We think we'll be in Colorado most of the summer except for a few road trips to places other than Arizona. We made great progress on the house but we're still not quite finished. It's definitely feeling like home to us. We practically spent the first half of 2011 there!

This is actually not the Grand Canyon but on the Navajo Reservation east of the Canyon.

No it doesn't drop 4000 feet behind him :)

Pic by Jameson

Jameson in a tree

I just had to add this picture. This is Jameson in my favorite kind of tree here in Arizona, a Palo Verde. It has green bark!

Jameson's birthday in Arizona

Jameson had a birthday party here in Arizona before we head back to Colorado. All the kids brought their Nerf guns and they fired darts for 4 hours straight. Jameson didn't even want to stop for cupcakes or gifts!

Bobcat for breakfast

Our bobcat friend made an appearance again this morning while we were sitting at the breakfast table. Chris got a good picture of him enjoying the morning sun before disappearing into the brush.

Some progress

We've made some progress on the house. The master bedroom tiling is almost done. The painting in the master bedroom and bath are done. Jameson's room is next. We removed the wallpaper and the carpet already. We need to paint and tile and we'll have two livable bedrooms. His bathroom is next in line after that. The wallpaper is down so we just need to paint.
Jameson and I are living in the house now (Chris is in Colorado for the week). We're sleeping on mattresses and we have the patio furniture in the living room!

Master bedroom tiling in progress.

Kitchen cabinets are done!

More pictures to come!