Trip to My Homeland

Where to begin. . . Last Wednesday we started off for a trip back to MN with the whole famOLEY along with the Whisenants (Nana and Papa came in on Thursday). It's hard enough these days to travel without kids - throw in two (really four) rambunctious children with loads of luggage and bulky car seats, carry-ons with snacks, drinks, diapers, wipes, a DVD player and DVDs, Leapster, Pixter, and - well - you get the picture. My sweet Marek is a very active boy and screamed the entire 2 hour flight to MN because he didn't like being constrained. I only got a few frowns (from those who clearly must not have children). It was definitely good birth control for the young teenagers sitting infront of us trying to sleep . . . :) After the 2 hour screamfest - we were in the Mother Land! Jason and I waited with the kids and gathered the luggage while Kelly and Tom went to get the rental cars. We were still one piece of luggage shy each when the "Last Bag" came down the shute. Ahhhh - lost luggage - must not have tipped the "curb side check-in" guy enough. It was one of our car seats and the Whisenant boys' luggage that were missing. The joys. Relaxing vacations are a thing of the past . . . I really do hate to complain, though, because things could ALWAYS be worse. We all arrived in one piece and made it to our hotel just fine. The kids were exhausted which brings up the next challange - sleeping arrangements with all four of us in one hotel room. None of us really got enough sleep that first night. The next morning (Thursday), after finding an inch worm in my room service eggs, we were off to see the town!

We drove around my old High School stomping grounds - Mathomedi! It's funny how things seemed so much bigger and farther apart when I was younger - I thought St. Paul and Minneapolis were worlds apart and they're really quite close. The weather was AMAZING so we took the kids to a park there and I actually ran into a girl that Kelly graduated with! She walked up to the dock we were on and started fishing with her daughter! It's so nice to see old friends and pick up right where you left off . . .

Thursday evening we went to the Groom's Dinner at Bucca di Beppo. The Whisenants and we were all cozied into a booth at the very end of the row of tables. It's easier to keep the kids contained this way.

My sweet cousin Kristen (the Bride) and Dave (the Groom) . . .
The next morning (Friday) we opted out of room service and had breakfast out! We then headed over to Great GranNana Bracci's to see her and Nana before heading to our old house in Stillwater. We arrived before Nana and Great GranNana so we played in the backyard - wow - memories FLOADED over me . . .

Madelyn and Marek were greeted with many hugs and kisses . . .

Kelly and Jason met us there and we all headed off to see our house that Papa built! We pulled up the driveway and it seemed nothing had changed in 14 years on those 10 acres . . .I was glad to see that Jan and her husband still owned it (they bought it from mom and dad) and she was outside reading a book when we pulled up. She was so kind and let us tour the house! The kids played outside with her cute little dog, Chloe . . .

No sooner did we get through the house than we realized it was time to head out and get ready for the wedding! We were fashionably EXACTLY on time (maybe a few minutes late). I got a shot of the wedding party on the way by . . . What a beautiful bride!

Kelly sang BRILLIANTLY in the wedding.

Exchaning vows . . .

Madelyn and her wedding date . . .

The Whisenants - Christmas photo? Perhaps!

Our crazy FamOLEY!

The Whisenant boys looked so handsome in their spiffy sport coats and ties!

Cathy had arranged for some girls to watch our kids during the receiption just upstairs from where we were while we mingled with our relatives.

Uncle Bill and Kristen dancing the father/daughter dance. . .

It was so great seeing all of our Zieminski family - everyone looked so great and happy!

On Saturday, it got quite cool with some rain, so after a quick jaunt to Target for warmer clothes, we headed over to Jon and Shannon's house.

Riley and Ashlynn are Jeff and Angie's two girls and they are such angels. Riley played with all of our kids ALL day long - so amazingly good with them. I didn't get a picture of Blake - he was way too fast for me - and Carson was working (?!). I can't believe how much they've all grown.

Alec and Brody (below with Marek) are Jon and Shannon's two boys. So precious - Alec was sporting his Spiderman Underoos!

Marek was so intrigued by this little man, Brody, someone who was actually smaller than him!

Joe and Marlo DROVE in from Ohio even though they are MOVING to Switzerland in a week! It was our first time to meet Marlo - so sweet and beautiful.

Aunt Bonnie and one of my twin cousins, Jon . . .

After my 1 GB camera was full the trip was over. We packed in SO much in the 3 days we were there. No naps almost the whole trip (except for the short car rides) and the kids were great. It was so wonderful to see all of my family - it had been far too long.

I love you ALL and miss you ALL so much.