Dreaming of Asia in Texas: June, July, Daniel, Kelsey, Rossi and Joanne

Visitors, stories, a party, a puppy (not ours!!!), boat rides, restaurants. A fairly normal summer commences!

Tuesday June 29th

Daniel and Kelsey are visiting for the next 3 weeks. They both work remotely so they don’t need to take a lot of vacation but can just come here and hang out. We love having them around. They are very nice house guests and it just makes me happy to see them. They arrived Sunday afternoon and so far we haven’t done a thing, just hung out. Tonight we’re going out to eat at Coalition in Excelsior.

We babysat for the kids this weekend while Sarah and Erik took a “glamping” vacation for Sarah’s birthday. We watched Kirby on Friday and Saturday morning and then we traded with Suzanne and watched Leo Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Leo is emerging from the terrible threes and is becoming a delight to be around. Saturday night we watched Toy Story. Its a good movie, and Leo was mesmerized. I’m not sure how many full length movies he has watched, but he really got into it, creeping closer and closer to the television as the story progressed. He has a Buzz Lightyear doll and when Buzz showed up he gasped in surprise!

Kirby is entering full blown toddlerhood. He is developing by leaps and bounds. He has figured out how to get the plastic letter and number magnets to stick to the dishwasher and delights in taking them off and putting them back on. His walking skills are improving on a daily basis and he likes nothing better than to stomp around the house, exploring. But he is easily frustrated and its comically easy to make him melt down and cry. I’ve been searching for ways to tell him not to do something without using the word “no” because if you tell him “no” he bursts into tears. He still needs a lot of sleep, 12 hours at night and 2 1-1.5 hour naps, but his eating has slowed down considerably.

Saturday July 3

Daniel's Meal at Coalition. What IS That??

Thursday we went to Coalition. It was nice to just go out to eat normally. Friday we used the passes I won in the Shorewood "Step to It" contest (I had the most steps of any senior in Shorewood, not that hard to do when you're training for a marathon!) and went to the St. Louis Park Aquatic Center. Leo looked at the water, stood at the edge for a bit and then boldly walked in, deeper and deeper. He splashed in the sprinklers, slid down the little kid slides. He walked all the way to the other side of the pool and jumped into the water to Daniel. He even floated a little with Daniel’s hand underneath him. So he does remember a little from his pre Covid swim lessons with Lee.

Kirby was very into walking. He walked all the way from the car with Suzanne, and walked into the water, but got apprehensive when it got up to his waist.

We got snacks and Kirby wanted to walked around the snack area and see what other people were eating. Leo got a giant popsicle and traded me an Oreo for a bite. It was all different colors but basically tasted like sugar and ice.

On the way home I sat in the back and had a conversation with Leo, mainly to keep him awake so he didn't fall asleep in the car and could take a nap when we got back to the house. A very fun day.

This evening Sarah and Erik and Daniel and Kelsey are going out to eat and I’m babysitting Kirby, while Leo is with Kris for their annual half birthday celebration. I brought leftover Thai with me for dinner and Kirby liked it. He ate pad Thai and pineapple fried rice. Then we got ready for bed, put on pjs, read Goodnight Moon, cuddled with a bottle. I put him to bed and he actually talked and sang to himself for a little bit before he fell asleep. He’s getting big.

Monday July 5th

We didn’t do much on the 4th but today we had a party. We invited the Johnmeyer’s over. We hadn’t seen them in almost a year, since we took Leo to Zumbrota last September. The kids have grown so much. I hardly recognized Henry and Owen. They have gone from being little kids to being BOYS. Henry is 8, almost 9. Owen is 5, and tall. Grace just turned 3 and little Jack is 1. They are very good kids.

Tom was in town so he came over with Harrison and August. Harrison and Leo don’t remember each other, even when we showed them pictures from last summer. But it didn’t take long before they were playing together, or at least around each other.

It’s funny, August needed a nap when he got here, and when he woke up Kirby needed one. It was sure handy to have the pack play set up in our bedroom. All the one year olds are walking, but at various stages of expertise. August is pretty sturdy, Kirby is getting there, and Jack is just taking his first steps.

We had bbq from Buddy’s Bbq in St. Bonny for lunch. We had it last year on the boat too. It’s the real deal, as good as anything I’ve ever had. There wasn’t much left, so I guess everyone else thought it was pretty good too!

The kids started out at the sand box and the little wading pool but before too long they had changed into bathing suits and were in the big pool. Lee had struggled yesterday to get the ph corrected but this morning the water was clear. I was worried that it would be too deep for the 3 year olds but they were fine and they loved it.

By the time everyone left I was trashed. That was a lot of people and a lot of excitement, and it was really hot outside. We’re supposed to get some rain and it’s supposed to cool off tomorrow. I sure hope so.

Friday July 9th

Last night Daniel, Kelsey, Sarah, Erik and Leo went to a Twins baseball game. They sat on the first base line. Erik caught a foul ball and gave it to Leo. Not understanding the significance Leo threw it over the balcony. Of course all the adults were aghast and then everyone started laughing. Poor Leo started to cry. Finally one of the stadium attendants retrieved it and gave it back to Leo, plus they gave Erik a bunch of tshirts and other twins paraphernalia. But what a story for Leo to tell when he gets older! “Remember the time I threw away the foul ball?”

July 11

Yesterday we took Daniel, Kelsey and Joanne to the Mexican place next to Fair State and then walked down to Fair State and ate our food and drank their beer in their beer garden. It was fun, I’ve only been there once before, back when Leo was a baby. That time we went with Sarah and Erik and Sarah ended up spending half the time in the car nursing Leo because he was easily distracted. So this time was more fun.

I got Roselle, their hibiscus flavored beer. Whoever picked up the beers got me 16 ounces and at first I was appalled but I just kept sipping and eventually drank a lot of it. Later I bought a couple of bottles of their “wine-beer” to take home and try some time.

This morning I rode my bike 20 miles. It felt good and I think I will be in good shape for the Tour de Tonka at the beginning of August. I went ahead and signed up for the 36 mile route.

Then around 10 am Daniel, Kelsey, Sarah and Leo and I went to the Minnesota Zoo. It’s not San Diego but we had a good time. Leo was hot to see a tiger when we first got there and we were able to oblige him fairly quickly. Then he lost interest in the animals for awhile, wanted to be carried, and needed a snack. The grown ups enjoyed walking the paths and seeing the various animals. Eventually we ended up at a play area where Leo clambered around bravely and even climbed up a rope ladder all by himself. He’s growing up. After that we all needed food so we got some mediocre zoo food and then went to see the fish and the birds.

Leo Climbs the Rope Ladder Like a Big Kid

The fish were a hit. Sharks, coral reefs, brightly colored fishies of all different shapes and sizes. Leo really liked the sharks. I kind of liked the otters. They are such good swimmers!

By the time we headed for home everyone was tired. I hope Sarah was able to keep Leo awake in the car. I needed some coffee for sure!

Joanne left on Monday, Daniel, Kelsey and Rossi left on Thursday. Its very quiet around here without our visitors. I miss them! Little Rossi was such a hit with our dogs. They really enjoyed having a puppy around, and Rossi liked being part of a pack. She's a picky eater, like Harper, but with other dogs around she was always ready to eat her food.

July 20 2021

Yesterday was Lee’s birthday. On Sunday we took the boat across the lake to Wayzata for brunch, with Sarah, Erik, Leo, Kirby, Suzanne and Kris. It was fun. The boat rides so much better with the third pontoon. We can go faster now and we don’t take on water if people sit in the front. It’s smoother too and therefore I'm less nervous. A much pleasanter experience.

We went to 6Smith. As soon as we walked in I realized that we had been there before. Our realtor took us there after we closed on the land back in 2018.

The boys were really good, even though we had to wait awhile for our food. We took turns taking them out to the lobby so they could run around. Kirby has been sick but he is getting over whatever he has had. He ran a fever for 3 days and had a croupy cough that wheezed and rattled in his chest. He had a negative Covid test, thank God, and they also tested him for RSV. The RSV test was negative but the doctor said it still could be RSV. But by Sunday his temperature was normal and his cough was better so he was able to go with us.

When our food finally came the kids split an order of French toast. Leo ate the whipped cream with gusto. Kirby was really hungry and crammed as much french toast as he could in his mouth as fast as possible. The food was good but very rich and the amounts were ridiculous. Who could possibly eat that much food? I got the monkey bread and it was yummy but I only ate half of it. Everyone else was in the same boat.

Then this morning Lee and I took the dogs and rode around on the lake while the housekeepers were here. We rode over to Vann’s in Spring Hill to make sure we knew where to tie up because we’re going there for my birthday on Thursday.

It was beautiful on the lake in the morning. Very calm and quiet, and almost chilly. It’s been so hot neither of us thought of it but we both wished we had brought a sweater!

Then we went into Excelsior and sat outside and had a coffee. I went across the street to The Lakes running store and bought some new running shoes. I knew exactly what I wanted so it didn’t take me long. I talked to the girl that helped me for awhile. There is a local group that does group runs on Saturdays. I wonder if I could possibly run with them? I’m so slow, and I always run/walk, it’s hard to find runners to run with. But it would be fun if it works out.