The leaves, they are a-changin'...

It's November already??  I can't believe it.  Everywhere I go there's Christmas music playing, Starbucks is giving me my coffee in red holiday cups, and Bill has already given me his Christmas list (except that really it was me with the Christmas list :) ).   And it's only now that I'm getting to tell you about our vacation in Minnesota, which we took in SEPTEMBER.  Boo on me.

The leaves starting to change in Itasca State Park, MN

Bill and I spent 8 days in Minnesota for our vacation, his home state.  We visited with old friends and family, saw the thrills of the Twin Cities, and relaxed in the serenity of the North Woods.  The weather was chilly and overcast the whole time we were there, but we managed to do some sightseeing anyway.  I think the most beneficial part of the vacation was just getting to RELAX.

The "Metrodome", Home of the Vikings

We got to see the Minnesota Vikings home opener against the Miami Dolphins.  We watched Brett Favre throw 3 interceptions, and witnessed the amazing inability for the Vi-Queens to get a touchdown from the one-yard line after 3 attempts.  But we had great seats!

The Vikings enter the field through a blow-up Viking Ship

Bill took me to the Disney World of malls - The Mall of America.  I bought a t-shirt from Old Navy.

Ah....brotherly love...

 

We visited Itasca State Park, in northern Minnesota, where the Mississippi River is birthed before its long sojourn to the Gulf of Mexico.

There it is - the Mississippi River.  I walked across the Mississippi River.

Bill also insisted that we climb the fire tower, something like 26 flights of stairs, to view the beautiful vista of Itasca.

Who's that handsome guy trying not to lose his cookies because of his fear of heights?  My Husband!

A HUGE thank you to Jerry and Charlene, our gracious hosts in the North Woods - for the great home-cooking, the twilight boat ride, and the comfy basement bedroom.  We are blessed to call you friends!

We visited with other dear friends - Doug and Jolynn, and their munchkin Grace.  Thanks to them, I am now exploring the money-saving world of Extreme Couponing!  More on that later...

"Bill, you're crazy.  I will not concede that hunting elk with a cross-bow is more manly than being a business man in the financial world.  It's a war out there."

Grace, the cutest munchkin in Minnesota!

And that's the end of that.  We returned to the Indian summer of Colorado and back to work.  Fast forward four weeks or so to the Friday before Halloween, and I will leave you there with our fun Weber/DeWandeler family activity...

So long for now, kids - and don't let your parents eat all your Halloween candy!