Minnesota!

For Valentine's Day, Mark surprised me with a trip to visit my sister Andrea and her family in Minnesota. I have had a hard month emotionally, so he felt like this would be the perfect way for me to recharge. And it was.

After spending 24 hours stuck in St. Louis during a snow storm, I was so happy to finally get to Minnesota! Don't get me wrong, I'd had a fun time hanging out in the airport all day Thursday, waiting in horrendous lines, finally getting a taxi to a hotel (and thinking I was going to die as I sat squished in the backseat of that van, watching cars spinning in the snow on the roads all around us), hanging out in the Redbird Bar with my new friends Robyn and Dylan, then sleeping on the couch in Robyn's hotel room... yes, I'd had a great first day of my trip, but I was really relieved when I finally saw Andrea. We picked up Spencer from work and had lunch at a yummy Mexican restaurant. Then we headed home and waited for the kids to get home from school, and the party really began...

Being the awesome aunt that I am, I always seem to bring out the mature, sophisticated side in my nieces and nephews...

I brought a balloon animal kit for the kids, and I was impressed by their creations! 

We played Pound the Table, Ticket to Ride, and Settlers. I loved sitting around their table laughing, eating, and playing games. 

Mark ordered pizza and had it delivered to us Friday night, so that was a fun surprise. Mark was home taking care of the kids and still managed to do nice things for me while I was away! :)

I took a picture with each of the Driskill kids so I could show my kids how tall Tyler, Amanda, Zach, and Devin are all getting. It's hard for me to believe that Tyler and Amanda are both way taller than me and that Zach and I are exactly the same height... at least I've got a couple of inches on Devin still. But I'm sure he'll pass me up soon too!

Of course, our Saturday morning temple trip was a highlight. It was beautiful and happy.

Zach played awesome in his basketball game that afternoon, then Saturday night we went to the Ice Castle by the Mall of America. I loved being outside in the snow and cold (I kept saying it felt so Christmasy!), and the ice castle was really neat.

That Viking had the greatest laugh. Very Viking-esque.

Tyler took this picture of his mom and dad, and I thought it was super cute. :)

It was so good to be in the Driskill's home, go to church with them, play and laugh with them, watch family videos, meet their friends, hear about all the kids' activities, and stay up late talking with Andrea. I needed some good sister time and family time, and I sure got it. I had plenty of time on my flights and layovers to read and watch movies and think and write. It really was nice to get away from all my responsibilities and get to be just me for a little while. But I was so ready and happy to see Mark and my kids when I got home Sunday night. What a great Valentine's gift, Mark. Thank you! And thank you, Andrea, Spencer, Tyler, Amanda, Zach, and Devin for letting me come visit!