Life, Weekends

Minneapolis fun + friends!!

Grateful Kae

This past weekend was so fun!!! A bit of a busy whirlwind trip, but so fun.

Ethan had a soccer game in Minneapolis, which is about a 4 hour drive from our house. (It was supposed to be two games, but ended up being only one- long story.)

When I’d heard about the Minneapolis games, I immediately told Ivan that I wanted to be the one to take him up there; my best childhood friend lives there (who I hadn’t seen in a ridiculous number of years, considering we only live 4 hours apart…) AND I had been dying to meet Lisa (who also lives in MPLS)!!

Drive Up: Friday

Unfortunately, we got a bit of a late start on Friday afternoon- it was 5:30 p.m. before we hit the road. (I had to work, and then Ethan had an issue getting a ride home from school. Anyway, just got late.) It was raining and mostly dark when we hit the interstate. Yay. I’d planned to have Ethan drive a bunch, but given the kind of yucky conditions (and that route is super semi-truck heavy…), we opted for me to just drive. I think he was very glad- with all the rain and darkness and traffic, it was just quite unpleasant/ a bit nerve wrecking driving for parts of it.

Finally we drove out of the rain, so after an ~8 p.m. shamrock shake + bathroom stop at a McDonald’s, he took over.

Got to the hotel by around 10 p.m. or so. His game wasn’t until Saturday evening, so I was looking forward to a nice, slow morning the next day. I had plans with my friend Steph at noon, so “technically” we could have driven up early on Saturday morning, but it was a lot more enjoyable to stay the two nights. We got settled in and watched a little TV and turned the lights out by midnight!

Saturday: Relaxing morning, Childhood BFF + Soccer

I woke up naturally by a little before 7, which I guess is apparently my current version of “sleeping in”. (eye roll)

Ethan was still sleeping, so I snuck out and went down to the Starbucks in the lobby, bought a Venti hot tea and went in the pool area for a soak in the hot tub.

It was very, very lovely….until “Addy” (a random 3 year old) and her ~5 year old brother + grandpa, um, joined me. 😅 The kids thought it was hilarious to repeatedly jump into the hot tub (splashing me in the process). Grandpa kept saying “do not jump by the lady”, the kids ignored him, repeat, repeat. I just kind of did the little “oh, it’s fine…” smile and hand wave, while simultaneously side-eyeing the little girl and hoping she’d go swim in the pool already.

Ethan eventually came down, bought a hot chocolate and came in to say hi, but he actually forgot to bring his swimsuit. So, he couldn’t join me in the hot tub.

We went to a Denny’s just up the street for breakfast. (Perhaps we could have found a more interesting breakfast spot, but we just wanted quick and close and Ethan liked the sound of Denny’s breakfast potatoes.)

I am not always a big “breakfast out” person but occasionally it hits the spot! Usually I get something just like this. I so rarely eat hashbrowns but they’re very yummy.

Ethan got another hot chocolate (says it was superior to the Starbucks one. He has decided now after several recent attempts that he does NOT like something about Starbucks hot chocolate.)

Then back to the hotel where I showered and left for my friend’s house. Ethan just stayed at the hotel; sounds like he basically watched movies/played on his phone all afternoon. Not overly exciting, but for a 15-year-old, I’m sure it was a perfectly pleasant day. LOL.

Minneapolis!

I had the best time with my friend!! She is someone truly near and dear to my heart- hands down one of the best friends I’ve ever had. We became close friends in 4th grade and were besties ever since and all throughout high school. We did orchestra together, volleyball together, she came on trips with my family, we had approximately one zillion sleepovers over the years… we were literally joined at the hip.

Sadly, ever since she moved to Minnesota for college, our lives went separate ways, as they do. She’s now married with 3 boys (similar to our boys’ ages, actually- though they were off at activities on Saturday, or I might have brought Ethan along to hang out!). We’ve stayed in touch via text and the occasional phone call, but I hadn’t seen her now in years! Which is ridiculous. I was sooo happy to see her!

It’s one of those friendships where it doesn’t matter how much time has passed, we just picked right up where we left off. Not even a hint of awkwardness or anything like that. We spent a good 5 hours together (mostly at her house, plus a Chipotle run) and talked the whole time. So wonderful! ♥

I could have stayed even longer but finally had to get back to get Ethan to his game. We had to be there (in the opposite direction) by 6:45 for a 7:30 p.m. (indoor) game.

It was a good game, but ended up getting cut short due to some weird double-booking of the field. Another long story, but very frustrating for the families who drove all the way to Minneapolis just for this game!!! (I wasn’t quite as annoyed since I had others reasons to be in Minneapolis. But still.)

Anyway, they won and it was all fine. After the game, Ethan requested Chick Fil A. I really made the fast-food rounds this weekend, didn’t I. Lol!

I was still pretty full from my Chipotle burrito bowl, so just got some grilled chicken nuggets. They were about to close, so they gave me an extra free one! Bonus. More protein?

I was tired by this point and knew we were going into Daylights Savings time that night, too. And I had semi-early plans the next morning with Lisa!! So we went back to the hotel, lounged around a bit/ scrolled the phones… (lol), and then called it a night.

Sunday: Blogger meet up!!

On Sunday morning Lisa and I had made plans to meet up at a coffee shop near the hotel. (Thanks to Lisa for driving the ~20 minutes my way!)

We met around 8:30 and it was so, so great. Lisa was exactly as I thought she would be, and I kept feeling a little sad that we don’t live in the same city, because I would 100% hang out with her any chance I got!

photo credit: random person at the table next to us 😉

Lisa and I connected via SHU’s blog back in early 2020. I think I eventually clicked to her blog from a comment and ended up emailing her with a logistics question when I started my blog…I began reading her blog, she started reading mine…the rest is history. 🙂

She also holds a special place in my little “blog heart” because she was one of the first people who ever actually commented on my blog. And as any blogger knows, the comments are so meaningful- especially to a new blogger. It makes you feel like, ok, I’m not just writing into this dark, deep void- someone is actually reading this! And Lisa doesn’t just write a quick comment for the sake of commenting; she writes some of the nicest, most thoughtful comments of anyone! She’s the best. 🙂

Anyway, we had such a great time. Though we’re close in age, we’re in very different stages of parenting. Her two boys are only 3 and just-turned 6! I have a new driver and she has one potty training! haha.

She also works full time in a busy finance job requiring lots of travel, which she handles amazingly well (though not without its challenges and stressors). We just had a million things to talk about and I think we could have sat there all day and not run out of topics. 🙂

We are seriously talking about planning a girls trip up to Nova Scotia to also meet fellow blogger and Canadian Elisabeth sometime in the next couple of years!! (SHU, FYI, you’re coming, too; not optional. 😜)

I can’t explain how much I love all the amazing connections I’ve made via blogging, of all things!!

Back at the hotel, Ethan and I had just enough time to pack up and hit the road before 11 a.m. check out. He drove out of Minneapolis, which required a bit of city/ freeway driving (but not too too bad). I snapped this funny picture of him blinking where it looks like he is driving with his eyes closed. 😅

Nice clear, sunny weather for the return trip through Wisconsin countryside:

We stopped off at a big mall on the way home to do some birthday shopping for Ivan (b-day was Monday) and made it home by late afternoon. Charlie greeted us very enthusiastically. 🙂

It was a full and busy weekend, and I was a bit exhausted by Sunday night! But it was GREAT! 🙂 So glad that soccer serendipitously took us to Minneapolis and that these friend meet-ups worked out.

20 thoughts on “Minneapolis fun + friends!!”

  2. What a fantastic weekend and yay that you met Lisa! I’ve only just started a blog and I know what you mean about feeling like you’re writing out into a deep, dark void haha, but I see blogs like yours and Lisa’s and it inspires me. Anyway how great to catch up with two close friends, old friends are the best

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      1. I was JUST responding to say- wait! Where’s your blog link?!! 😊😊 I don’t know why it won’t let you link… you should be able to add your url in the comment form?? 🤔 Weird. Definitely will check it out and follow! Exciting that you started a blog! It’s been so much fun.

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      2. I just worked out how to choose to link to my website in my WordPress profile so now my website will show up when I comment! Hallelujah. Haha

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  3. I love every single thing about this weekend!!! Little road trips like this are so fun; you got one-on-one time with Ethan; you got to see your childhood best friend and you HUNG OUT WITH LISA! How cool!!! And about the food- it’s really fun to eat fast food on a trip like this! When we drove to Tampa in January we ate Taco Bell in the car and it was like a trip down memory lane for me.
    I’m coming on the girls’ trip to NS!!! If I don’t go I’ll have serious, serious FOMO.

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  4. Awww I am grinning ear to ear after reading this! Our coffee meet up really filled my cup last Sunday. I knew we would hit it off since we have so much in common and our husbands are kind of eerily similar!! I felt like we could have sat there for 6+ hours and not ran out of things to talk about! There was no ‘ok what are we going to talk about next’ thoughts in the back of my mind because the conversation just flowed so naturally! That’s one of the great things about blogging. You can form such deep connections with others! I vividly remember your first email to me – you were asking for help on getting your blog in the comment form. I remember when I got the baby gift from you when taco was born, too, so now I always think of you when we read ‘the long winter nap’ which is one of Taco’s favorite books!

    We didn’t get a chance to talk about it but I feel like I am in a weird place with friendships. Some things have shifted, somewhat because of some of my core friend’s kids going to a different school/living in a different neighborhood. So I am kind of lacking a bit for a really good female friendship locally. But it’s kind of hard to explain/kind of nuanced so we will have to discuss it next time we see each other! If only we could teleport or live closer! But at least we are driving distance apart! So I know we will see each other again!

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    1. I don’t have many close in person friendships right now, either. I have many many “closer acquaintance” type friends- people I may text with/ sit by at sporting events/etc- who are mostly moms of the boys’ friends! And while I consider them friends, I also don’t really DO things with these people on a personal level outside of kids’ activities. Does that make sense? Like it’s hard to bridge from that acquaintance zone friend zone to “real” friend zone.

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      1. I totally get that! I am also in a hard stage of life where I am traveling so much and the boys are so young so I don’t have a lot of time for friendships, unless they are ok with the boys being around? So they would have to be up for a walk around the lake with taco in the stroller and Paul scooting alongside. And that is not everyone’s cup of tea…. So right now my closest friends that know the most about what is going on in my life so actually blog friends. It’s kind of been that way for many years now, though. But I thought we maybe have friends we could like travel with together for spring break and such but we don’t really have those kind of friends right now really? It’s complicated..

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  5. It’s so great that you met with an old best friend and a new friend! That would count as an epic weekend trip! I wish I could just drive to meet my best friend these days! I totally understand the immediate connection with BfF even if you haven’t met for a long time. That’s me with my BfF. And Lisa, I’m so jealous of you two meeting up. I can totally see how a girls trip to visit Elizabeth could work. If I ever move back to that part of the world, or even near there, I’d totally join you.

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  6. Yay! I am so glad that the two of you finally got to meet up. I agree completely that Lisa is just exactly how you would think she would be, and that she posts very thoughtful comments! I think she was one of the first people who commented on my blog too! It was so nice to feel not so alone, as sometimes you have a bunch of views but no comments and you wonder what the heck is going on.

    I also am glad you got to meet with your childhood friend. I have a couple of HS friends who still live in the town I grew up in and we try to meet around Christmas, since I am often home then. However, we do not really meet up outside of that, and sometimes I feel like I should make more of an effort. Of course we text and sometimes even talk on the phone, but life gets in the way at times for sure. It is so nice to go home (or to MLPS in your case) and to have people who know you, isn’t it!?

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    1. Oh, that’s funny that your friendship with Lisa started similarly!! I have never as an adult made the same types of deep friendships like I had with my 2 best friends from high school. Sometimes it makes me sad! And it’s hard to keep those old friendships really alive as everyone’s lives have shifted and moved on and people have families, etc… I at least saw one of them last summer, and now this other good friend now! (after a long hiatus of not seeing either one) So I’m really happy about that, and will have to make sure to make a point to not let it get so long in between visits going forward.

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  7. What a wonderful weekend! I love that you got to meet Lisa — so fun. And what a great photo of you two.

    How fun that you were able to get together with your bestie, too! I am still close to my childhood best friend, and we go years and years without seeing each other. It’s hard… but so wonderful that we can pick up right where we left off.

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  8. What a perfect weekend!! Lisa! Best friend! Hanging out! Woot woot! Sounds like a delightful way to spend a couple of days.

    Did you get to see any of Minneapolis’s famed lakes?

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  9. YES YES YES TO THE COOL BLOGGERS NS TRIP!!!!! This needs to happen. I mean, I’m hoping to make a cool blogger’s WI/MN run this summer, but NS is where it’s at.

    What a great weekend!

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  10. Hope you enjoyed all the “Twin Cities” had to offer (as a MN metro person)!! All so different from WI – haha. Glad you had other reasons to visit or I’d be annoyed by the soccer stuff.

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  11. So wonderful to hear you met up with Lisa!! I had a chance to meet her back in the fall, and she is truly awesome. Heard she is coming to NJ in April, hoping to see her then, too. 🙂

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