A Dobbins' Day

National Night Out is a chance for neighbors to get outside and bbq and talk with neighbors. My parents neighborhood (where I grew up) all got together at the park. There were hot dogs and many yummy side dishes. I got to see many of the same people that I grew up with. Many community workers, like the fire dept., police dept., etc. stopped by as well. It was a fun evening and the kids loved playing at the park. Its the same park that I spent many hours at when I was a kid (with some newer equipment).

We had a great party, filled with lots of good dutch oven cooking and lots of family. The kids had fun "helping" Grandpa with his trick candles and then they rode around and played.

These beautiful falls are in Minneapolis only a few minutes from the airport. They are near two beautiful lakes and a creek that forms the falls. It was kinda a hike with the stroller, but very pretty.

While we were up north there were many fun things to do and see, but what I was most interested in was getting my kids to pose at the various statues that we would see. It didn't matter how small the town was, they all lay claim to some sort of statue. So here's my montage of statues that we poised by. Enjoy!

International Falls, MN is where my Mom grew up. Its where my parents met. Its where many of my Mom's side of the family still lives. We went up there after being at the lake for a week. We went to pick up my Grandma and bring her back down to my parents house. While there we saw almost all of my aunts and uncles and a lot of my cousins.

Since my parents place at the lake is a work in progress, on this trip we worked on making the road a little bigger. The kids were great helpers and loved the bobcat.