Rinn Reflections: Our Week in Minnesota

Friday, July 13, 2012

Our Week in Minnesota

My last trip to Minnesota very happily did not go as planned as I left early due to Emma's birth in Missouri! This visit to Minnesota was much more calm...though I wouldn't trade leaving in the middle of the night last time for anything! :)

Thanks to lots of extra help from my mom & dad who watched Isaac while David was working, I was able to take Emma to Minnesota for a week to spend time with my sister Emily and my Grandma Dolores.

Emma was a great traveler! We had a layover each way in St. Louis, though we didn't have to switch planes. Emma spent most of the flights sleeping in the Moby Wrap.

Our visit was wonderful! Here are my favorite pictures!

Fresh off the plane! Emma with Emily!

It was so special for me to have my Grandma Dolores meet Emma.

My Grandma's mother was also named Emma Victoria, and I love how my grandma always refers to Emma by her full name. My Grandma has prayed for children for our family for many years. It was such a miracle to me when my Grandma Dolores was nearly 90 years old and met Isaac for the first time. Now, two years later, it was more than I could have imagined to have my Grandma meet my daughter. I really did treasure this special time.

My Grandma and I spent a lot of time looking at her photo albums and playing a few games of Scrabble. She may be 92, but she is still one clever Scrabble player! :)

We also went out for lunch one afternoon, but mostly my grandma spent a lot of time rocking and singing to Emma.

I also had so much fun with my sister Emily. Her wedding is in less than 2 months, so we spent a lot of our time together working on plans for her wedding! One evening, Emily's future mother-in-law and sisters-in-law came over to her apartment for an evening of wedding crafting. All I can say is...stay tuned for pictures in September of the most colorful and creative wedding imaginable! My sister is one amazing bride-to-be!

Emily and I also spent a day at the Mall of America shopping for Isaac's ring bearer outfit...and we managed to squeeze in some other shopping, too.

(Read: no sales tax on clothes in Minnesota) :)

The next day, Emily had her first wedding dress fitting. Of course, I can't post any of the pictures I took of my sister in her gorgeous gown. From the moment she stepped out in her wedding dress, I cried and cried. (I'm sure you're not surprised.) I just can't believe my little sister is getting married! I am so happy for her and couldn't love her fiancee, Caleb, more than I already do!

We made the day of Emily's dress fitting into an entire girl's day, complete with pedicures and Caribou Coffee!