Auntie Amy Visits

It's been a busy week, and I'm finally getting around to posting some pictures from our company last weekend.

Auntie Amy Texas, as we refer to her around here, since we have two Auntie Amy's, flew into Minnesota last week and stayed for two days before flying back to Texas.  She came with a large red suitcase.  Inside were four enormous onions.  Yes, onions.  At first I thought it was a joke.  Who puts onions in their suitcase???????  But she really actually brought them for her family.  They were special Texas onions, and my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, her husband, and my own husband happily munched on onions for the whole visit.  Actually, I would say that my husband gleefully munched on onions.  There are some things a person just doesn't understand about in-laws no matter HOW much you love them ( in my case I love them a LOT).  

To combat the frigid Northern temperatures (which were really quite mild . . . into the 50's and sunny for most of her quick visit) we brewed a lot of delicious smelling coffee.  (Interestingly enough, I think my frequent trips to Barnes and Nobles have conditioned me to associate the smell of gourmet coffee with thick and rich chocolate brownies . . . I kept smelling the coffee and needing to remind myself that there were no chocolate brownies in the house).  

We took Auntie Amy to some of our favorite tourist destinations:  the lift bridge, Fitgers, the beach, the Lakewalk, and Canal Park.  We hiked a quick and easy hike with a babbling brook and a baby waterfall, and dined out for brunch at a couple of our favorite "breakfast" restaurants.  It was a relaxed and fun visit, from our perspective.  

Although the kidlets were off wading and splashing in icy Lake Superior the evening we spent at the rocky beach, Auntie Amy was a bit chilly.  She anticipated being a bit chilly, so before we even left the house, she bundled up in lots of layers, and I loaned her my warmest winter hat.  

She was still cold, huddled up on a bench, bundled up tight.

Auntie Amy played stickers, and read books with the kidlets, along with lots of other things.  She even kept calm when Mr. Sneaky Pants, who was sitting next to her in the restaurant, lost part of his brunch. Mr. Sneaky Pants has trouble with foods that have certain textures, and Gramma Kathy's eggs had some kind of texture that didn't work with his tummy.  Up came brunch, right next to Auntie Amy, who turned a bit green, and needed Gramma Kathy to fan her down a bit.  Dr. Peds and I were giggling too hard to capture Auntie Amy's reaction on camera in focus.  Mr. Sneaky Pants was fine after a few sips of water.  We covered up his plate with a napkin.  The rest of us kept right on eating.  

We hope Auntie Amy Texas visits again.