Following our trip to Brazil, we spent just over a month in the Iowa and Minnesota area. We wanted to attend Tyra’s and Paige’s Love Party (in celebration of their marriage in June) the end of August in Minnesota. Since we were going to be in the area, we took advantage of the opportunity to see friends and family in the Midwest. It has been a fantastic month getting to spend time with so many of our friends and family.

Highlights for both of us over the last month include:

• Workouts at one of our favorite places to run/walk – Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis
• Coffee and breakfasts at the place we stayed in Minneapolis – Roami at Century Plaza
• Discovering the Crisp and Green restaurant chain for healthy dinners – wraps and salads and smoothies
• Enjoying flights at Dangerous Man’s new location
• Experiencing the Twin Cities Irish Fest with Robb and then ending the night with the Gaelic Storm concert (this is where Sandy discovered one of her favorite bands in 2001)
• Visiting Joyce to see her beautiful gardens and having lunch together at Phonatics
• Getting together to visit with Sue and Jeff for lunch at Wasabi
• Workouts at another of our favorite places to run/walk – Raccoon River Park in Des Moines
• Friday Night Fiesta dinner with Tom, Jennifer, Ellie and Jase
• Seeing Toy Story 5 and The Odyssey at the movie theater
• Visiting Todd and Sheryl in Montezuma, Iowa – some of the best steaks we have maybe ever eaten
• Seeing Howie and his band, Velvet Trio, play at the Iowa State Fair
• Getting together with Doug and Aileen for lunch at Barn Town Brewing – crazy interesting and very colorful beers they had celebrating the State Fair season
• Touring Pappajohn Sculpture Park and the Capitol building in Des Moines
• Getting together with Carmen, Dawnelle, Christy, and Andy for dinner at Hugo’s
• Getting together with Curt and Derek for dinner at Harbinger, then ice cream at Black Cat, then beers at Carl’s Place
• Having a video chat with Dikesh and Bidhan, friends from Nepal (this was before the devastating flood and everything is ok for them and their families)
• Workouts along the Saint Croix River during our stay in Stillwater, including one walk with Sarah on the loop trail into Wisconsin and back
• Preparation work for Paige and Tyra’s love party – dishes, decorating, audio setup – all in the beautiful setting of Sarah’s dad’s farm
• Mike’s visit to see Bob (and his mom) in Chippewa Falls – lunch on the pontoon on Lake Wissota, beer flights at Leinie’s Lodge, and dinner at SandBar
• A wonderful day at the Minnesota State Fair, filling up the bingo card of experiences that Paige and Tyra put together for everybody, watching the lunar eclipse on the drive home
• The “Groom’s Dinner” the night before the love party – a beautiful experience orchestrated by Tyra’s family at the Minneapolis American Indian Center
• The Paige and Tyra Love Party – so much fun and absolutely LOTS of love
• Campfire breakfast the day after the Love Party put on by Paige and Tyra’s friends
• Ice cream at Nelson’s in Stillwater – the messiest ice cream cones we have ever had because they are huge – even the child’s size, Sandy attracted a bee or wasp which took a bite out of her leg
• Self-guided historic walking tour of the incredible homes in Stillwater and eating Gloria’s Chicago dogs on a bench near the river
• Dinner with Becky and Cheri at Pier 500 in Hudson, Wisconsin
• Going to the University of Minnesota football game against Eastern Illinois University
• Dinner with John and Heather at Bricksworth Beer
• Brunch with Heidi at Stanley’s Northeast Bar
• Surprise visit to see Kristine at her job in Target
• Dinner with Brian, Oriana, Caroline, Allison, and Bea at Red Rabbit in Saint Paul
• Dessert at Café Latte in Saint Paul
• Dinner with Dennis and John at eM Que Viet in Saint Paul – as usual, laughing until our cheeks and stomachs hurt
• Waffles at Raul and Jonette’s house, learning about monarch butterflies, hiking at Afton State Park, and enjoying the picnic they brought for all of us
• Playing pickleball together at the court at Roami
• A self-guided tour of the Minneapolis City Hall, such an interesting and beautiful historic building
• Lunch at South Lyndale Liquors – quick hello to John while we were there