Reality Check Weekend

It's a fun weekend when you forget the responsibilities waiting for you at home and you can just relax and enjoy!

On Friday night, I had one sister at a Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire concert, one relaxing and having a quiet/chaotic evening eating take out with her kids and watching a movie.  I was scrambling trying to get things ready for the weekend adventures.  I had to come up with 30 ballots to take along to a church mission rally and pack to go see my girl in Minnesota!!!  

So it was not a relaxing evening for me.

Well, not until Leon wanted to snuggle at bed time. :)

So on Saturday, I drove 1.5 hours south to the rally.  The president is a dear friend of mine and when she was reading the ballots, my name was on it for VP.  As she read my name, she misspoke and it suddenly sounded like I was very chubby due to a certain kind of food that rhymes with my last name!!  ;)  It was an accident and she was so upset by the mixup that she doubted everything else she said after that.  But then her husband called me elderly at the dinner, so...  ;) 

I love those two!

I got to sit across at the lunch from the presenter and she had 3 sons going to the same college at Maddy!  I texted Maddy the wrong name of the eldest son's girlfriend and almost broke them up.  But then got corrected.  Oh yeah!!!  He's NOT dating an Emily but a Beckah!  Those names sound so much alike...

Turns out that the girlfriend is going to be Maddy's roommate next fall!  Small world, small college!

After the rally, I headed back home.  Loaded up our stuff and then Robb and I headed to Minnesota!  We listened to a John Grisham book on the way.  I know he doesn't write love stories, but I see a love interest brewing...  

Every time we pass Hope, Minnesota, I never have my camera handy, but I was ready this time.  This is for Meri, who one of her best friends is named Hope.

We got there late and picked up Maddy from her dorm.  Ordered a pizza and talked until Matthew was able to join us too.  Then we talked until 11 or so when we kicked him out and then slept in until almost 7:20am.  

Maddy had the fold out and in the morning complained about how uncomfortable it was.  

We might spring for 2 beds next time...  Or tell her to stay in her dorm.  But that wouldn't be any fun!

But this couch was even uncomfortable to even SIT on...  Oh my.

We met up with Matthew again at church where Maddy noticed an Angry Jesus banner...  She hadn't noticed it the previous weekend apparently...  I found it on their church website.  

I'm sure it's just the angle of where we were sitting and the camera positioning.

After church, since it was a little too early for lunch, we did a little shopping and then headed to the country club for brunch.

When I told Meri later where we went, she said that sounded SO hoity toity and I should have worn a flowery hat. :)  That's me!!!

Robb had found an ad for it in the hotel booklet so we thought we'd try it out.

The beauty part of going to the county club buffet was that I don't think anyone else in town knows about it.  It was noon and we were the only ones in the dining room the entire time we ate!  

PLUS free Mimosas!!!  Maddy and I had never had one, so we each sampled a teensy bit.  

SHE got carded.  I got a "You're good". :\

Then every stumble or crazy thing I said was attributed to my mimosa.  

Can it just be that I'm slightly deranged please??

We played ping pong for a while on campus until Maddy had to go change her shoes for the concert.

Oh yeah, the fifth reason we were in Minnesota was to attend Maddy's choir concert.  They were fantastic!  The program said no recordings and my camera is SO loud when it takes a photo that finally I found how to silence the sound and sneaked in one zoomed in photo!  And it turned out great!

Took a couple more afterwards, 

then Robb and I gave out hugs and headed home.  

Back to reality...

sigh.