Summer vacation part 2: North Dakota

Friday morning after camp, we piled into the car and stared the next part of our big summer trip: North Dakota!

Our kids are so lucky. They have 3 living great grandparents. We try very hard to get to where they live in North Dakota at least once during the summer so we can all spend time with these special people!

We arrived in time for a late dinner and then some park time at our favorite park, Digger Park. William named it that a real years ago after the digger toys he loves to play with. I think we have a picture from each summer of William digging at this park. This time, William was more interested in the merry go round than the diggers, but he did put some time in with them the next day!

Really?

I cannot figure out this flavor.

Rochester "camel"

John arrived in Rochester and he took Gemma out on the deck to have a cookie (outside=no crumb clean up). While they were out there, a deer walked right into the yard. Everyone was so excited. The kids inside were glued to the windows and Gemma was fascinated outside.

She exclaimed, "look! A camel!"

The deer meandered through the yard and headed back towards the woods when Gemma shrugged and said, " I guess the camel is going back to the circus. Or the barn."

Gemma monkey bars attempt #1

Wobbly park has a nice set of lower than usual monkey bars perfect for our Gemma.

Wobbly park

After lunch with GranGerry (who is such a sport to come with us to eat ), we made a stop at Wobbly Park. (Named for the old chain swings that used to be here that were wobbly. They swung better right to left than forward and back.). This is a park I grew up playing at and remember well from visits to see my grandparents. The kids like it as well. Grandma came with us and watch the kids play from the shade.

La Capana

I don't know how this town in North Dakota has a Mexican restaurant. I'm sure it is actually authentic, but we love it and eat at t as much as possible when we are in town. Such a treat for us!

As the kids get bigger, they are starting to like it more as well. William shared a burrito with me this time instead of ordering from the kids menu. He really liked it! Yahoo!

(Although in all fairness he has always loved spicy salsa and southwestern fare. John used to joke that William didn't have amniotic fluid. He had salsa.)

Behind digger park

Behind digger park, there is a Japanese garden. The kids like to look at the pond and walk on the path (ok, I like the walk. They keep me company). The best part is running across the bridge!