August 10, 2013

MINNESOTA


Here was my Minnesota Bucket List...I didn't focus on crossing anything off, but just tried to use my time with family well. 

1.) Learn to get up on one ski (I'm the only one in the family who hasn't done [or tried] this, and I want to change that).
2.) Run, run, run around the beautiful forested land.  Minnesota's climate/terrain is entirely different than Utah's, and I love a change of scenery.
3.) Swim, swim, swim!
4.) Go on a morning fishing excursion with Clayton (he LOVES fishing at my parents)

5.) Make Italian Sodas -- These are a recent discovery, and a perfect summertime treat.

6.) Have a bonfire
7.) Read

8.) Go for a bike ride -- I'm pretty sure my mom has a bike I could borrow...
9.) Play games -- For some reason, some members of my family don't seem to like games, but I know Clayton and I love games, and I'm pretty sure we can convince a few other family members to join us.
10.) Spend one-on-one time with family members.  I hate leaving feeling like I didn't even get to talk to so-and-so...
11.) Kayak around the lake

12.) Have picnics outside 

I think he is the cutest boy in the world.
His little giggles are so precious!

This trip to Minnesota was the best yet!  I had such a great time with all of my family members.  Some highlights (in no particular order) included:

1.) Conversations with my family members:
Ongoing with Heather throughout the week
On a run with Libby
Driving with Leanna
On a bike ride with Ryan
At lunch with my parents

I have such a great family.  It can be so easy for me to get busy in my own life and forget about maintaining my relationships with my siblings and parents, but this trip reminded me of how great everyone in my family is, and how much I yearn for their closeness.  I thought a lot about each of my family members, and how grateful I am to have them.




2.) Sitting around the bonfire talking with the whole family

After all the energy of the day died down, and the little ones were put to bed, we had a chance as a whole family to talk.  One of our conversations was about something that we were excited for in the upcoming year and what was something we were unsure about in the upcoming year.  These are things you don't always share in casual conversations.  It definitely takes trust to open up your true hopes and concerns.  I felt so much love for each of my family members. 

On a lighter note, during that same conversation, we were all laughing at something when suddenly I felt my chair tipping backward.  The next thing I knew, I was on the ground on my back!


3.) Fireworks!!

Two years ago, my parents surprised us with fireworks at Christmas.  It was such a fun memory that they decided to do it again, only this time, during the summer!  The summer component changed it a bit; in the winter we did it on the ice, but this year Clayton and my dad got in the water to launch the fireworks.
This movie is really blurry, but it gives you an idea! :)

My parents definitely out-did themselves.  We by no means expect this in the future, but having a personal fireworks show is really something else.  My pictures don't do it justice, but I'm hoping someone got a good shot!

Check out the kayak full of fireworks!

4.) I got up on one ski!!

I don't know why I didn't try this earlier (Yes, I do.  I was too content sitting back and watching) -- for me, it was so much easier to get up on one ski and stay up than to drop a ski and maneuver my back foot into the pocket.

Heather and Libby told me all of their tips.  Heather took it all very seriously -- asking me how much time I was going to devote to it -- "So are you going to try for one hour? Two? One and a half?" But really they were so helpful, and their tips worked!



5.) Girls' Night Out

Libby proposed the idea of a girls' night out.  We had never done this before, but I think it will be a tradition from here on out.  We went to Benihana and got cupcakes at a local cupcake store.


6.) Lunch with my parents

My parents have always been so invested in our lives.  They do not micromanage but somehow still show that they care about my life.  I got to go out to lunch with the two of them.  Everyone joked that I was going to get roasted, but really they just wanted to catch up and see how things are going.  They have really shown an interest in my teaching and in Clayton's career pursuits.


7.) Clayton and I went out one night with Winston, my mom's Collie.  I had a 3-mile run to do, and he accompanied me by bike.  Winston was attached to me by a leash around my waist.  My parents live outside the city, and are surrounded by farm lands on all sides except the lake, so it made for a very peaceful run.  Clayton loved my dad's bike, and I think Winston enjoyed the first 2 miles. ;)



So, I say goodbye to this year's Miller family reunion, and look forward to the next where we'll have more laughter, conversation, adventure, too much food, and lots and lots of family.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for sharing all these photos - nice recap! Great memories - thank you!

    ReplyDelete

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