Duane and Doreen were married July 10th, 1965. Here they are 50 years, 4 kids, 14 grandkids, and 2 great-grandkids later. Plus 4 kids-in-law and a granddaughter-in-law makes 27, and everyone was able to be there to celebrate. We have all been blessed by their loving, lasting, faithful marriage. Congratulations to the happy couple, whose 'baby' is my amazing husband.
On our way back from Branson, we stopped at the Laura Ingalls Wilder home in Mansfield, MO. The Wilders spent 60 years there, and it's where her books were written.
But there's no place like home, as the saying goes...
We got home in time for the 4th. Had some fun with sparklers on the deck while watching the illegal fireworks show our neighors put on all around us.
But we didn't stick around long. Between Nate's and the kid's schedules, we had to take our only opportunity for a little family getaway and headed to the Brainerd Lakes area later in the week.
We didn't tell the kids what our first stop would be. It wasn't exactly the right direction (Jordan, MN), but something like this deserves a few extra miles:
Yum - lots of variety, but a little pricey. We spent 36 bucks for a bagful of goodies.
First stop going the right direction was the Lindbergh House in Little Falls.
We stayed at a hotel in Baxter that had a cool little indoor waterpark, so the kids couldn't wait to get back at night to take advantage of it.
We went to a few more historical-type things. These are not the kids' favorite activities, but way cheaper than, say, the little roadside zoo that would've blown $80.
I got a kick out of the mannequins in the Nisswa Pioneer Village. The girl looks like she spent time in a Sears circa 1991, and the dude is sporting a Pedro wig. I don't think Ma and Pa would approve. How would the girl even achieve that look in 1885? Lard?
We wore out other area attractions like mini-golf and go-karts -
Whew! That was a lot of stuff. And man, these kids are getting big.
