Sioux Falls Visit

Week One - During the work day hours, we ran errands, cleaned the motorhome, and had service work done.  I spent part of two days going through cupboards and closets, purging once again many things that we had not used in the one year we had been gone.  We visited friends and family in the evenings, catching up with all of them.  We had lunch with Gary's sister, Jan, one day and on that Friday morning, went to his aunt's funeral.  (One negative about being gone - we have missed several funerals we would have been honored to attend)  Saturday, we went on our first bike ride together since I got my bike in Oregon.  Saturday night we went to Downtown Sioux Falls for supper, it was fun to see the changes there.  Sunday, we went home to the Cathedral for Mass.  It was so great to hear the big organ and the quality of music we were so spoiled to be part of all our years as choir members there.

Week Two - Labor Day, we spent with Katie and family.  We went with them to the Pavilion downtown and watched the boys as they and we all enjoyed the exhibits in the Science Discovery Center.  Then we spent time at the new Scheels store, watching the Ferris wheel and having lunch. The next day Gary went to his dentist appointment and in the afternoon, we rode all the way around the bike trail!  It was beautifully green, especially the parks along the way, I had never ridden it the whole way.  19.2 miles, I knew Mike was proud of me that day.  I have to admit I was really tired and sore by the time we were done, I was like little Russell in the movie "Up".  I told Gary several times, "I'm tired, my knees hurt, are we there yet?"  But I survived and amazingly, was not sore the next day.

Wednesday we kept the grandsons all day.  We played games, read books, and went to Sertoma Park and explored the Outdoor Campus.  Before we left that day, the boys had to release two Monarch butterflies that had changed from the caterpillars they had from the lake. Thursday I took the car and went shopping.  Spent several hours in the thrift shops - it was nice to be able to take my time looking and discovering the good buys.  I was looking specifically for cold weather clothing to keep us warm when working outdoors on our next workamper job.  Gary spent the day working on projects at home. Friday, Gary went to an appointment in the morning and I did laundry and ironing.  I met friends for lunch and then late afternoon we went to "Grandparents Day" at the boys' daycare.  So nice to be in town for that!  We took them home afterward and stayed for supper.  It was great to continue to see more friends in the evenings.

Boys lifting the car at the Pavillion

Exploring Outdoor Campus

Butterflies in abundance!

Week Three -  Sunday we were invited to join the choir on their first Sunday after the summer break. Two songs that we knew very well, but we could tell our voices were out of shape.  We had supper with friends.  Our friends from Mitchell arrived in our RV park that night.  

Monday we spent time with Wally & Jan - Jan and I went to a couple thrift stores and then home for naps.  She cooked supper and we spent the evening in their motorhome.

Tuesday we drove to Hartford and Humboldt to visit Gary's aunts and uncles.  We took new flowers for the cemetery vases and spent time there.  Reality again - although time has passed, it is still hard to "visit" our Michael there.  Afterward, we talked to Gary's brother Tom in Humboldt and then back to Sioux Falls.  We went out for supper with Wally & Jan and showed them a little more of Sioux Falls. Wednesday morning - we packed things up and Gary moved the motorhome to Newton Hills State Park to prepare for the camping time with the grandsons.  I ran errands and picked up groceries for our camping meals, then drove down to join him at the park.  After supper, Katie & Jordan brought the boys to us.  They were excited to come and camp with us, Riley told them they could go home.  

Thursday - cool weather, we played games and then drove in to Canton to renew our vehicle licenses and register to vote in our new county.  Back at the park, we went for a walk around our camp loop, picked up sticks and kicked pine cones.  After lunch and nap, we had a campfire and played at the playground.  Supper and a movie that night.

Friday - rain during the night, so too muddy to hike the park trails. We walked around another loop at the park, had lunch and then time to pack up and take them home. Gary drove the motorhome back and I took the boys home in the car.  Caught a rummage sale on my way back to the motorhome, one of my favorite annual church rummages.  That night we went to friend's for supper.

Saturday and Sunday - we watched the grandsons again, this time at their house. Katie and Jordan went up to Minneapolis for the Vikings football game, so they left early Saturday afternoon and returned Sunday night.  We stayed at the house Saturday, took them with us to 9:15 Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday.  They go to Bagel Boy on Sundays after Mass, so we took them there as well.

We really enjoyed watching them throughout the week, they have grown up so much and it was so entertaining to see how they interact with each other.  Sunday night we took them with us to a friend's for supper and then returned them home for bed.

Playtime at Newton Hills

Campfire fun

Breakfast at Bagel Boy