Fun firsts

Grandpa Colba called last week to let us know that blueberry season had started and to invite Anna to come for a visit to pick blueberries. So, after thinking about it all and evaluating some options, I packed up Anna and Kate (leaving Matt at home to have a few days of "peace and quiet") and we headed up to Eau Claire on Tuesday afternoon after play group for a mid-week visit with Grandpa and Grandma.

This trip included a lot of firsts for us girls ... our first overnight trip with the van, my first trip with both girls by myself, and (probably the biggest first) Kate's first long car ride and overnight visit anywhere!



Anna also had a lot of firsts ... her first experience blueberry picking (which she LOVED, but also involved a lot of running up and down the paths and eating blueberries instead of actually picking them),



her first ride on Grandpa's boat (which was okay, but not as much of a highlight), her first walks in Grandpa and Grandma's woods during which she walked by herself the entire way,


her first chance to water flowers with Grandma, and her first real visit to Grandpa and Grandma's during the summer.


Overall things went well. Anna is an excellent traveller, both in the van and when we're at our destination. She had so much fun and was able to make some really good memories with both Grandpa and Grandma. (On a side note, she's definitely into a male role model stage ... no matter how much fun she has with Mommy or Grandma or any other female, it's the man who stands out in her mind ... Grandpa, Daddy, neighbor John, Carly's dad Travis, etc.) Anna was certainly exhausted by Thursday morning and seems to be enjoying having some down time so far today.

Kate, on the other hand, is not a very good traveller ... yet. She doesn't particularly like her carseat and is never very happy in one position for long periods of time. So, we heard a bit of fussing and some all out screaming on the way up to Eau Claire, but once she fell asleep she was fine. She also had a hard time adjusting to someplace new and was fairly crabby the first evening. By the time we left yesterday, she was already out of sorts so there was quite a bit more crying, fussing, and screaming on the way home. At least now we know what trips with her will be like :)

As I said, overall things were great. Not only was it good for the girls, but it was a nice change of pace for me to have someone cook for us and clean up after everyone :) Plus, Matt got to ride to work three days this week and have some uninterrupted play time in the evenings :)