Un-Planned weekend with Family

If you would have told me on Friday that I would be moving my sister's stuff to her new place in La Crescent on Sunday, I would not have believed you. It happened no less and here's the story of our weekend.

Saturday, Scott and I decided to go see Ratatouille, the new Pixar Movie about a rat who is a gourmet chef. It's an excellent movie and we recommend seeing it. After the movie, we had planned on going to a BBQ in Minneapolis. Then I called Kathy, and our plans changed in an instant.

Actually, I left Kathy a voice mail about some funny pictures I found on the web. Unfortunately I cannot share them now. She called me back and we chatted and I wondered where she was calling from. Apparently she had moved out of her duplex in Moorhead and was on her way to La Crescent to drop off some stuff. She was driving through St. Cloud when she called me back. She told me that their crew composed of Dad, Grampa Fish (Paul) and her. I didn't want to put Grampa through more moving so I volunteered Scott and I to help. I figured it was worth spending time with Grampa, Dad and Kathy and with the five of us, unloading would be a heck of a lot quicker.

So Dad and Kathy pulled over in Clearwater to figure out hotel options. They were to arrive in La Crosse at around 9:30pm and were scheduled to unload Sunday morning. After about an hour of going back and forth from hotel to hotel, they decided that they could fit us all into one big suite. In the meantime Scott and I packed up a weekend bag, found a list of churches, and cancelled our plans for the BBQ.

We met the crew at the Kwik Trip in Plymouth and headed out. Kathy wanted me to ride with her in her van, Dad and Grampa were in the other van and Scott drove our car. When we reached LaCrosse we settled into our hotel room, relaxed a bit went to sleep. When I say settled I mean totally re-arrange the suite furniture to fit our sleeping bags and Kathy's hide-a-bed. When I say relaxed a bit I mean find Grampa a sandwich or something to eat at 10pm. We did actually go to sleep that night.

The next morning, Scott and I got up to go to church at St James the Less in La Crosse. As we were leaving, Dad and Kathy were trying out the hot tub in our suite. When we got back, everyone was ready to check out and go out for breakfast. The day before, Grampa and Dad got stung by Perkins ($20 bill for 2 people) and didn't want to spend that much at a restaurant. Kathy asked around and the hotel clerk told her about a diner down the street. That bill was $25 for five meals (Not bad!).

After breakfast we headed over to La Crescent to move Kathy's stuff. The actual unloading didn't take us too long, but getting there did. Kathy and I missed the exit to La Crescent and had to turn around at the next exit. Then we missed a turn and almost left town. When we finally got there, Scott and Dad moved most of the big heavy stuff, Grampa sat and chatted. Kathy and I moved our share though not as much as Scott and Dad. Kathy's landlord told us about a very pretty way back to I90 called the Apple Blossom Byway. The drive was filled with views of the Mississippi River, winding roads, bluffs and Apple Orchards. We didn't stop and enjoy these views because the crew needed to drive 9 hours to get home.

After the 3 hour drive from La Crescent we had to switch cars and part ways. Scott and I really enjoyed the time we spent of the road with family. We are looking forward to this weekend at home in Roseau.

Keri and Scott Van Havermaet

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