Cappola Twins: October in Minnesota

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I'm sorry for the times it takes me forever to do an update. Really it's just laziness...on the weekends when the kids take their afternoon naps I would really rather get errands run or take a nap myself. Today I've decided that I really need to catch up because I haven't posted since September and a lot has happened since!

In October we took the kids to Minnesota for a week to see family, and we had a ton of fun. It was unseasonably warm (see also: really hot!) so that was a nice retreat from the icky fall rain we'd had in Washington. We went to Hastings first, and met up with Aunt Sissy, Uncle Bob, Tedi, Uncle Mark, Aunt Jill, Grandma and Grandpa to go to an apple orchard.

There was a lot of fun things to do, and it was a nice sunny day too. It actually ended up being a bit too warm after a while as that the kids certainly aren't used to being overheated!

They got face painting done, and Tedi was nice enough to hold Tenley's hair for her.

Ethan found out how fun it is to pick apples. Tenley bit into several of them as we were picking despite many grown-ups telling her not to (but a few were encouraging the misbehavior...Uncle Mark)

I love how indimidating Uncle Bob looks in this picture, and you can tell the kids are literally running for their lives!!

The next morning before her brother woke up, Tenley went out and gathered up leaves in Grandma and Grandpa's front yard to make a "Weaf (leaf) bed, and a weaf pillow, and a weaf blanket!" Another nice warm and sunny day.

We headed to Red Wing to visit Nonnie and Papa and spent about 5 hours playing and visiting with them. Tenley liked rolling down their hill in her ballerina skirt.

Ethan taking a (very) brief moment to pose for a picture with Papa.

Tenley doing the same.

...before heading back outside to stir up this bucket of water (which they told us was spaghetti).

Aunt Patty and Uncle Al were nice enough to give us their bedroom again. We offered to stay in a hotel but I think the suggestion almost gave Patty a heart attack, so we stayed in their super cozy bed again (thanks!). We went to Colville Park in the morning before the BBQ they hosted.

Ethan on the (super awesome) zip-line

Tenley wasn't as excited about it, but still did a really good job.

Lars totally owned that zip-line!

It was great to have so many people able to make it to the BBQ (Nick, Tony, and John Cappola pictured here)

Tony manned the BBQ while the kids all played in the back yard

Uncle John made quick friends with Ethan when he introduced him to the wonderful world of Doritos.

Papa and almost all of his great grandkids (Brayden, Ethan, Tenley, Carmella)

Lars faithfully monitoring the rolling of children down the grassy hill.

We went to Rochester with the kids, Patty, Tony and Ella to play at a very clean and relatively empty Chuck E. Cheese. It was a lot of fun and worth the drive.

Had breakfast with Nonnie and Papa (and Sarah) the morning before we headed back to Hastings prior to leaving town.

Back in Hastings Tenley hangs out with Grandma and Grandpa in the kitchen.

Later in the basement the kids watch a movie with Grandpa and Noah.

Ethan could not get enough time and conversation in with his cousin Brian. I think it's safe to say that Brian was in Ethan's "Top 3 Relatives List" on this trip for sure!!