MN Ending Heritage Day 10/19

Granddaughters go to the games area for stilts and hoop with stick. Will they ask to put these items on their Christmas lists?

At home for dinner I serve a creamy vegetable soup, and older granddaughter says that it is so good I should give the recipe to Laurel Tree, a French restaurant she knows well. Later girls give a performance requiring tickets and awarding souvenirs. I receive a VIP seat and backstage pass for being early. The evening concludes with piling on mom for tickling.

MN Still at Heritage 10/19

Younger granddaughter tries out the chair in the barber shop and squirms at the history lesson about dentistry back in the day. We move on to the blacksmith and a demonstration of his skills with many examples. Then girls dip candles, learn about printing and old newspaper machines in the print shop, and do lessons on paper and slates in the schoolhouse.

MN More Heritage 10/19

More activities include watching a cooking demonstration on a wood stove, riding the trolley behind a tractor to the cornfield, picking and shucking corn, and shelling and grinding the corn.

MN Heritage Day 10/19

This weekend the Dakota County Fairgrounds sponsors Harvest Festival at its Heritage Village. In spite of the drizzling rain, we go for our annual visit and start the day with breakfast and hot chocolate.

Granddaughters participate in every available activity. Some of these are grinding coffee at the General Store, playing drop the clothespins at the Village Hall, buying candy at the Confectionary, creating corn husk dolls at the Library, twisting rope at the Fire Station, and more.

MN Ropes Girls 10/18

After AGD shopping, we head for the Mall of America's Nickelodeon Universe amusement park rides and ropes course. Granddaughters put on safety harnesses before beginning the ropes course. They move to every level and pattern, sometimes together and sometimes independently, including "walking the plank" at the top. From there they take the bullet drop slide to the bottom and go up again. I'm glad to stay on the floor and feel relieved when they rejoin us.

Next rides, then ice cream, finally Subway. Yes, grandparents are allowed to give their grandchildren ice cream for dessert before lunch, at least when parents are not present.

Tonight's dinner at a restaurant stretches long enough for girls to use iPhones.

MN Mall Girls 10/18

Thursday of this traditional October weekend is always Mall of America day for us. We wonder if granddaughters have outgrown American Girl Dolls, but their satisfaction at being first in the door at 10:00 removes any doubts.

Older granddaughter comes armed with a list and a catalog marked with her favorites. Younger reacts with surprise when her shopping bag fills so quickly and reaches the budget. Both girls watch a trivia video and know most of the answers.

All we need now is a girl-proof hiding place for these gifts since granddaughters warned us that the spot last year was too easy. No opening until our Christmas tree!

MN School Girls 10/17

Wednesday is shopping day for husband and me. In the afternoon we pick up the granddaughters at school. Younger asks to stay longer to play with friends in the after school program. Older shows us her locker and its decor. For dinner I fix salmon and vegetables and discourage daughter from going in kitchen.

MN Gym Girls 10/16

At circus gymnastics class after dinner, we watch granddaughters work on skills. Our girls wear the dark printed leotards. Another area is busy with regular gymnastics.

A favorite activity of our older granddaughter is the silks, and she has just finished climbing to the top and ringing the bell.

Girls perform a stunt together, topple into giggles, and strike a pose.