June 9

 Drizzle met us this morning, so the boys made the most of it by getting in another swim at the hotel before we had to check out. By the time we left the rain had cleared and it was turning into a beautiful day. We headed back to the park and enjoyed a nice long quad cycle ride. The park was so clean and bustling with people. There was some construction underway, but we were able to make our way around fine. I tell you what though, those hills sure made us appreciate the downhill slopes! We had a GOOD workout this morning! After riding we took in a few more views of the Minnehaha Falls. Samuel, Caleb and I even hiked the 113 steps down to the base of the falls to get some different views. Samuel had his shoes off and was about to soak his feet by the bridge when he discovered some huge fish lingering. After that he and Caleb decided that rather than sticking their feet in right there, they would attempt to catch them.

Because we didn't see nearly all of the mall yesterday, that was our next stop for lunch and shopping. We made it our mission to walk every floor of the mall and try to see all the stores. (A task that was a bit laborious for me since I must have missed the female shopping gene somehow!) We had stopped by Build-A-Bear prior to eating because Caleb felt it critical that Andrew have HIS very own Build-A-Bear too. Caleb even helped him pick it out and paid for it with his own money. Andrew was his typical shy little self when the lady tried to talk to him and help him assemble his bear, but he did lay over on the pedal to stuff the bear. And once clear of the lady, he enjoyed stepping on the pedal to "wash" his new friend. It was getting close to nap time, and he wasn't being very helpful with the naming process. So thanks to Caleb and Samuel, he ended up with RoRo Minnehaha Coffman. He cuddled down with his new pup and fell asleep while the boys shopped for new high-tech toys. We stumbled upon the perfect place of employment for sour, bad-mannered people with a chip on their shoulders or a major attitude! The name of this establishment should have tipped us off - Dick's Last Resort, Shame o' Minnesota. Nathan always tries to find unfamiliar places to eat so we can try new things which is how we ended up there. BIG MISTAKE! The hostess of this establishment warned that we would receive service with sarcasm. What an understatement!! After being seated they immediately put bibs on us, told us the drink selections, then when we tried to order they interrupted and scolded us saying that they weren't through talking! After being told an extensive list of beverages available, the waitress went on to say that if we chose to drink water we could head up some stairs and get it from the toilet! This was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to her crass remarks! Having been raised in the south as a LADY, my blood was beyond boiling!! I was mentally working up a lecture about how we knew better than to act that way in the south and that we were rearing our boys to be gentlemen and would not tolerate such behavior! As soon as she left to get the drinks (I told her I would only need a glass so that I could help myself to toilet water!), Nathan asked if I'd rather leave. (We do not make a habit of exiting establishments if we have placed a drink order or been seated. We just make note that we are not interested in returning.) I immediately took him up on the offer, ripped off the bib, and walked out! Just down the way we came upon a Sports Grill and Lanes. When the host offered to seat and accommodate us, I jokingly said that we'd be glad to dine with them as long as they could be courteous and have manners. (He was a bit baffled at first, but I explained where we had just been.) Service there was delightful - 180 degree difference! After many hours of mall walking, Samuel was having a fit to ride the rides. Because it was after 5 by the time we got there, the wristbands were marked down, so the three older boys and I all got bands for the rides. I'm pretty sure we rode every roller coaster, spinning, flipping, nauseating ride there, but we had a blast doing it! We wound down with the Ferris wheel which was so very anticlimactic after all that we had already been on. We began with the log ride and Taylor and I were thrilled to have escaped only slightly sprinkled. Caleb was a bit damper, and Samuel was drenched and thrilled! Our first roller coaster spun in circles while going up and down and spiraling around, so there were times you had no idea what was coming. Our next ride rotated in large circles while the boys worked a joy stick that kept us spinning head over heals. From there, we boarded a skateboard that also spun in circles while slinging us up one side of a track to another. We boarded one coaster that Taylor dubbed the touring coaster. Though it did have some minor drops, it basically just gave a good birds eye view of the park. The last coaster was a REAL doozy though. It immediately climbed straight up 3 floors and then dropped, only to enter a 360 degree loop and several spirals before returning us to the landing. Then it was on to the Ninja Turtle ride where we flew and swooped the area. Taylor and I were about ready to call it quits, but rode the Ferris Wheel before quitting. Samuel and Caleb managed to ride a couple more before we pulled them away and called it a night.

Andrew has begun perking up every time we stop and proclaiming, "I doe in! I doe in!" Tonight he followed that with, "I doe to bed." when we pulled into the hotel.