The Zoo, a Wedding, the sculpture park, children's museum, and family!

Our Minnesota trip has been a lot fun. The weather has been spectacular, and it was so great to see Molly and Chris, and spend time with them during their wedding festivities. And it was great to see Heidi and Brad and Katie and Emma (and their dog, Lucy) too! I wish we didn't have to wake up in 7 hours to fly home. Here are some highlights:

Abe was an all-star on the plane. We had to fly to Chicago, have a 3 hour layover, and still have a 1+ hour flight to Minneapolis. He did was very entertained on the plane with this Thomas the Tank Engine DVD, Play-Doh, and Dora coloring book. He even took a little snooze on my shoulder. He only had a big cry and fuss during the last 20 minutes of the flight when we were descending into Chicago and he wanted to color on Emily's lap instead of being stuck in his carseat.
The weather was gorgeous the whole time we were in MN. On Friday we decided to take advantage by going to the Como Park Zoo (on a suggestion from Heidi). It was a really cool zoo. They had a really neat primate exhibit, and two polar bears. And I think it is really cool that it's free (and the suggested donation is only $2 for adults, and $1 for kids). Abe, Emily, and I had a great time.
Then it was off to the rehearsal dinner in downtown Minneapolis. It was on the 22nd floor of this apartment complex with nice views of the city. Here are Abe, Emily, Molly, and Chirs' cousin Max (the ring bearer and Abe's new idol). Max is 6 and Abe enjoyed following Max around during the weekend.
Abe and Mom taking in the nightime view. The blue lights on the building behind them kept moving and changing all night, kind of like a light show. It was pretty neat.
When got home the Ressler's were busy hooking up their new 55 inch TV and making their Mii's. Then Katie showed us her dance moves on Wii. Abe got so excited he danced along with her. It was super cute.
Ahhh, the day of the wedding. It was at 11 0'clock on Saturday morning. We had to get there an hour early because Emily was an usher. It was a very elegant and heart-felt ceremony. Here Molly is walking down the isle with her dad Bruce and mom Audrey. They did not 'give' Molly away as is the custom of most weddings. And during the reception during the speeches, we found out why when Bruce read a poem, and part of it went "We do not give, we will only share". I thought that was very sweet.
Molly and Chris saying their vows. You can see Abe's best-bud Max on the far right. Molly's brother John was her Man of Honor and Chris' brother Steve was his Best Man. Quick Chris story: this guy LOVES Abe. And as Molly says, he's not really a baby person, but he thinks Abe is one of the coolest people he knows. When Emily and Abe met Chris and Molly in Washington, D.C. last summer they all went to the National Zoo. And Christ pushed Abe around in the stroller all day. And at night he was feeing Abe bread on his brother's front lawn. And he was jealous that I got to be a house-husband and hang out with Abe all day. Needless to say, I think Chris is an alright guy.
The fam enjoying the reception outside on the balcony. Can't beat champagne, bacon-wrapped-goat-cheese-and-dates, and a sunny midwest day. After the ceremony and reception Molly's parents had a dinner for out of town guests and their house. That was also a lot of fun, and little more casual (of course I forgot the camera in my jacket pocket). It was really nice to be a part of Molly and Chris' wedding day, and (it seemed to me at least) that it all went by too fast. Soon enough we were saying good-bye to Molly and Chris and heading back to our hotel, while they were leaving for Aruba on a 7am (ouch!) flight. We love you Molly and Chris!
On Sunday we hit up the Sculpture Garden, which was actually pretty close to where the wedding was. Here Abe and Emily and in front of a sculpture of a giant spoon and cherry, in case you needed some help.
Abe had a blast at this sculpture. Emily would do as above, poking her head through the slit, looking for Abe. And Abe would laugh and run, and Emily would go chase him and everything would repeat. I got in on the action too.
I don't really know how to describe this sculpture, but it's basically a bunch of one-way mirrors and mesh. That is actually a reflection of Emily (I guess you could figure that out because she is holding the camera), and you can barely see me and Abe through the glass.
After the sculpture garden, we hit up the Children's Museum in St. Paul. Again, Abe had a blast. He he is cooking up a storm in the Korean restaurant. Abe also enjoying moving the dirty dishes to the kitchen on the conveyer belt. We also shopped in the grocery store, sang songs and danced in a recording studio, delivered mail, make paper medallions out of pulp, used a crane, played with blocks, and played in water tables. We might have to get a membership the Seattle Children's Museum next year (hint hint....).
We finally made it back to the Ressler's late Sunday afternoon. Abe was so tired from all of his activities he was out by the time I pulled out from the curb (seriously), so he had a nice nap while we drove. When we got back Emma, Abe, Emily and I play with Play-Doh. This was one of the few times I could actually get Abe to smile.
Here Abe is with his new best friends Emma and her dog Lucy. I don't know who Abe liked better on this trip; Max, Lucy, or Emma. I might have to go with Emma, because she would always play with him, like in the sandbox after dinner. And she would play him songs on the piano.
Emma quickly learned that Abe has an insatiable appetite. So to appease his desire for more music and her desire to stop playing, she turned on some demo songs for Abe and hooked him up to some earphones. But I prefer to think Abe is listening back to some phat tracks he just laid. Word.

Well, now I have to get up in 6 hours. Off to bed I go.