Adult Trip Only - 4 Days in MN - Arrival Day

Dan's 20 year class reunion was planned for this summer.  We knew that it would have to be a quick trip to Minnesota for the weekend and went round and round on the travel plans.  Airline tickets were outrageous to Fargo, ND and we weren't sure that we wanted to drive there and back on another quick trip since we just did it in April.  After searching and trying to plan different flights (and even just talking Dan into going) I broke down and said let's just you and I go, I will find someone to watch the kids each day while we are gone and I will use my free airline ticket to pay my way and we only need to purchase your ticket.  The deal was done after he squabbled at me for not disclosing in the beginning that I had a free ticket, but hey, that was my ticket!  So the kids were squared away and Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for those that watched our kids while we were gone!  Now onto the 4 days of fun!

We had a 10am flight on Thursday morning.  We dropped the kids off at daycare that morning and gave extra hugs and kisses and off to the airport we went.  Here is where me and Dan are completely different when traveling.  I am a basket case driving to the airport and on the airplane, but when checking in, checking bags and getting to my gate I am on target and have no issues.  Dan, on the other hand, has no issues preparing to fly or on the airplane, but once he steps foot out of the vehicle at the airport he turns into a person that knows absolutely nothing and freaks about it all.  What a pair we make traveling together.  So I led the way to check-in and then through security and onto the subway.  We then made a bee line for the smokers lounge for a drink.  This really is a must have for me before flying (unless the kids are with, obviously).  Nothing like having a stiff drink at 9:00am to start your vacation off.

Dan and I in the Smoker's Lounge

Once we arrived in Fargo my dad was there to pick us up.  Our "taxi" was an old Ford farm truck, nothing like riding in style.  We had plans for going golfing at 2pm and my dad was supposed to set up the tee time.  We chatted on the ride to the golf course and then pull in and there are a lot of vehicles in the parking lot for a random Thursday afternoon.  Well, my dad did not call for a tee time and then we soon found out that they were having a tournament and were not open.  Bummer on that piece.  We sat there for a minute and had a beer and contemplated another golf course to go to.  We decided we would head to the farm to change and then go to the next course.  Off to the farm we went.

We changed quick and then my dad finally after naming who knows how many golf courses decided to head to Detroit Lakes.  Keep in mind that I have only golfed twice in my life.  I know that the guys like to golf and I knew that there was beer involved and it seemed like an easy thing to do for the afternoon as well.  I also had to have an outfit prepared to at least look like I knew what I was doing.  We got to the golf course and rented a cart and then they only paid for 2 people to golf because my dad didn't think that I would golf all the holes, but I did.  

I have to say that golfing was pretty fun and I didn't suck at it.  I didn't care much for the putting or as they referred to it "the short game", but we had a blast.  We met up with my mom at the club house after she got off work and we were done.  We took a couple of group shots and then it was off to our next destination - Shooting Star Casino - for the night.

Really Dad?

The girls in one car and the boys in the other and we were off.  We did stop off in one town for a cold one along the way.  Small town bars are great!  They all looked at my golf outfit and wondered who the heck I was.  We got to the casino and checked in our rooms and did a little freshening up.  We met downstairs and went to the high stakes room to play because they give free drinks while you are playing in there.  After awhile we were all off on our own.  I waited forever for a black jack table to open up, but one finally did and I played for a few hours off of $40.00 and did come out ahead.  I think I had a few too many Sex on The Beach drinks though because I was definitely feeling it when I was done.  It was time to head to the deli for supper.  We hit the sack around 1:30am or so and were back up the next morning around 8:30am.  My mom was long gone back to work for half a day and we headed down for breakfast.  I had been dreaming or thinking, who really knows, about playing the Wheel of Fortune game and told they guys that I wasn't done yet and had to play.  I went and played while they waited for our breakfast and sure enough I hit $300.00 bucks!  Nice way to start my Friday morning.  We headed back to the farm for a little relaxing for the afternoon before the Street Dance and Dan's 20 year class reunion.

Me and my mom at the casino.