ILLINOIS and MINNESOTA to VISIT VERLYN and BEN

Forgot to mention in my last Blog that our Pastor, Pete, his wife Mandy and their children, Rachael and Nathan, came for dinner one evening. We had hoped that the children could swim in the pool, but the weather did not co-operate. Thus I borrowed a large box of  Legos from Victor to keep them entertained. Of course, once again I forgot to take any pictures. We sure did enjoy the visit, though we probably talked their ears off!!  Pete and Mandy we hope that you can come again so the kids get to swim.

Leaving Salem August 25th, stopped in Joliet IL to visit Audrey's brother, Verlyn, on the way to spend vacation time with Ben. We spent our first night at Harrah's in Joliet. We found Verlyn snoozing in the sun, doing very well and looking good! After our visit with him we spent the rest of the evening relaxing after our seven hour drive. Ken, sorry we could not see your family too! Hopefully, next time.

Same construction when we were here before!?

On the drive to see Vern, we realized that we were on Historic Route 66.

 The second leg of our trip on to New Hope, MN was just as long.

Doing their usual, Ben and his dad.

So good to see Ben!! He scheduled a week of vacation to spend with us and to apartment hunt.

His rent is going up and was too high in the first place. So he found a place and is moving the end of the month farther south but about the same distance from the Best Buy stores where he works here local and from the Corporate office where he parks when flying to other areas.

Wednesday was our day to go see the Mall of America. I can't say we were impressed. I guess if you had kids it would be good because of the Amusement Park. But we have been in three floor malls before!

They have two such parking garages, one at each end of the mall.

Crossing the street to enter mall.

Our entrance.

Three floors visible here.

Gary has a fascination with Bubba and my fascination
is Coldstone Ice Cream, though we passed it up.

Really we went to see the Best Buy model house electronics of the future that Ben spent two days working on. It was really neat, but much beyond our needs. Do I need my refrigerator to make my grocery list and even place my order?? Not!!

 

Refrigerator with inventory!

Range that you can turn on and off remotely.,

Laundry day, so thought this a good time to do the Blog and to make some phone calls to help Janet get ready to return home from the hospital. This may make some changes in our dates to leave Ohio for the south. But the motorhome will have to go for sure in September. Anything more to keep us on our toes?? Hope not.
Take care and maybe I can get with you once again before our return to Ohio.