Spontaneity, Barnes Style

Spontaneity does not come easy to the Barnes family, well, really just me. I like to plan things out and have an idea of what is coming up and have all things organized. So when I looked at the calendar and saw that I had a few days off in October I was surprised to feel a sudden urge to go and visit family and friends that are like family way up north. I looked up flights and everything was full, and figured that the trip just wasn't in the stars.

At 5:30pm I made the mistake of telling my husband about my random idea. Dave is all about spontaneity and found a flight out of Knoxville the next morning that we could catch. So, just as I was about to start dinner, plans changed and I instead flew about the apartment throwing random things into suitcases. We were on the road to Desi's house by 8:30pm for a fast and furious vacation! By 4pm the next day we were driving into Grand Forks, ND. It was a surreal moment as we pulled off the interstate made even more so by the flurries that started falling right at that moment!

We called a few people, and decided to surprise a few more. Once up north our first stop was to our beloved Dingle family, who collectively had grown more than a few feet! When we left the boys were actual boys and not these young men you see below. However they are still young at heart and the girls had a blast playing with them, and the oldest Dingle child, their father Chris.

Our next stop was just a hop, skip, and a jump away. We found that true friendships can survive both distance and time. We walked through the door to the Wood family's new home and found that we were at home. We all picked up right where we left off and made more amazing memories. We spent the whole night playing and chatting. I didn't even make the girls go to bed, I really was trying to squeeze every moment I could from our too short visit.

Morgan and Haley--still best friends.
The girls' first official sleep-over, they were so excited!

The next morning we headed further north to visit family. We had our first spontaneity backfire when we went to surprise my Auntie Jenee and family only to discover an empty house. We further discovered that we didn't have her new numbers and called Sunny to learn that the family had traveled to Alexandria, MN to watch Jon's play. We were so bummed! We did peek in all the windows and saw brand new flooring in the living room along with a drum set which bummed Dave out further. The girls did get a couple of turns on the newly renovated play house out back (at least updated since we left) but nothing made up for not seeing the Provance family.
We stopped in Warroad for some snacks at the local Cenex gas station and went out to visit Grandma and Grandpa's grave. We took old highway 12 out to show the girls where I used to live. I entertained them with stories of growing up and felt like Dad pointing out the various trees and rocks I loved! We stopped by my old house and then were off to Sunny's house...the house they are building. We were greeted with the whole Dorow clan including Amanda and the boys and people I haven't seen in years. We got the grand tour (the house is as beautiful as it is large) and then headed back to Brenda and Rogers and officially met the newest cousin, baby Kodiak. Because he is the only child who has looked like me as a baby (yes, including my own) I had to include pictures of him with each member of the family.
Of course I look like a scrub, but look at those cheeks on Kodiak!
Morgan loved the little guy.
I just want to remind everyone that he looks like me, not Dave!
Abbie couldn't get enough of him! He was just so happy, you fell in love immediately!

We had an amazing time visiting with Sunny and the boys. It always amazes me how good all the kids get along.
Josh, don't you dare smile, don't do it,

Collin and Morgan are still like peas in a pod and had a good time coloring and just whispering back and forth. The cousins sitting for the first time all weekend long. (Amanda's boys are in the picture too!)

We saw a lot of people at church on Sunday which was really special--it was the first time I was there since the addition had been added. It looks so much like a real church, it was amazing to see how far we had come from the little schoolhouse we met in when I was young.

The trip ended as suddenly as is started with a snowy drive back to the cities Monday morning. We were home by 11pm that night. All and all, it was a too short, but wonderful visit with only a few downfalls. Not bad for our first try at spontaneity.