Saturday morning, Grace decided we should run a 5K so we both got up at 7 and drove to Golden Valley to run. It was a gorgeous morning to be outside. We kept a brisk pace and finished in a timely fashion.
This was followed by a hearty breakfast at the good day cafe. Little did I know how much I would need the strength it would provide.
Things started to get weird around noon. 5 thirteen year olds showed up at my house looking for adventure. Ashley and her friends wanted a mini Minneapolis adventure. The pressure was really on, what would they say on snap chat, Kix, Twitter and Instagram about our afternoon? I came up with this simple plan.
1. Don't embarrass myself in front of them. I left the radio on KDWB and tried not to make any references to either Save by the Bell or comic books. Neither of those worked very well back when I was 13 and I didn't think they would help today.
2. Start with a crowd pleaser. This gang of West side gangsters headed to Sebastian Joes for some ice cream. You literally can't go wrong with ice cream. The girls all got a little something different and enjoyed a stroll around Tangletown.
3. Try and show them something they have never seen. This group seemed pretty sophisticated so I decided to show them.....wait for it.......ELVES.
Yes, elves. There is a little known tree around Lake Harriet that is inhabited by elves. People leave notes and money for them on occasion.
Getting there would not be easy the path was blocked by the most dangerous thing a 13 year old girl with a cell phone could encounter......STAIRS. We almost lost someone but the girls rallied and we made it to the elf tree.
Glamour shots of Lake Harriet
Right here there should be a photo of the girls in front of the elf door. I had them pose for it. I know I took it but the photo is not on my phone. ELVES!!!!!! You sneaky little devils.
The girls over coming stairs. Yeah Girls.
From Lake Harriet we drove down Minnehaha Parkway to the falls. It was a beautiful day so half the cities must have been there.
We took some photos by the falls. We had to skip the second part of this experience. I was going to get an Oil Pan at Sea Salt and have the girls try Peel and eat shrimp, oysters and pickled herring. I do not think they were sad. The line was just too long.
The girls were very funny at the falls as we observed many different states of the human condition. Some have made poor choices in clothing and tattoos. Listening to their dialogue was hilarious and reassuring. All these girls seem to have their heads on pretty straight.
After the Minnehahah Falls, it was back to EP. The crew enjoyed some Starbucks. The Chanhassen Starbucks is a rough place so the girls flashed a few gang signs just to fit in.
After all the drinks we consumed it was back to Casa del Anseth for dinner. An adventure as great as this needed a great meal to finish it off. Chef Scott whipped up these culinary delights for the girls.
Root Beer Floats and ....wait for it............ SPAGHETTI TACOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After that I was stuck doing dishes while 8th graders did other things. Everyone seemed to have fun. Next time I will have Ben and Parker make me some liability release forms so we can really have fun.
I learned 4 things on this adventure.
1. There is more to an 8th grade girl then their cell phone, Netflix and the Insurgent books.
2. Sarcasm is alive and well in 2016
3. Every single one of these girls needs their parents to give them some mix tapes from the 80's and 90's because their music taste is suspect at best.
4. If I only have 2 hours to plan an adventure this is the crew to do it with.
