You Betcha...

I had a really fun opportunity to go to Minneapolis, Minnesota for the National Math Conference. Me and 6 other teachers from Centennial Elementary made the trip. Yes, it was cold! While we were there they had record setting highs for this time of year. It was high 20's in the mornings and low 50's in the afternoons. It is normally between 38-42 degrees in the fall. It definitely felt cold enough to us. The atmosphere of the city was very fun and "holiday-ish." We stayed in the downtown area and it was beautiful. We did a lot of walking between all of the sightseeing and walking to and from the conference center but it was well worth it. The conference was very good. I am excited to try some of the ideas I learned. I have never had an opportunity to travel that far north but hope to do it again someday with my family. It was a really neat city. Of course our Texan accents were a topic of conversation everywhere we went. We thought Minnesotans talked very fast and we heard "You betcha..." A LOT!! I was away from Charlie and Abbye for four days and three nights. I missed them!!! They seemed to do fine without me. Between bible class and the park I am not sure Abbye really even knew I was gone. It sounded like Daddy was very entertaining and I came home to a very clean house!

This is on Nicollet Ave. It was an outdoor that consisted of several blocks and several stories. It was all connected by sky bridges so you wouldn't have to walk outside in the winter. The streets in this area were filled with fresh produce, honey and sweets. Only buses and taxi's can drive down this area.

Cary and Kristi buying homemade chocolate off the street. It was wonderful!
Our group at the Nicollet Ave. Mall

All of the stores were multiple levels. I have never seen so many escalators! Minneapolis is one of the Target "hotspots." This store was huge! We got laughed at for taking pictures of the shopping cart escalator.

The sky bridges connect everything. The walkways go straight through the stores. It is so bizarre.

Downtown with Cary.

Neat Clock

Lots of water = Lots of cool bridges!

Metrodome - We tried to hangout with Brett Favre but no one would let us. Very pretty downtown.

This picture is us standing on a balcony at the Guthrie Theater. It is the #1 ranked theater in the nation so we had to check it out. It was gorgeous. We stayed and saw the play "The Importance of Being Earnest." It was cute.

Great Food!!!

MALL OF AMERICA

Even if you don't love to shop you will have a great time at the Mall of America. There is an amusement park, aquarium and hundreds of stores and restaurants. We went to the Human Body Exhibit. It was VERY COOL!

all the escalators

Nickelodeon Amusement Park

Rainforest Cafe

Lego Land

We really had a good time and yes...we did attend the conference!