Mom and Daughter Weekend

Our first one. 
A Mom and Daughter weekend. 

I've had many of these with my own Mom.  I love them.  About six months after I moved to Minneapolis, I was invited to a work Christmas party at the St. Paul Hotel in downtown St. Paul.  The invite clearly stated, "Formal attire".
I needed a dress.  A fancy-nancy type dress.

I called my Mom, 250 miles away, worried that I wouldn't be able to find a dress.  In hindsight, I lived in Minneapolis...the home of the largest mall in the United States, but I didn't seem to think about this small fact.

I didn't need a mall....I needed my Mom.

She didn't even blink an eye....she simply said, "Lets meet half-way".
We met "half-way" in St. Cloud...I think she drew the short straw.

We shopped, we hugged, we laughed, we ate pretzels at Pretzelmaker, we talked about work/life/friendships/living in the cities/everything.  We did find a dress......at this really unique store called, "Sears".  Seriously, Sears, at the St. Cloud Mall.  It was long, black, form-fitting and perfect.  But, it wasn't really the dress that I needed. 
A daughter needed time with her Mom. 

This weekend, it was just Maya and I.  Dan jetted off (well, just in the Pontiac G6, so not so jet-like) to the great city of Mankato to celebrate "Hockey Day in Minnesota" with a big group of other guys that left their wives, girlfriends and kids at home to make some memories.

Maya and I started our Saturday by making Chocolate Chip Cookies for Dan to take on his trip. This little lady will do anything in the Bjorn.  Happy as a lark. 
Pretty sure she'd be just fine with running a marathon in that snugly thing.  Pretty sure I'd try to run a marathon with her in that thing....I love hanging out with her in there.

By the time we took these scrumptious blobs of dough out, she was out too.

 

We were on the move today, this little lady and I.

These toes were made for being on the move. 

And, for one day, walking, running and exploring.  For seeing the world.

But for now, these toes are made for loving.  I've never been much for kissing toes.

Never really had the urge, desire or even the inclination to kiss another human beings toes.

I can't resist these, though. They're seriously delicious.

One of our stops today brought us to one of my favorite drool-worthy places....Great Harvest Bread Company. 

The smell of that place....and the big slice of fresh bread they give you to sample is worth the trip.  They connect this store to a Caribou Coffee, which makes you feel like you're getting a two-for-one.  I couldn't buy a loaf of the warm bread without leaving with a latte.  Cinnamon streusel apple bread and a caramel latte may not be packed with protein or fiber, but it sure was packed with happiness and joy today.  Its a perfect Mom-and-Daughter day stop.

Through all of our adventures, it didn't really matter where we went, but it mattered that we spent the time enjoying one other. 

I loved our weekend together.

I still look forward to these special days and weekends with "just my Mom and I".  I am so excited to have a daughter to also make these special "mom and daughter" memories with. 

I put this weekend in the memory bank as one of my favorites. 

After the weekend....we anxiously waited to welcome Dan back home tonight!