Today we went to Stillwater (Minnesota) with two of the girls friends who they met through gymnastics.  We were planning on going to the Teddy Bear Park, but once we got there we found it it had closed for the season. 

So, we went to Valley Bookseller, and the girls enjoyed the finches they had there as well as looking at the great selection of books.  Sophia saw several books she wanted; and wants to do some jobs around the house to earn some money to purchase them.

After that, we went to River Market Co-op, and the girls went grocery shopping.  Sophia found a cucumber so we can make sushi (vegetarian with cucumber and carrots in the middle); and then Olivia and Sophia picked several items from the bulk section for snacks.  We went to the cracker and cookie section, and chose several things from there. (Sophia has a dairy allergy, so it's nice to find products that don't have are dairy-free.)

We had a little "sample session" outside so the girls could taste some of the things I bought.  They were pretty excited about their snack.

We continued down the street to Aprille's Showers - a tea room.  The girls tried on hats and enjoyed seeing the Victorian displays.  The girls love tea parties, and we haven't tried this place yet.  There are some American Girl and holiday theme teas which may be something we do as a special treat as a way to celebreate their birthdays or adoption days (all of which are coming up in November, December, and January).

We visited a few more places along the way, and then headed back to the car. 

After that, we went to Woodbury to visit a cousin and her son.  Brought a winter coat and some clothes for the son.  They are living on only $1,300 a month, with their rent at $950.  That's not much leftover to live on.  So, one of the ladies from the co-op that meets on Fridays works at the Sharing Shop in Lindstrom.  She found a coat and clothes that fit him.  Needless to say, they were thrilled. 

Came back through Bayport and stopped at the library.  The girls picked out some really good books.  I keep the "receipts" that they print out listing all the books that the girls pick. It would be interesting to count all the books we've read in one year.  It seems like we go through so many.  They love being read to, and I enjoy reading to them.  I'm hoping that they never lose that love for reading and being read to.

At home, I worked on another fall display on the dining room table.  This one is a simple one.  Found a fall-theme table runner and put on it some miniature-pumpkins, Indian corn, and then kept a couple rocks from Alaska and a couple sticks collected from walks up north.