A visit to the Bakken Museum has been on my bucket list since moving to Minnesota in 2018, and we finally made it happen.
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The beautiful home was orginally built by Mr. William E. Goodfellow, who owned Goodfellow Dry Goods in Minneapolis. Later, the home was purchased Earl Bakken, the inventor of the pacemaker and founder of Medtronic. He used this mansion not as a home, but a place to display things he’d collected over the years. In time, the mansion became the Bakken Museum, with a mission to nurture a love of science in all who visit.
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The museum is filled with hands-on exhibits that teach kids about science and electricity. The activities are entertaining for a wide range of ages.
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Upon entering the museum, the staff offered my boys a scavenger hunt. This kept them all engaged and allowed us to explore the entire museum. My boys were looking closely at displays they may have missed if they weren’t on the ‘hunt.’
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There is a Frankenstein show that combines history, art, and science. The show takes about 10 minutes. It’s not super- scary, but I don’t recommend it for kids under six. My older boys thought it was cool.
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The grounds outside the Bakken museum are beautiful. I could have spent a couple hours in the garden area if I’d brought a book to read (and didn’t have four busy boys in tow).
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The museum takes about two hours to explore, and parking is free.
Bakken Museum Address: 3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416
If you live in the Twin Cities and are looking for something fun to do with your family, or perhaps, needing a birthday party idea – you should check out Tactical Urban Combat.
It’s a huge, super fun, indoor nerf gun arena!
The boys, ranging from age 10 to 14, battled it out for a birthday party and had so much fun (and burned so much energy).
You can come with just yourself – and join other players – or bring a group of up to 20 people!
When you arrive:
Sign in
Go to your designated battle ground
Pick your nerf gun from a large display on the wall
Get your ammo and safety gear
Break into teams
A staff person will go over rules and instructions…. then …
Going over the rules and instructions.
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The Battle Begins!
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Ready for war
They had an amazing time running around, hiding together, ducking behind and peeking out from the obstacles placed strategically around the arena.
They could switch out nerf guns if the one they were using wasn’t ‘accurate’ or ‘powerful’ enough!
The kids had an hour to play – during that time the party host lead them in several games and battles – including Team Elimination and Capture the Flag.
It’s a great place for kids, or for adults that want to feel like a kid again. It’s also a unique way for parents to engage and make memories with their kids.
We went as a family on a separate day and had SO much fun. Here’s a peek:
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Check out one of their two locations:
Mall of America: 340 West Market, Bloomington, MN 55425 – or –
Eden Prairie: 8251 Flying Cloud Dr. #1020, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, USA
Would you like more ideas for fun things to do around town?
How do become Queen? You put on your plastic crown and declare it! (Thanks, Ted, for the crown!)
The boys and I celebrated my birthday with a great breakfast at Hope Kitchen. Instead of a cake, we ate some delicious Crumbl Cookies.
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What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man
Ted asked us to do a hill hike with him on Father’s Day, so we lured the boys to the top with Dunkin’ Donuts.
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America Ninja Warriors
A local gym was running a special for a month-long membership so I signed my boys up. They had so much fun and burned LOTS of energy!
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A quick trip through Illinois
On our way to Indiana, we had one full day in Illinois. We got to eat at our favorite restaurant with some of our best friends.
At Bien Trucha with the Hoeft family.Makayla Beebe’s been babysitting the boys since they were tiny. And I was her children’s pastor when SHE was tiny!
On the way to Indiana, we stopped at Portillos.
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What I’m loving
I love this Alba face wash! The scent, the way it makes my skin feel, and the easy pump!
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This quick dry towel. It’s super thin, so it doesn’t take much space in our swim bag.
What are you up to and what are you loving? Leave me a comment!
Did you know if you have a library card, you can get access to museums, plays, and other fun things around town?
When I noticed a complimentary pass to a place on my Minnesota bucket list: A visit to the American Swedish Institute, aka – a historic mansion, I snatched up a ticket and snuck away for a couple hours.
Wow, it was spectacular! I enjoyed walking around and imagining what the owners did to earn the money to afford such luxury, and to think about how they lived, and the lavish parties they’d thrown.
I started doing some research and asking questions to find out about the history of this home – and was surprised by what I found out.
How big is this place and how much was it?
The home cost 1.5 million dollars to build in 1903, but is currently worth over $43 million.
It has 33 rooms and 75,000 sq ft!
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What did the owners do for a living?
The owner of this home was a Swedish man named Swan Turnblad and his wife, Christina. They owned and distributed a Swedish newspaper. Swan loved new technology and was one of the first owners of a “color” printer.
Swan Turnblad
Christina Turnblad, a copy of their newspaper in the lower section of this picture
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How long did it take to build this mansion?
This home took almost 5 years to build. They employed EIGHTEEN woodworkers for 3 solid years to create the beautiful beams, trim and moldings you see through the home:
The magnificent fireplace inside the entrance to the home. Anyone else have a foyer fireplace like this one?
A room in the basement that was originally a “billiards” room
Beams outside the music room
The grand staircase inside the home
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What kind of parties did they host?
Only one! A fund raiser.
They had a lavish ball room with a stage – big enough for a live band, but they never hosted one ball!
The owner’s wife was very reclusive and her closest friends were the servants. She grew up as a servant herself, so related to her staff more than the wealthy women in town.
I’d love to rent this space, invite everyone I know to dress up in their fanciest clothes, and have a big ball. This gorgeous room must be used!
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How long did the owners live in the mansion?
The owners only lived in the home for 7 years! Mrs. Turnblad never liked the home. It was way too big and pretentious for her. They left the mansion to live in an apartment above their printing press!
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What do I have in common with the original owners?
Only ONE thing (that I know of) – my favorite part of the home was also their favorite part of the home – the LIBRARY!
The Library of my dreams
The home was so big, that they mostly lived in the library. Ted and I could happily live in that library!
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Did anyone else live in the home?
Yes, they had one daughter, as well as two servants and their children who lived in the mansion. When the owners left, they allowed the servants and their children to occupy the home!
The children’s diaries were found and the children wrote about the fun they had playing hide and seek in this gigantic home!
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What else is special about this home?
The beautiful bathroom with the amazing sky light. This is the original tub and tile. I would love to take a bath here at night and watch the sky.
There are 11 porcelain tile Swedish “stoves” (fireplaces) in the mansion, every one of them is unique.
The ceilings are a work of art:
One bedroom
The music room
The foyer
The original kitchen:
I didn’t take a picture, but the pantry is larger than my entire kitchen.
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Who bought the mansion after the original owners moved out?
No one. There was only one owner, and they donated the mansion to the American Swedish Institute. Today it is a cultural center, museum, art center, and gathering place for anybody interested in Swedish and Nordic culture.
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What’s new now?
The. basement has been updated with a beautiful children’s play room and classrooms.
2. The Solarium was updated
The solarium (sun room) became unusable. It was too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter, and the framing had been destroyed by the harsh Minnesota winters.
It cost almost as much to update this room (over a million dollars in current dollars) as the original owners paid for the entire house at the turn of the century.
Outside view
Inside view
I loved the solarium! Next time I want to bring a book to sit in here and read!
3. Nelson Cultural Center
In 2012, a 34,000 square foot addition known as the Nelson Cultural Center opened. It is a gathering place that houses the café, the art gallery, classrooms, and event spaces.
Currently on display: Papier
Costumes made from PAPER
The mansion is a landmark that has been placed on the national, state and city registers of historical places.
Frank Abagnale’s autobiography was fascinating! Before he turned 21 – Frank posed as a Pan Am pilot and traveled the world, he then passed the bar and became a lawyer, he forged transcripts and was a doctor for an entire year in Atlanta, then taught summer classes at Brigham Young University (his students loved him and the University asked him to come back). He lived large on stolen money. He finally got caught and spent years in jail. After he got out of jail, he couldn’t find anyone to hire a ‘criminal,’ so he created his own line of work – teaching banks and other institutions how to identify fraud and to keep others from doing the same things he did.
I really enjoyed this book, but would have loved for the author to share more about the change that happened on the inside, that caused him to change on the outside. I know he became a man of faith, is married and has 3 sons. Overall, this was an interesting book to read.
The movie tells the story of Frank Abagnale, showcasing a few entertaining scenes from his life, but leaving many out. It was a good movie – but not appropriate for young viewers.
The Verdict:
Watch the movie (without kids) to see how interesting this man was…then read the book if you’d like more details about his life!
I decided to read this book after seeing the movie “42”. There are a few biographies about Jackie Robinson, but I wanted to hear the story from the man himself. The beginning of the book was fascinating, as Jackie Robinson shares stories from his growing up years, then breaking into Major League Baseball. The story slows down once he transitions away from baseball. I respect Jackie Robinson, and his fight for civil rights!
This is the story of an orphan girl who is a chess genius, but also struggles with addiction. The book takes you on a journey through her life. Highs and lows. Wins and losses. Sobriety and addiction. Friendship and loneliness.
Because I do not play chess, it was hard for me to imagine the games as they were described in the book. It was much more enjoyable to watch the games and observe the people and their surroundings. The show had a fantastic storyline and excellent actors.
The Verdict:
Watch the show! It’s on Netflix, at your local library, or you can purchase it on Amazon.
They say that truth is better than fiction, and this book is the PERFECT example of that. The author had me hooked from the very first page. She does an excellent job of recreating her childhood so the reader feels like they were there. I could feel her pain, joy, and disappointment. It’s an incredible story of survival, perseverance and resilience by four children being raised in the midst of poverty. Her story surprised me constantly – from how smart her parents were in some aspects, to absolutely dysfunctional in other areas. What an interesting story!
The movie was hard to watch. Good actors, just a bad retelling of the story. No depth.
The Verdict:
THE BOOK. Skip the movie. The book was hard to put down. The movie was hard to get through.
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An EXCELLENT book I’ve read was Redeeming Love. The movie should be released this year and I’m really looking forward to watching it! If you are looking for a good book to read this summer – I highly recommend Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
Have you watched a good movie or read a good book recently? Leave a comment!
We had a free day and it was COLD outside…so we made a visit to the REPTILE and AMPHIBIAN Zoo. It’s a small place but we enjoyed watching the staff feed several of their reptiles. Paul was able to check something off his bucket list: Hold a giant Boa Constrictor. (Paul has all kind of UNIQUE things on his bucket list!)
Checked off “hold a giant boa” from Paul’s bucket list
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A Real Date Night
My handsome date!
The amazing Eggplant tostadas
Ted and I have a favorite date night spot and it’s been closed for most of 2020 and the beginning of 2021. We were so excited to get a real in-person date night when Colita re-opened! Quarantine date nights were sweet, but it’s so nice to finally get out of the house and go to an actual restaurant!
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Classic Clark
Clark comes in each night banged up and usually muddy. I was looking at his legs in astonishment and asking how he has so many marks and scars on his legs. This was his response:
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A ‘shell’ of a tradition
When I was a child, my mom came home from a trip to Florida with a bag of white seashells. Together we painted them and gave one to each person in my class.
On a recent trip to Marco Island, I spotted the same white shells and happy memories flooded my mind. I knew I had to carry on the tradition. The boys and I had so much fun painting shells and giving them away!
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An afternoon at Como Zoo with a bunch of boys
We spent a few hours at Como Zoo and Conservatory (click here to read about it), then played at the park across the street. We stopped at DQ on our way home.
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School Daze
The boys are finally back in school full time. I’ve been teaching and had so much fun getting to be in their classrooms! I taught Clark’s class and was Luke’s reading teaching. Next week I’ll get to be Paul’s teacher. I’m grateful that the boys get excited about me teaching. It gives them something to look forward to, and I look forward to it as well! BONUS: Shields are no longer required.
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Wrigley Updates:
Who needs a pillow when you’ve got a Wrigley?
Four of my five boys
Muddy March
This is our first spring with a dog and WOW – puppies get DIRTY!!!! Dogs gravitate toward the mud more than boys do! We’ve been giving Wrigley baths daily, sometimes multiple baths each day. Wrigley likes bath time ALMOST as much as he likes to play in the mud.
Wrigley had his first visit to the groomer and he looked SO different that we thought the groomer may have given us the wrong dog. The boy decided to ‘test’ Wrigley to see if it was really their dog. They watched to see if he’d respond to his name, then made him do all the tricks they taught him. After he passed his ‘test,’ they were finally convinced we had the right dog.
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A visit to Oklahoma
Easter egg hunt at Woodward park
Cousins
The boys and Nana
We visited family and friends in Oklahoma for spring break. I’ve got the world’s best in-laws who open up their beautiful home to us and take such good care of us when we visit. It’s also so fun for me to be with my sisters and let the boys play with their cousins. We also got a night out with some old friends.
Night out with old friends
Thanks for reading! Please subscribe if you’d like to follow our adventures!
One of my favorite places to visit in Minnesota is Como Zoo and Conservatory.
Not only is it historic and beautiful, but it’s FREE (though donations are appreciated).
The animals are nice and they are definitely what lure my children here, but my favorite part is the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.
The Conservatory was built in 1915, and is one of the few remaining original Victorian style glasshouses in North America. Inside are two acres of beautiful flowers and greenery ‘under glass.’ The display inside the conservatory changes five times a year, so you never know what beauty you’ll encounter when you visit.
Como Zoo and ConservatoryGorgeous Foxglove
Because of Covid, they are asking everyone to book tickets online in advance (there is no charge for the tickets). This is one of the few Covid changes I like, because it means there are only a select number of tickets they give out each day, so it’s not crowded! (Click here to reserve your space.)
The animals came before the conservatory. Como Zoo started in 1897 when the city of St. Paul was gifted 3 deer and created a fenced in area to keep them.
Como was the first zoo in the world to successfully hand raise Siberian tigers.
Besides tigers and deer, there are many other animals to observe and enjoy. Luke loves the Arctic foxes and penguins, George’s favorites are the monkeys (we all like the monkeys). Paul likes the sloth and fish, I love the birds and giraffes, Clark liked the cougar and giant Polar bear.
The Como Zoo has exhibits inside and outside, so you can enjoy this place all year long.
In the summer, be sure to visit the beautiful Japanese Garden:
After your visit to the zoo, plan to visit the fun playground across the street. There are plenty of tables, perfect for a picnic.
The state’s oldest Dairy Queen dates back to 1947 an is just a mile away. (720 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113) This is a fun way to end a spectacular day!
Click here for a peek into one of our visits to Como Zoo and Conservatory! What animals do you spot?
A lady I enjoy listening to, raised four amazing sons and swears by the power of spending time with your kids around the table – not just eating, but staying to play games. She said the boys didn’t always want to play, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Playing together opens up conversations you may not normally have. Games make you laugh and connect in a new way.
A really fun and simple activity that can act as a physics lesson and opportunity for an experiment. Make a simple ramp using cardboard or a piece of wood, and roll different objects down: measure how far they go, how fast they roll, or hold races between different kinds of balls to see which wins!
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7. Go Fishing With Magnets
Create “fishing poles” using pencils, string, and magnets.
Place a variety of items in a bin–some magnetic, some otherwise–and let them go to town exploring the concept of magnetism!
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8. Draw self portraits
Luke age 5
Have your kids look in the mirror and do a self portrait!
Be sure to have them write their name and age. It will be fun to look back on this when they are older.
You could have them repeat this every year around their birthday to see how their drawings improve!
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9. Make a Flip Book Animation
Kids can learn how to make a flipbook animation in less than 5 minutes. All you need is a pen and a stack of paper, or even better, a sticky note pad. This video is a great and very quick tutorial
Here is one of my son’s first flip book, using index cards:
If you have snow like we do, this is fun for all ages!
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12. Skiing
Luke learning to ski and LOVING it!
Skiing requires gloves, you can wear a mask, it’s outdoors and fairly easy to stay ‘socially distant.’ Many ski resorts have special rates and lessons for beginners.
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13. Play with shaving cream
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14. Have a make your own pizza and family movie night
My fourth grade teacher once gave us the title “The Entire City Lends a Hand” and had the class each write their own story. Read a rendition of that here.
If you have kids who are 8 and older, they can earn money or serve their neighbors by shoveling, cleaning up leaves, or helping any other outdoor task.
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40. Find a place to explore!
Though there are some places that are closed for Covid, you can still find a new place to explore with your kids!
Being bored is a natural part of life as a kid. Try not to offer an immediate solution to their boredom and see what they come up with! It’s often in times of boredom that children show their greatest creativity!
Keep spreading the strings apart until everyone falls in the ‘river.’
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7. Play Ball Games
Put a kid-friendly twist on that classic shooting game H-O-R-S-E by using smaller balls and setting up bins, buckets, and pots around the house or yard.
Take turns making shots. If a child makes it, the next child has to try to make it from the same spot.
I don’t know about your kids – but my kids NEED to burn energy in a healthy way or they start getting mischievous! Sometimes we will set a timer and everyone has to run or MOVE or jump for 5 to 20 minutes.
Occasionally, a child does a lap around the house (inside or outside) if they are misbehaving.
Last Saturday was a beautiful fall day, so we decided to explore a new spot in the Twin Cities – the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary. Founded in 1907, the Wildflower Garden is the oldest public native plant garden in the United States!
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There is no charge to explore and hike, but there is a minimal parking fee.
Most days the park is staffed by naturalists and volunteers who are happy to tell you what’s blooming, where to explore, and to answer other questions you may have about birds or flowers.
There were ‘scavenger hunt’ sheets available for kids at the entryway, and my boys loved being on a ‘hunt!’
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The boardwalk was so really cool.
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Once inside, there’s a marked out “trail” for you to walk. I was grateful for this because I have a tendency to get lost if I’m allowed to wander aimlessly. The marked trail is less than a mile and even our youngest son walked all the way through without complaint. (There is also a longer trail for you to explore, but we took the short cut.)
There were so many things to enjoy – different trees, small animals, lots of birds and so many plants. The signs throughout the gardens teach you about the various wildlife.
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Eloise Butler Garden and Bird Sanctuary is beautiful and I look forward to exploring it in the spring when the flowers are blooming!
