Fun, but Scary Adventure.

I decided that I wanted to get out of town and do something fun on my anniversary since Craig wasn't around.  So, my sister-in-law and I packed up the boys and headed to Munsinger Gardens in St. Cloud.  It was a very hot, humid, sunny day so it wasn't busy at all.  Craig and I had been there- once the day after our wedding- and it was very busy, as I recall.  We didn't feel rushed to move on to the next flower by people behind us, which was so nice.  If you have never been there, it is worth checking out.  It's free and open to the public and the flowers and fountains are gorgeous.

I loved the details of this fountain.

The rose gardens were in full bloom.

 So pretty and peaceful.

The boys and I next to the Mighty Mississippi.  Who knew?

After a gorgeous afternoon at the gardens, we took the boys to Space Aliens for supper.  I have to live up to Hunter calling me the "best mom ever", so I figured he would enjoy that over Olive Garden or something like that.  Luckily, Space Aliens also has great food.  After eating and spending some time in the arcade and picking our prizes out, we headed to the car.  It was raining just a little bit and the sky looked a little dark.  A complete 180 from the earlier weather.  We got to the car, turned around and the sky behind us was green.  My stomach turned!  It was not a pretty sight.  Melissa and I decided that we'll get in the car and hope to drive out of it.  Less than two blocks down the road, the tornado sirens started to sound and the wind and rain picked up immensely.  Scary!  We pulled over on the next street and parked in a BP Gas Station.  We headed inside with the boys and got drenched.  Hunter was terrified (well, we all were...except Brody) and was in tears and literally trembling.  He tried really hard convincing him that it was just Jesus, but his fear got the best of him.

Brody and I after running in from the storm.  We were just a little wet.

After sitting in the gas station for half an hour and 2 tornado sirens later, we decided that the storm had passed and we would be safe.  We made a pit stop at Kohl's to buy new clothes for the boys so they would be comfortable on the way home.  We listened to a radio station where people were calling in reporting damage around the area.  It made our stomachs sick.  Roads flooded.  Trees in the roads.  Fires from lightning.  Stuff that only happens during serious storms.  We started towards the freeway and about half a mile down the road from the gas station we saw trees snapped in half.  It was so close to us!  It was later reported that a weak tornado did pass through very close to the area we were.  Thankfully God was with us and protected us.

Let's just say, I will never forget my 5th anniversary, it was a fun, yet adventurous day.