Jasonpalooza

Each fall, the McNerneys host a weekend of debauchery (a.k.a. Jasonpalooza) at their summer home away from home on Mantrap Lake near Park Rapids, MN.  Thanks to Grandmas Backer, Miller and McNerney, this time around was kid-free... making for fuller coolers, later nights around the campfire and much, much rougher back-to-reality Monday mornings.

Beersbee

No Jasonpalooza would be complete without a little friendly competition.  The Fun Police upped the ante this year with a decathlon of yard and water mixed doubles events.  Above, Brett and Michelle attempt a heroic save in my favorite new event, Beersbee.

Prize Pike

Lindsay caught her first Northern while trolling around Mantrap Lake... the largest and most teeth-baring  fish she's ever netted.  As such, it took a little coaxing to get her to pose with the slimy sea monster.  As depicted above, the only part of the fish-holding coaching she heard over her screaming was, "hold the fish away from your body".

Weeeeeee!

With our fair-weathered days dwindling, E & S are making the most their final days of fun in MN's 2011 sun. 

Brew Crew

The gang ditched the kids for a few hours last Saturday to take in Autumn (Craft) Brew Review at the old Grain Belt Brewery in NE Minneapolis.  A bit out of our drinking primes, we did our best to sample the spectrum... and crowned Ommegang's Three Philosophers as 2011's king.

11 months

On 9/13, SRB hit the 11 month mark.  Here's the monthly update...


A few of Sawyer's latest favorite tricks include:

• Signing "eat", "more" and "all done" (she'll wave "bye-bye" and blow kisses too!)
• Feeding herself a bottle (a wonderful benefit during the morning hustle-and-bustle to get out the door)
• Tantruming (for 10.5 months S was the world's most easygoing, fuss-free child... now, put food on big sis' Evie's plate before loading up hers... well, you're going to hear about it!)

A few of Sawyer's latest favorite things include:

• Walking (the only acceptable mode of transportation anymore, and S couldn't be more proud of herself)
• Her Little Tikes kitchenette set
• The piano and recorder (S LOVES belting out "music" on both)

Weeping (non) blondes

This past weekend was the kick-off to the 2011-12 NFL season... which meant it was also the kickoff to the Backer/Furber/McNerney fall Sunday tradition of piling our growing families into each other's living rooms and rooting on the Purple and Gold.


While the stakes and burn were nowhere near that of that 1998's heartbreaker against Atlanta... the frustration on the faces of Sawyer and Maddie during Sunday's letdown in San Diego gave me flashbacks of those famous "Weeping Blondes".


Sorry for passing on that glutton-for-punishment, Minnesota sports diehard gene, girls!

Under the bridge

A commitment-free Labor Day weekend meant time for leisurely outings to a handful of our "backyard" favorites... including a little picnic (Black Sheep Pizza for the humans, Cheerios for the ducks) at the base of the Stone Arch.

Walker*

Another stop our our Labor Day weekend tour of local favorites was the Walker Art Center's sculpture garden.  E, way proud of her little sister's newfound walking skills, insisted on holding S's hand as we tooled around park. 


*Yes, pun intended. :-)

Minnesota State Fair

So, the draw of the Great Minnesota Get-Together for Linds and I has always been the wonderfully sinful food... but the times, they are a changing'.  Last year was all about the Evie and the farm animals and this year E wouldn't leave the Midway as she was hooked on showing off for little S on the "big girl rides".

Fair Food

Of course, food still plays a role... and E & S, sampling off our foursome's smorgasbord* binging, look to be future loyals!

*This year's menu: cheese curds, turkey legs, pronto pups, Australian potatoes, chocolate malts, freshly squeezed lemonade, mini donuts, roasted corn on the cob and Sweet Martha's chocolate chip cookies.