Gopher Football

Now at 4 & 6 (ys/o), it felt like E & S were ready for the Gopher football experience (we're season ticket holders), from the early morning tailgate (thanks, Kurths!), to belting out the Rouser and shaking keys on big plays during the game, to the post-game "stall", bouncing around Stadium Village (Sally's, McNamara, DQ, etc.) until traffic clears.

We all had a great time, although the girls watched the cheerleaders and Goldy a little more intently than the action on the field (see if you can spot them in the first photo above).  Rosie's highlight of the game, for sure, was getting Goldy's attention and running down to give him a card she had made which read "I love you, Goldy. You're the best mascot."  Evs loved imitating the cheer team's every move with her pom poms... oh, and using them to give her dad "hair".

(The Gophers defeated Kent State 10-7, in a game that was far closer than it should've been!)

Trampled by Turtles

One of Minnesota's most popular bands these days is Trampled by Turtles, a bluegrass/folk band from Duluth, MN.  Last spring, we traveled to Denver with the McNerneys and Furbers to see them play an amazing show at the Red Rocks amphitheater.

This weekend, we got the inside information (thanks, neighbor Dave!) that they'd be playing a secret, intimate, late night show at Icehouse MPLS on Eat Street... and, naturally, we had to attend.  Pretty cool to see a band like TxT when close enough to steal swig of their PBRs!

For a sampling of their music, check out their performance of Alone on Letterman. 

Coyote Dash

E's elementary school hosts an annual fundraiser, the Coyote Dash, a 1 mile-ish gallop around the school's soccer fields, to generate cash for underfunded projects at the school that year.  To up the ante, their principal, Dr. Wehrmann, promises to sleep on the roof of the school if they surpass their goal.

Pictured on top is E's 1st Grade class and Cody the Coyote, gassed (and muddy) from the big race.

1st Day of School

There goes another summer!  E's off to 1st grade, and S to Junior K (in uniform!).

D: What was your favorite thing from this summer?
E: Going to Duluth.
S: Going to the pool with Lucy.

D: What about 1st grade/Jr. K are you most excited for?
E: I think doing recess.
S: Art projects.

D: Are you nervous about anything?
E: No.
S: No.

D: Who's your best friend?
E: Analise.
S: Kianna.

D:What's your favorite book?
E:  Maya the Harp Fairy by Daisy Meadows.
S: Big Hero 6.

D: What's your favorite food? 
E:  Steak.
S: Ice cream.

D:What's your favorite thing to play?
E:  Sorry.
S: Toilet tag.

D: What's your favorite thing about yourself?
E: I like how good I am at gymnastics.
S: How good I am at art projects.

D: What's one thing that you really want to do this year?
E:  Gymnastics.
S: Go to a football game.

D: What do you want to be when you grow up?
E: Maybe a teacher or I don't know what else.
S: Artist.

Duluth

With summer winding down, and the chaos of the school year just days away, Linds & I wanted to squeeze in one last sunny family escape... so we headed to Duluth for 24 action-packed hours of northern Minnesota fun.

On the way up we stopped at Jay Cooke State Park, crossed the swing bridge and hiked along the area's famous tilted slate rock, rapids and falls.  In Duluth, we ate (lunch at the Northern Waters Smokehaus, dinner at Grandma's), drank (cocktails & mocktails at Vikre Distillery), played (Adventure Land) and sightsaw (Canal Park, the Aerial Lift Bridge & Harbor Lighthouse  Enger Tower) our way around the city.  And, on our way back home, we popped in to Spirit Mountain for a ride on the Tiber Twister (alpine coaster) and Timber Flyer (zipline).