Duluth, Take 2

We had so much fun at our end-of-summer Duluth trip, that Nana, Joe, La and their families wanted us to run it back over MEA weekend... this time with all of them!

We hit many of the same stops (Jay Cooke, Enger, Grandma's, Vikre, Northern Waters, DeWitt), while sprinkling in a few of other Duluth classics we missed last time (Tobie's, Fitger's, Bent Paddle, Canal Park Brewery). 

Court of Dreams

A basketball junkie, I'd always wanted a hoop in my driveway.  After a 20 years, I finally made it happen this summer.  To make up for lost time, I went all-in... excavating half of my backyard to create space for an "official" Sport Court!

Oh, and I suppose it'll be fun for the kids too...

SRB's 5th

On October 13th, Little Miss SRB turned five!  

All the Rose wanted for her birthday was a party at Chuck-E-Cheese, a rainbow cake and no bedtime... so we celebrated with her closest friends over pizza, the world's most colorful cakes (thanks, Jaryn!), endless arcade games... and late night movies until she conked out. 

[Pictured (L-R): Sydney, Kianna, Lauren, S, Chelsea, Kennedi]

Minnetonka Orchards

The annual fall Minnetonka Orchards trip was a hit, as always.  In year's past the hay ride and playground were the girls' favorites, but this year the corn maze and apple picking were the big winners...

Menver

The Men of Misty Run (my neighbor guys and I) made an impromptu trip to "the sunshine state" (Denver, CO... for non-Dumb & Dumber fans) to watch the Vikings play the Broncos at Mile High, and to bond while eating and drinking our way through the city.  The Vikes lost on the game's final play, 20-23... but the weekend was a blast, nonetheless.  

Highlights include the Double Cheese at the Burger Radiofood truck, cocktails at the Green Russell, fried green chili wontons at Paramount Cafe, beers at the Great Divide and Dam breweries, late night pizza at Two Fisted Mario's, omelettes at Sam's No. 3, "hiking" at Loveland Pass, and tailgating with TONS of Vikings fans... and the weekend full of notable quotables.  

Junior Jammer

E's back for season two of Junior Jammers.  Goose neck, check.  Elevation, check.  Jordan tounge wave, check.

The back woods

One of our favorite "features" of our new home is the wildlife that routinely hang out in and around the wooded area and pond on the backside of our lot... and sometimes right next to our house!  One of my favorite joys of this experience is hearing my city-slicker wife squeal and describe these creatures when seeing them for the first time:

"Look, an ostrich!" (actually, a heron)
"Look, a giant rat!" (actually, a muskrat)
"Look, a wolf!" (actually, a coyote)
"Look, a vulture!" (actually, a turkey)
"Look, a frog!" (actually, a toad)
"Look, a swan!" (actually, a great egret)
"Look, a ... what the heck kind of duck is that?" (actually, a pheasant)

To be fair, she got the turtle, snake, duck, mouse, eagle, and deer right on the first attempt!