Art-A-Whirl

Northeast Minneapolis puts on an annual Art-A-Whirl, where local artists open their studios for public viewing (and buying).  The event has grown to draw food trucks, local musicians and and the neighborhood microbrew taprooms.  After a quick stop at Tugg's to pay our March Madness debts, we (L & I, the McNerneys and Furbers) bounced from Bauhaus to Psycho Suzi's for the Bad Bad Hats, Jeremy Messersmith and Solid Gold (and beer, pizza and giant, flaming tiki drinks, of course).

Maker Faire

E & S showed cousin Lucy the ropes at this year's Maker Faire at the State Fairgrounds.  The Squishy Circuits (a UST start-up) and robot frisbee launcher were the kids' favorites this time around.

Carondelot, Take 3

Team 'Grumpy Old Men' found themselves struggling through the loser's bracket of Carondelot's annual basketball tournament fundraiser.  On paper, before the games begin, we envision ourselves cutting down the nets.  When all is said and done, we find ourselves gassed, usually injured, and nowhere near the podium.  

At least, for now, our fans see us as champions!

MN Zoo

The annual Farm Babies trip to the Minnesota Zoo...

Explorers

Now that the closing day wetland drama dust has settled about the lot L & I chose for our new home, its become one of our favorite things about our new home.  We enjoy the scenery by day, and fall asleep to the sounds by night (crickets, frogs and coyotes, oh my).

The "back 40" quickly became Griff's favorite part of his new home as well, as he makes a b-line to the woods daily in search of rabbits, mice and new smells... and, to keep the geese off the pond (sometimes requiring a swim to do so).

And, the girls enjoy exploring as well... looking for turtles, frogs, animal tracks, and a closer view of our backyard neighbors horses.

Night terrors

Work trip hotel nights aside, March 26th 2009 was probably the last time L & I had a night of uninterrupted sleep.  

2009-2011 were marred by the standard night time issues that come with newborns just 18 months apart... but since, nearly every night, at least one of our horribly light sleepers silently makes their way into our room, and then "sleeps" in the most disruptive ways you could imagine.  E tosses, turns, head-butts and likes to sleep with her face touching yours... and S bicycle kicks the covers off of her (and us) and likes to sleep in a firm X-formation, with arms and legs firmly spread.

All. Summer. Long.

With the exception of baseball/soccer/gymnastics/swimming/basketball nights (of which there are many), each and every summer evening in Misty Run,our cul-de-sac, looks pretty much exactly like this...

• Griff greets the moms/dads returning home from work
• The neighborhood's 22 kids fling their backpacks into their homes and reassemble outside for anything from soccer to "Wizard of Gauze" (don't ask) to scooter & bike parades
• Dinner is wolfed down on decks or front porches (to soak up more sun, and minimize the break from the fun)
• And, on Fridays & Saturdays, the night is closed out with a bonfire in the middle of the street

Goldy's Run

E & S ran Goldy's Gallop for the 4th consecutive year earlier this spring... not a bad streak for at ages 5 & 7!  

As impressive, Grandpa Tom achieved his goal of walking the 5k just a few weeks after a knee replacement!