June 2014 - Rochester

The weekend after the MS150, I met my sister's family in Rochester for a baseball tournament weekend for my nephew Keith.  The day we got there was his 11th birthday, on Friday the 13th.  M went on a motorcycle trip to Wisconsin instead.

I had never been to Rochester before.  I don't know if I was necessarily missing anything but it was kinda fun to explore the city a bit.  

We went to my nephew's game on Friday night, his birthday and the weather was beautiful and perfect.  After the game, I went to my ex-something's house.  He's lived there for more than a handful of years.  I had seen him at my dad's benefit in September 2012 but before that, I hadn't seen him since hmmm....I'm not sure but I think summer of 2006. We hung out at his house, talking for hours. 

Colton 

He has a good eye.

He catches.

He scores runs.

He pitches and strikes out batters.  The pitcher on his team was giving up runs like crazy and they threw Keith in there to try and get them out of the inning.  He struck out 3 batters in a row.  

Saturday's weather was a little different.  Breezy, cloudy and chilly.  I didn't really bring the clothes for that.  Keith pitched again and did well.  We had a break in between morning and afternoon games and went to lunch.  Saturday's afternoon game was postponed until Sunday due to weather, mostly scary lightning and rain.

The most perfect bunt. 

He pitches like a pro.

Keith's team congratulating his pitching performance

The birthday card I made Keith.  It had Twins tickets in it for him and I to go to a game later in the month.

 

The family went swimming in the afternoon after lunch.  We went out to dinner to Newt's in the evening and went back to the hotel to play games.  I retired to my room around 10 pm and left in the morning before Keith's game.  On my way home, a bald eagle flew parallel with my car right when I got on Hwy 52.  

Someone's 3

Labor Day weekend for me is usually spent up at M's mom and dad's for at least half of the weekend but with us being up there three times this summer, I decided I wanted to stay home for the long weekend.  I had an extra long weekend as I had Thursday and Friday off from work which I had spent a lot of time with my nephew, Keith.

The majority of the weekend, I didn't do anything special.  M still went to his parents on Saturday and returned Sunday morning.  I enjoyed my time alone doing whatever I pleased.

As for Sunday, September 1st, my sister had a birthday party for Colton.  He was turning 3 but his real birthday wasn't until September 15th.  I couldn't believe it was September 1st already and more importantly, I thought about what we did one year ago that day.

Colton's party theme was the Incredible Hulk.  Jamie thought it would be easy to buy decorations but while it seems they have every other superhero out there, there was nothing for the Incredible Hulk so she improvised and made everything look great, serving green foods and drink.

I asked Colton how old he was and he said "Three."  I said he was right and then told him he was almost three (since his birthday was in 2 weeks) and he said, "No. I'm three."  I should have never corrected him in the first place. :)

Colton opened up his presents outside to an audience of mostly family including his parents, grandma, brothers and sister, aunts and uncle, cousin Owen and his Godmother Jenni who was up from Florida.

Colton received a bunch of toys from everyone.  I gave him a recycling truck, some markers and coloring books.

Colton getting the book Harold and the Purple Crayon, just like his grandpa had when he was a kid

Owen and Colton

Keith got that pogo stick for his birthday in June.  He couldn't even do two in a row and now he's up to over 220 in a row

Happy Birthday Colton!  Auntie love you!

This Guy

The same day we got our TV, I went over to my sister's house to help my mom watch my nephew Colton.  My sister and the rest of her family were out of town watching her stepdaughter graduate from college.  Colton got to stay back and be entertained 24/7.

We played outside while I was there blowing bubbles, catching bugs and sliding down the slide.  I gave him a stuffed crab I bought for him the week before and he loved it.

How can this little guy be so cute and so devilish at the same time?

Colton with dirt on his face

Jamie's cat Bandit sitting on my mom's suitcase

Two!

Happy Birthday today to my little nephew, Colton.  He's two already!

SSP Kaposia Days Weekend

I'm not a fan of parades but when my nephew Keith is in one, I try to make it a point to come and see him.  The South St. Paul Kaposia Days parade was Friday, June 22nd.  It was my sister, Colton and me watching the parade while her husband walked in it and my nephew was in it for hockey on rollerblades.  Colton went to the parade last year but he really enjoyed looking around at everything this year.  A clown came up to touch his hand and he wasn't even scared.  (Surprisingly, either was I actually!)

South St. Paul celebrating 125 years

On Saturday morning, I met my dad and we both watched along 5th Avenue while they had the kiddie parade.  My sister had decorated the car I gave Colton for Christmas and they walked as a family in big clump with the rest of the people and and their kids.  It was a perfect sized parade...just one block.

We headed over Central Square where there were games for the kids, food and some tents and booths set up for shopping.  

My sister, Keith and myself went to Fleming Airport and looked at the airplanes.

We watched this plane take off.

 This plane was American on one side and Canadian on the other.

We went to a few garage sales for the city-wide garage sale and then Keith and his dad went to go see a wrestling match at the VFW.  I went home and relaxed the rest of the day watching a couple of movies and taking a nap.

Remember, my giveaway ends tonight!  Enter to win!