June 2014 - Twins Game

I bought tickets earlier in the month for Keith and I to go to a Twins game for his birthday.  We went on June 30th against the Royals, the team that would lose in game 7 of the World Series later that season.

Joe Mauer is one of Keith's favorite players and when I asked him before I got the tickets where he would like to sit at the game.  He said anywhere with a good view of Joe Mauer.  Ok, so that's where we sat then.

We watched batting practice for the Royals and just before the Twins came out, Keith got autographs from three players.  

 

 

Keith may like Mauer but I'll take Trevor Plouffe.  Yes please. 

  

#bestauntieever

   

The Twins lost 6-1 but I know he had one of the best baseball experiences ever. Me too.  

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.  

My Birthday

My birthday Tuesday, January 21st, was already over two weeks ago and I turned 37. Thirty-seven. The number didn't even phase me. That's refreshing.
Just like we went to brunch at Pinstripes for M's birthday, we also did the same thing for my birthday on the Sunday before. We love that place and isn't going to brunch what you do when you are a full-blown adult?
The weather on that Sunday was perfect for a January winter birthday celebration. It was 34 degrees and after brunch, we walked around Centennial Lakes enjoying the actually warm sun. The rest of the day we spent at home watching football.
On Monday, January 20th, my mom and sister and me went to dinner at TGI Friday's. I opened presents at the table like I was 10 years old and then we went to the mall to shop a little.
On my actual birthday, I took the day off from work and did...nothing. M and I spent the day together and we were going to see a movie but never did. I got some stuff done around the house and enjoyed my day off.

This is what 37 looks like. Taken on my birthday. No makeup, just lazy and natural.

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Dirty Thirty

We went to our friend Jared's 30th birthday party on Saturday, October 19th.  They ordered massive pizza's, both 30 inches and had yummy party food.  Jared was kind enough to let M and I try Sam Adam's Utopias 10th Anniversary Edition which was released last year.  It's beer but it doesn't seem like it because of the high ABV. (29%)  I actually liked it.  I only had a few sips but I could see myself sipping it very slowly someday.  M also has a bottle at home that he has yet to crack so maybe someday I can taste it again.

Happy 30th birthday Jared!

Playing battle shots

Jared's beer cellar

The birthday boy

Birthday shot for Jared

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!