Summer Picture Catch Up

So, It's Saturday night, August 21, and the summer is winding down in Minnesota.

Wisconsin football is two weeks away.

The sun goes down before 9 p.m. and the temperature can be in the 40s some mornings.

Yes, Labor Day is less than 2 weeks away and it's been a busy summer.

And, the boys are almost 2. That means we didn't kill them and they didn't kill us - so far.

This summer has been so much different than last summer.

Here's what we did:

- Memorial Day in Janesville with Grandma and Grandpa Paterson
- Jen and the boys went to Madison in early June to see Carrie while she was in town for a graduation party
- Then, the next weekend, we went to a Twins game against the Braves (we cheered for the Braves - because we like the Braves/Chipper-Bobby and the Twins are in the same division as the Sox)
- The next weekend for Father's Day, we hit Stillwater and hung by the Lift Bridge
- St. Cloud follwed for a trip around the Quarry - pretty cool
- Around the 4th of July, we hit the North Shore and the Mouth of the Mississippi River - all Midwesterners need to spend time in Northern MN before they die
- Jen did the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon in/around Nokomis
- Mike went to his 20-year HS Class Reunion in Freeport, Ill.
- We went to the Flentge Family get-together in suburban Chicago.
- We spent a weekend in MSP
- Carrie had a baby shower and Mike went to the Brewer game with Eric - I heart Miller Park
- Last weekend, we went to Lake Minnetonka, breakfast, Lord Fletcher's, and a swim (plus, a cold front came through)
- This weekend, it MSP all the time - Chicken Fingers at the UM! -> -> Oh, that's the only thing good about the UM.
- Then, next weekend, Jen and I celebrate 10-years of marriage, the boys are 2, and the summer is over. And, we'll be in Madtown.

Here are some pictures to catch up on:


Above are Spencer and Grandma at the Flentge family reunion in July. Derek was a little under-the-weather so he stayed home with Mama. Photo credits go to Jill and Steve Ray.

Below, Spencer got a lot of attention and enjoyed the pool. Both boys are water-bugs.

Above, it's Spencer and his Grandpa.

(Above) Focus on the ball.

Surfin' USA (with apologies to Brian Wilson - please don't sue me like you did with Katy Perry)

I was a little sick for the swim party that Spencer attended. I'll make it up later. (Above)

So, that's the summer in the "Upper Midwest" - it goes by fast. That's OK since hockey season is just around the corner and we all like fall.

Derek and Spencer have both vowed to be back for the football season to make their picks.

Spencer will start picking for Labor Day weekend with a full slate of college games. He might even give you his guaranteed lock, take-it-to-the-bank, five-star pick of the year for that weekend.

Derek will start with the Vikings-Saints on 9/9 in the Superdome. Our best guess is that Derek will go with Favre.

However, Derek's Dad thinks Favre wanted to wait until week 2 to return and avoid a game during week 1 in the Superdome.

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