So Hard to Choose

Pictures, that is.  Every time I return from a MN gathering, it's so hard to pick just a few pictures to post here.  I didn't even bring my camera and I have tons of pictures from which to choose, thanks to my sister, my mom, and my grandma.  Here are a few that sum up our family fun weekend.

Everyone in Minnesota knows that summer isn't complete without a trip to the State Fair.  Yes, Sara ate that entire bag of cotton candy all by herself.  Yes, I worried for one second about the judgement that would surly be cast upon me as a mother.  But then I realized that everyone else there was eating something fried; I took a deep breath of nice, cool air, and went about the rest of my day without another cotton candy worry.

 

There was a brief rain shower during which we ducked into a beer garden complete with live music.  Sweet potato fries and cold Nordeasts held us over while the rain passed through.  Todd enjoyed a cold one while lounging on the prize Steve won after just one attempt at a midway game.  I still don't hide my disgust for the games, but I am past trying to dissuade Steve from playing.

 

 Here's most of the gang, minus picture-taking Mom.  I don't know why I did my hands like that.  I guess I was just so excited and I didn't know where to put them.  Even Sara seems to be giving me a "Mom, seriously?" look.  Hey, I never claim to be cool.

 This year Sara enjoyed a few rides.  She and I went down the big slide on potato sacks, and then she hit the kiddie rides: one in a red car just like the one at Grandma's house, one on a bumpy boat ride that she didn't enjoy, and one on a purple dinosaur that she did happen to enjoy very much, as a matter of fact.

Before we knew it, it was getting dark and our Great Minnesota Get-Together excursion was over.  On Sunday, Foggy Notion played at the Lafayette Club on Lake Minnetonka at their annual Labor Day celebration.  Todd had to leave pretty early to set up, and Steve went along as his roadie.  In the meantime, the girls hit Tavern on France for some late lunch and a scrumptious Bloody Mary or two. 

 At the party, Sara rode a pony, jumped for ages in a bounce house she lovingly dubbed, "The Green Castle," ate more junk, and enjoyed the tunes. The night was capped with an amazing fireworks display.

Watching Sara in The Green Castle confirmed for me that daycare is paying off, if for no other reason than that she can totally hold her own in a confined space with a bunch of other kids all vying for the same spot.  And she also happens to be learning a lot of other things of value.

I loved the sitting on a blanket in my jeans, enjoying the cool weather and the loud music, and having my girl cuddled on my lap at the end of the night.  I had been waiting for this weekend all summer, and it lived up to my very highest hopes and expectations.

 Minnesota is where the heart is.