Take me out to the ballgame...

As the summer is starting to wind down some, so is Isaac's baseball season. He has really improved this season, something I give credit to the neighborhood boys and the amount of baseball they play in the park across the street.

Today marked the end of the "regular season" with playoffs starting next week. While he didn't get a hit today, he did hit the ball hard and had what would be considered quality at-bats. He also got to catch today for a couple of innings which he loves to do. We're pretty sure it's all about the accessories but that's okay.

Next week is the playoffs with a chance to play Thursday night for the championship. Whether or not that happens - it's been a GREAT summer "at the old ballgame."

Valleyfair - The Sequal

Valleyfair - Day Two

Today it was just us. One of the advantages of being teachers (there are many but this is just one example) is having more flexibility in the summer time so we were able to come back on a Monday morning for another day of fun. Today we didn't rush to get to the park and let the boys sleep in a bit longer.

Today's theme is WATER. We rented a Cabana (Mel's idea - thanks for that!) at the water park by the Wave Pool. Our thought was that it would give us a place to put our stuff and keep Evan out of the sun (and maybe sleeping some) while Heather and I took turns swimming with Isaac. THESE CABANAS WERE SO NICE!!!! First, you walk in and they have chairs in and out waiting for you. There is a place to lock your valuables. And there is a ceiling fan and a flat screen TV. You also have a food service brought to you which was nice with the boys. It was so worth the cost.

Isaac and I hit the wave pool for a while and then moved on to the water slides while Heather hung out with Evan. I can honestly say that I went on a Level 5 ride - granted it was a water ride but I checked with the judges and it counts. Isaac finally found some rides that he wasn't tall enough for yet in the water park, but it gives us something to look forward to.

We had lunch delivered to us which was pretty good. Pizza, cheese curds, fries, pop, and cheese cake (I am gaining weight as I type). Then Heather took her turn swimming and I actually did some reading for Grad School while Evan slept some. Heather and Isaac decided to change and go one some "regular" rides after a while and Evan finished his nap. Here's the gross part of the story (if you have small children you may want to have them leave the room). Not long after they take off, I hear the lifeguards whistles all go off and they start to evacuate the pool. I immediately assume that someone is hurt and start to scan the pool to see what is going on. Finally our waitress comes by and tells me that someone "pooped in the pool". The whole thing was shut down for the rest of the day for some poo. I started to think how fun it would be to watch Caddyshack right now - maybe someone just threw a candy bar in the water.

When Heather and Isaac came back, Evan was walking up and we finished the night off by closing down Valleyfair for a second night before heading back to St. Cloud.

It just goes to show you - you don't have to drive 5-10 hours for a summer vacation when you have everything right here in your own "backyard".

Even a poopy-pool!!!!




This video made us laugh so hard - Evan was fascinated by the Extreme Swings - every time they went past him he couldn't take his eyes off of them. You can hear Heather laughing in the background.

Valleyfair 2009

Because we were waiting for Evan's arrival last summer, we decided not to make a trip to Valleyfair. Since I HATE rides and Heather couldn't go on too much, it would have been a pretty wasted trip for just Isaac to go. Plus, Heather LOVES rides so that would have been pretty unfair. This year we finally found time to go and for the first time, we made a 2 day trip out of it.

Day One


We decided to come down the night before so we didn't have to rush. Plus, it allowed some sleep time for Evan which we knew would be key to survive the day. We met Heather's sister's family (Mel, Mike, Zach, and Tori) at about 10:30 a.m. and hit the park running. Isaac was excited because FINALLY he was tall enough to go on all of the rides. Isaac lives for high rides and having fun so this was a bit of milestone for him. Many trips to Valleyfair have resulted in tears because Isaac was just a bit too short for the most challenging of rides. Thank God those days are over.

We hit the rides until about 12:30 p.m. and then headed out to the picnic area for lunch - which is a HUGE saver and actually better food and more fun. It is was nice to take a break and enjoy some non-fried, non-greasy food. Plus, when you pay $3.50 for a bottle of water you can about imagine what everything else was. Pretty crazy...

We then spend the rest of the day hitting just about every ride in the park. Zach took off with his friend while Tori and Isaac stayed together. Luckily Mel's fiancee Mike doesn't really enjoy rides much either so I had someone to hang around and visit with which was nice. Evan was a trooper the whole day, especially when Heather figured out that if she put him on his stomach in the stroller he would sleep for almost 3 hours.


We ended up closing the park down that night and headed back to the hotel for some well needed sleep.


Day two tomorrow.

Wildlife in the Big City

Here is what Evan and I woke up to the other morning.


Who says you can't have a taste of country life in the big city?

Went to the new Harry Potter movie today with Isaac and his 2 cousins and WOW - my head was kinda spinning when it was done. Not a lot of action but the plot was THICK! It had so much storyline going on that at times I think Isaac got a bit confused and bored. You really got to see more about Tom Riddle and how he started to become "He who must not be named". Plus, the movie suddenly became a romance film which was a bit different from the rest. Overall though, I give it 4 out of 5 stars cause it's still REALLY cool.

Gone but not forgotten...

Yes, I know it has been a REALLY long time since my last post but things have been pretty busy around here lately. Yes, I know I am one of those lazy teachers who have their summers off. If only that were true... I decided to take 3 graduate courses this summer (2 in the future session) and then with teaching my Soc. 195 course I am either correcting or writing whenever I have free time. The one course I took was really terrible - so poorly organized and dry that it made it painful to do every night for 5 weeks. Then trying to chase Isaac around St. Cloud for swimming, baseball, golf, and guitar lesson has made for a busy June and July.

This session I am taking one course and teaching only 1 technology course for 4 days next week so things should slow down some.

Just a quick recap of the last few weeks...

Isaac is having a GREAT summer - his activities are really going well. His baseball team has won almost every game and he is getting better evey week. His hitting is still a bit frustrating but he has taken it in such great stride - if he strikes out he just jobs back the to bench and I even heard him say once that he'll "do better next time". It is fun to see him understand already what is important about sports - and he did do better the next time. Everything else is really going well too.

For Evan things are just happy pretty much all of the time. I never saw a kid that loved smiling so dang much - I wish I knew what he was thinking some of the time. I think he is laughing at me - probably has already figured out that he is cooler than I am.

Oh yeah - I got the GREATEST B-day present last week - one hint.
Kelli and Andrea - I have one now too...



Love it!!!!!!