2011 Minnesota State Fair — Wordless Wednesday

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Skol — Snapshot Sunday

Today was the Viking home opener. We had a really great time tailgating, despite a 5:30 am wake-up call. And though we had a chilly start, we ended up with a beautiful, warm day. (Probably one of our last.) But the game. Oof. Let’s not talk about it, okay?

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There are always characters to be found at tailgating:

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The Prices did pretty well at washoes. Aaron won two tournaments, and I won one. There is some skill involved, but not much, and it’s pretty easy to pick up.

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Love it when the Skol Line comes around:

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And then we went into the Metrodome where things weren’t as fun. Oh well. We still have 14 games left in the season. Skol Vikings!

Ni Hao Y'all

 

Game Day — Skol

Today is the NFL opener, and the first Vikings game of the 2010 season! I thought it would be fun to look back at seasons past.

Aaron was as a season ticket holder when he still lived in Atlanta, and would travel up to MSP for home games. (Ah, the bachelor life.) When we started dating, he told me that he had two tickets, so now I was a season ticket holder too. In 2007, I came up for 3 games, and by 2008 we were married and I was a Minnesota resident.

It’s a fun little fall hobby, and I know how much it means to Aaron that I am a part of it. It’s hardly a burden!

270: Packed Metrodome
{view from our seats}

It ain't Mardi Gras

Aaron, Viktor & Roger

Tina & Roger
{Tina & Roger — they’re getting married Oct. 16, and yes we’ll all be going to the home game the very next day!}

318/365: September 21, 2008

Skol!

Win or lose tonight, it’s gonna be a good season.

Skol.

 

2010 MN State Fair Day 1

{Warning: Photo heavy!}

Oh, what a day we had yesterday. For one, it was, no exaggeration, about 30 degrees colder than it was the previous Saturday, when I was at the Fair for a photo session. Two, it was blustery. But when it’s Fair day, you soldier on.

Since our 2-year-old house guest is an early riser, we were at the fairgrounds by 9 am. We needed coffee, stat. (And so did everyone else!)

So Chilly

While Sarah and I waited in line, Molly & Aaron grabbed us our first treat — mini donuts!

Once we were armed with coffee, our first stop was the SPAM booth. Yes people, SPAM. It’s a Minnesota product, and with eggs and cheese, well. I’m not gonna lie. It’s delicious. (But also about a week’s worth of sodium, so we split the sandwich three ways.)

SPAM Breakfast Sandwich

And then it was on to the Kidway, which is an area full of kid-sized rides. Sarah had warned me that when Molly’s grandmother takes her to the zoo (where there is a merry-go-round), Molly goes bananas when it’s time to get off the ride. So we were prepared for her to love it, and oh boy, did she.

At the first ride, she was a bit apprehensive as she waited for it to start. (Look at how good she’s holding on, just like her mommy told her to.)

At first she was apprehensive ...

When it started, it lurched and I screamed. (And mind you, I was just watching!) But it took about 3 seconds for that baby to love it!

Oh, but then she loved it!

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He’s gonna be a good daddy, I think.

After the Kidway we took a break in the food building (cheese curds!), before heading over to the Miracle of Birth barn. While we were waiting for Aaron to get our snack, Sarah and I were talking about where we were headed next, and Molly was so excited, she kept repeating “Baby cow baby cow baby cow baby cow.” We distracted her with something and she was preoccupied when Aaron came back. I told him how excited Molly was to see a b-a-b-y-c-o-w, and he said, “A what? A baby cow?” Ha! He doesn’t get the spelling words yet.

The Miracle of Birth barn is my most favorite place at the Fair. Brand new piglets, lambs and calves? Yes please. Molly did so great. She got to pet a chick, a piglet and lamb, and of course, a baby cow.

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It was love at first sight:

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Guess what this is—hot dish on a stick. I’d heard about it a few years ago, but we could never find the booth. Well we stumbled on it, so had to try it. It’s tater tots and sausage, deep fried on a stick. With a side of white gravy for dipping. Right? Basically a heart attack on a stick, but guess who loved it the most? Miss Molly.

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We walked around a bit more (and consumed Big Fat Bacon, deep-fried Snickers, Pronto Pup), and I took Molly on the Giant Slide.

It was almost time to go, but first we had to get my favorite Fair food (deep fried pickles) …

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And then we got a bucket of cookies (sweet, sweet Martha), ate a cookie and went home!

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We go back on Sunday!

 

Sunday Snapshot

St. Croix River

Today my friend Lauren and I went over to historic Stillwater to walk around and take pictures. Stillwater sits on the St. Croix River across from Wisconsin, is considered one of Minnesota’s first cities and was originally a logging town.

It was sticky hot (and not just for Minnesota, for anywhere), but it was great fun.

Stillwater Bridge

Stillwater has a wonderful Main Street lined with antique shops, boutiques and restaurants. We weaved our way in and out of stores (and air conditioning), and took photos in between.

Logging Town

Stillwater

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Biker

Ni Hao Y'all