Taste of Minnesota

I was reading the Star Tribune the other day and I was surprised to find that the Taste of MN now costs around $30 to attend on Harriet Island. When Anna and I used to go, it was on the capitol grounds and only cost $5 to park. The first time we went, Anna found a $20 bill on the ground so we actually made money on the endeavor. I loved going and eating the large variety of food all in one place, listening to Ringo Starr's All Star Band, and watching fireworks explode over the capitol dome.

Anders had a taste of MN yesterday. At his great-grandparents' home, his grammuh gave him the remains of her fudgecicle. His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. It will be tough to go back to mushy peas after that sort of treat. Then, we went to Papa's Italian in Zimmerman for supper, where his mom gave Anders a few bites of the dipping sauce from her calzone. I hadn't seen him that excited to eat since the calzone.

Anders became a little greedy last night as we sat on the couch watching the Twins. I was feeding Anders and Uncle Josh was sitting next to me eating tropical flavored Skittles. Anders loved the orange bag and the Skittles must have smelled and looked good to him. In one movement, he swatted the bottle away and lunged onto Josh's lap for the candy. He went for broke, didn't get it, but it was an impressive display of athleticism.

Anders spent Thursday and Friday shuttling back and forth to Litchfield to see his great grandparents and various other family members. He enjoyed all the attention. I started calling him The Mayor. He spent a little time charming each person with a smile and an Ando Shake, then moved on to the next person. On Wednesday night his great aunts and cousins came over here. At one point Anders was at the center of a circle of cousins, loving every minute of it. Part of the reason Anders has been on the move so much this week is that Uncle Josh has been visiting from Seattle. Seeing Josh and Anders has been a 2-for-1 for the family this week. Josh left this morning. He gets deployed to the Philippines in the middle of this month for the next 6-9 months.

Anders is going to spend a quiet weekend at his grandparents' house this weekend. He had a bit of car butt, having traveled over 1,200 miles this week. He was even bleeding a bit, but that could have been because he scratched himself. Regardless, he begins another epic journey Friday as we drive from Central MN to Central Kansas to visit my family. Anders' butt should be healed by then and we should have a bigger car seat for him by then as well since he is about to out grow his current one.

Anna and I are taking a vacation from our vacation by heading up to Northern MN for a night early next week. I am quite excited to get away.

I need one more person to sign up for my US History Since 1945 class for it to meet in the second summer session in Chillicothe, starting the last week in July.