Hey, Make Your Way to Curve, PA!

I'm 1/2 embarrassed to even be composing this post, but here goes.

In 1999, a minor league baseball team came to Altoona, PA. The Altoona Curve, named after the Horseshoe Curve.

Guess how many times (prior to this weekend) I was there?

1. Once. Uno.

 And I don't even really remember it.

Guess how many times we've been there since Sunday?

2. Twice. Dos.

I can't believe how awesome that place is. The stadium is beautiful, the games fun, and interesting. I've never been a fan of baseball, so this might come as a surprise, but I wish we could go there at least weekly.

Both of our visits this week were accompanied by our good friends, Tim, Kerri, Lily, Timmy, and Mary.

From Sunday's game:

Me and the boys (post rain storm)

The boys were trying to catch tee shirts that Steamer (the Curve's mascot, named after a steam locomotive) was throwing out.

The boys with Timmy and Lily hoping to catch a foul/fly ball (didn't happen, although we did witness some guy get nailed in the hip with a ball - yikes!)

The kids with Diesel Dog (another Curve mascot - catch all the references to railroading yet? Yeah, that's what Altoona is known for)

"More cowbell" was played on the jumbotron except instead of needing, "more cowbell," they needed, "more Altoona!"

 Timmy and Jackson watching "more Altoona"

Pictures from Tuesday's game (we were invited to celebrate Timmy's 8th birthday @ the stadium. It was a beautiful evening that ended with amazing fireworks - like maybe the best I've ever seen):

 Cotton candy + Jude = 1. big. sticky. mess.

But, we still get it every time!

 Jackson showing his buddies what he won.

Jackson and Lily got to go out on the field after the 5th inning to play a game. They had to start @ 1st base and put on a baseball jersey, run to 2nd base and put a baseball cap, run to 3rd and put on pants. Jackson won, by a hair, but it was super close ;)

 Perfect night for perfect fireworks!

Thanks for inviting us to your 'party' Timmy. Hope you had a blast.

OCM 2011

We're home from vacation. We had a great time. Man, we really know how to maximize our vacation time.

We left Saturday, stopped @ the Hagertown outlets, continued to Annapolis for the night. Annapolis is such a cool little city. We didn't even get to explore much of it. Since we were there last year, they built a town center that gets 2 thumbs up from us! We ate supper @ Whole Foods (which was awesome in my book).

Jude's girlfriend @ the Under Armour Store

I've been wanting to get to a Lululemon store for a long time and there was one in the Annapolis Town Center. It was awesome; of course the only thing I could actually afford was a pair of socks and a head band... This is Jude outside the store (where he and Jeremy played cornhole).

Me picking bananas @ Whole Foods. I love this store. I could've spent hours in there. They make the best squash soup (yes, I do realize it's July and the heat index was over 100, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity for their squash soup). While we were eating, a couple with their kids came up to us - they saw Jeremy and Jackson's Saint Francis shirts- the guy went to SFU and graduated just a few years ago. That was pretty neat.

SUNDAY:

We're here!

It stormed shortly after we arrived, so it was off to the indoor pool. I know, such a hardship :)

MONDAY:

Off to the beach

And of course, the pools!

And then Hooper's Crab House for supper. We look forward to this meal all. year. long!

Hoop's never lets us down!

Jeremy had crab cakes, Jackson got a seafood spread (crabs, shrimp, corn, chicken, hush puppies), and I got Chesapeake chicken. Jude got a little bit of all of our suppers :)

TUESDAY:

We rented a surrey (family bike) and biked quite a bit of the boardwalk.

Swimming

Mini golf

Evening @ the boardwalk:

games, fun, and ice cream.

I don't know what I'm doing with my face on here, but it's a good shot of the boys with their winnings!

WEDNESDAY:

Breakfast @ Rt 50 Diner

One more quick dip in the pool

Here's to another great vacation!

We had a really good vacation - time went so quickly. I feel like we could've stayed for weeks. I wonder where we'll go next year?

Swimming Lessons

I have become a huge fan of summer (and we are sure getting some hot weather this week). I can remember spending the majority of my childhood days parked @ the Cresson Lions Club pool with my buddy, Amy K. We would swim all day. We hated when it was break time or closing time. If anyone got their use out of their season pass to the pool, it was us.

I must've passed the love of water on to my boys because they love to be in the pool too! We just finished up swimming lessons @ Saint Francis University. They both did so well. Jackson was in Goldfish and did great. This was Jude's first swimming lesson, so he was in Minnows. They got report cards yesterday promoting them both to the next level :) Jackson will move onto Super Goldfish and Jude will go to Jellyfish.

I am excited that we go right from swimming lessons to vacation where we can continue to practice what they learned.

Jackson said that he likes swimming best of all the activities he does (except maybe his iPod). I'd love to nurture that interest - I might look into a swim club/team for him.

Most of these photos are of Jude but the finale is of Jackson jumping into the 9-ft end of the pool.



Golden Birthday

Tomorrow is Jude's Golden Birthday - 4 on the 4th. We'll be celebrating by heading out early to a race of mine (read more about that here ) and then who knows what! Hopefully fireworks will finish out the day.

Here are some photos from Jude's birthday party (from last weekend).

Party Tomorrow

We're celebrating Jude's 4th birthday tomorrow with a little picnic. If you read between the line there, you've translated it as, "Jeremy and I are going crazy cleaning, inside and out, to get ready for a party."

Jude doesn't turn 4 until July 4th, but we've discovered, after 3 years of planning his party, the 4th of July weekend is a crazy weekend to find a time when everyone can come here for a party, so we're having it 1 week earlier this year. Hope it works out well.

It's supposed to be nice out tomorrow, so I'm hoping to take a lot of pictures (and then post them, of course).

Happy Birthday to my soon-to-be 4 year old buddy :)