Ushering summer out...

If summer must go, this was the way to do it.  We ushered summer out with a spontaneous trip to Minneapolis to see the Twins play at the new Target Field.


We actually "Hotwired" out hotel rooms and got great accommodations for under a hundred dollars a night.






Nolan started waking at 4 am to ask if it was time to leave for the Twin's game which started at 3 pm. We are so on to him. We darkened the room, moved the clock and told him he couldn't go if he asked again. He lasted till 7 which was a bit better time to get up.  These Joe Mauer statues are everywhere downtown.  Uber cool.






We were lucky to be just blocks away from Target Field.  Of course, we had to be there at 11 if you understand the persistent nature of Nolan, even though the gates wouldn't open until 1 pm.














Nolan never left his first-in-line spot by the gate.  And he was duly rewarded for it.  One of the ushers noticing our Moorhead Hockey coats talked with us quite a bit.  So when Jim Thome hit a ball out of the field during batting practice,  the usher got it and gave it to Nolan, still waiting at the gate.  His streak of luck continues.  Thome proceeded to hit two home runs during the game.




Finally inside and Target Field does not disappoint in any way.  No words necessary, the photos say it all.






























If you don't have quite the lucky streak going for you, never fear, super dad has been known to snag a baseball or two.  It was equally as fun to see the joy spread around the seated fans as they realized it was an 8 year old shouting and leaping over getting a ball, as it was to actually see his daddy hand it to him.



I was 21 when Rick took me to my first Twins game.  And now a "few" plus years later, its like a rite of  passage for our kids to go when they are young.  On reflecting back on the events of the day, Colton duly noted, the only thing missing was Grandpa.  Dad being a huge Twins fan would have taken such delight in knowing his grandsons were there.  In spirit, I am certain he was with us as well.
PS... Madi and Alex, it wasn't the same without you either.  We could not leave without thinking of you and getting you a little something...