Twins Game #3

Some random shots from last night. Tilly saw her third Twins game of her life. It took me til sometime in August 1982 at "Photo Day" at the Metrodome before I saw my third game.

Grandpa Paul, Ange, and friend Cal were there after a day on the river. The Twins beat the Chicago Suck Sox 4-3. I think Tilly's somewhat of a good luck charm for them.

There were a group of guys behind us who'd driven 500 miles from somewhere in southern Illinois to see the game. They were leaving last night for Milwaukee, where they were going to a game tonight, then on to Comiskey and Wrigley in successive days.

The pic of her getting her diaper changed in the men's bathroom is basically for a slide show someday at her wedding reception. She didn't like it when I stood up and had her cheering when Cuddyer hit a homerun and when the game ended. She shows her displeasure in a couple shots here.

Finally, after the game, she was hungry, so I set her on the back of the car, fed her a bottle, and watched the parking lots empty out beneath the sparkling Minneapolis skyline. Life is good.

I love Tilly.

Grandpa Paul from Australia

At long last, Tilly got to meet her Grandpa Paul. He and Ange are in town for a couple weeks from Australia. They're hanging out on the river with friends (Cal in the picture with the Vikings cap proved himself to be an able babysitting candidate, and I think he'd love to show her her first Vikings game on TV...so far, she's only seen the Twins).

We all had lunch together at the Freighthouse in Stillwater yesterday. A thunderstorm was crashing all around us as we sat outside under the awning, and Tilly didn't even blink.

It's good for her to meet her family. Someday sooner than later I hope she can visit Ange and Grandpa Paul in Australia.

Welcome to the Community Tilly. God Loves You

Tilly was baptised on Sunday July 19. We had lots of friends and family there to share it with us. My sister Colleen is her godmother, and my good friend Alan is her godfather.

Her Grandma Madeleine took most of the pics, I just LOVE the one of her dunked in the water as Fr. Mike poured water over her head.

She took it all in stride. She was getting a little tired of people touching her head, but I think she was just hungry. She's a super kid, and now she and God have been officially introduced to each other.

They asked us what we want to teach her, and we said that we want her to know that God loves her just the way she is, and she doesn't have to do anything to earn God's love...but because of that love, she's got a responsibility to go out into the world and make it a better place by helping other people.

Farmer's Market

We went to the Farmer's Market in Lowertown St Paul Saturday to get some flowers for Tilly's Baptism. She, of course, loved all the people, activity, color, noise, etc. She's a serene kid. A social, great sleeping, serene kid. Beyond the obvious, we are blessed.

Editor in Training

Tilly was helping me edit some wedding photos from her Uncle Jay's wedding. He and Kristin got married Saturday July 11 and will tomorrow be on their way to Italy for a honeymoon!

Rose Garden

Just a few more shots of the most beautiful girls on Earth.

Independence Day

Sorry it's been a while. We had some friends in town for July 4, Joe and Sarah from Chicago. They were delighted to meet Tilly, and it was so great to see them, it's been too long!

The normal festivities occurred in our neighborhood: the parade, party in the park, horseshoes, etc. Joe and I had not picked up a horse shoe in several years, but we won the first two matches before falling to Perr and Tryg ,the Hanson brothers.

I didn't have any particular feelings about the holiday this year--nothing different than previous. But I do know that I am lucky enough to live in one of the two greatest nations on Earth. Standing in the back yard at Nick and Katie's house, talking with Marty Neus, we agreed that we there in that throng--even if some of us are laid off, underemployed, hurting compared with 'normal' in this Great Recession--we Americans there at that party are luckier than probably 98% of people on Earth.

As soon as I can get organized and get to the Australian Consulate in Chicago with the right paperwork, Tilly will be a dual citizen of both of the greatest countries on Earth. We are going to have to ramp up our Australia Day and ANZAC Day celebrations.

Anyway, Tilly was--as always--a huge hit in the neighborhood. Here are just a few highlights.