4th of July Was How Long Ago?

Wow I cannot believe where the time has gone.  It really feels like we just got back from our vacation to Minnesota and Las Vegas, which was June 27th! 

For the 4th of July we did a few things.  First we traveled to Wheeling, West Virginia to see our dear friends Mike and Leslie and Mike's family. 

Trying hats on at Cherokee Gift Shop and Boot!

Showing our patriotism and posing by the flag.

We spent the entire day by the pool and had a blast.

Mike and Leslie bought a disposable underwater camera.  They had an underwater tea party but needed to be further from the camera to get everyone in the frame.

Tuff diving into pool.  The air bubble coming out of his nose looks funny.

The next day we hung out with a great group of friends and the theme of the day was corn hole (I call it bean bag toss). 

Andy, Tuff, Mitch and Brad making up new rules to corn hole.

Now they are discussing that they should throw all four bean bags at once.

Here is a link to the boys playing extreme corn hole:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYysrcdgSik
A festive cake for the 4th.

Getting ready to enjoy the BBQ.  I think this was one of about ten BBQ's in July!  How about you?

Also in July we purchased bean bag bocce.  We thought this would be perfect considering we don't have a yard and you can play with these on any surface.

 

It was fun while it lasted but it only lasted one game.  We returned them and got a replacement set, which also lasted only one game.  Oh well. 

Fun night at the Wright's house.  The ladies adoringly watched as the men played bean bag bocce.  Baby Noah in the background sleeping.

We also walked to the Three Rivers Regatta downtown Pittsburgh, a large three day event including fireworks, speed boat racing and other crazy fun that is all free.

A 20' sand castle constructed during the regatta. 

Tuff loved these Hawaiian drummers.

Just some of the boats gathered around downtown for the weekend's events, including Zac Brown Band and Kenny Chesney.

Tuff is still working hard to stay in shape.  The other day Tuff and Dan sprinted up Troy Hill several times for a workout. 

 Here is a video of them in action:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krotRAFAIik

Finally the lockout is anticipated to end soon, which I won't update you about but I will update you on Tuff's status.  Currently he is unsigned so when we know anything we will let you know.

Senior Pic Remake
Please scroll down to view the senior pic and the senior pic remake.

  

Baby Harlow on her own!  Her mom was quick to recognize the senior pic and provided this photo.

Minnesota, Vegas and Nemacolin

Tuff and I just got back to Pittsburgh from what I'm calling a four part vacation.

Part 1:  Minnesota

We drove to Minnesota to join my family over Father's Day weekend for a few friendly golf tournaments.  On Father's Day is the annual father/son or father/daughter tourney.  Or in my dad's case the father/son/daughter/daughter/daughter/daughter tourney (and son-in-law).  

After the tourney we golfed more, in a tensome broke up into two five person scramble teams.

Below is team 'Dream Breakers,' compromised of sister Dana, brother-in-law Duff, Dana's boyfriend Greg, sister Heather and niece Bo.

'Dream Breakers' A player Bo.

Below is team 'Wana-Make-A-Dream,' compromised of  myself, Tuff, friend Kelly, little sister Cydney and A Player Beck (aka my nephew).

The barefoot tactic:  really helps dial the aim in.

Also on the golf agenda was a night golf tourney.  Naturally the pictures did not show up.  The one below is of a putt.


Other than golf, we spent lots of quality time with family, including meeting Dana and Greg for dinner and a hike through the woods.  We stopped at Brainerd's ski hill, Ski Gull to take a few pics on the lift looking out toward Gull Lake.

We also drove south to Hugo, Minnesota to see my friend and former college golf teammate Krista and her husband Brad.  Tuff snapped a picture with his phone of Krista and I walking her dog Annie, while Brad and Tuff grilled.

Part 2:  Las Vegas

In the middle of our Minnesota vacation we made a quick two day trip to Las Vegas for an appreciation dinner put on by Garth Brooks for his foundation Teammates for Kids.  Our accommodations were awesome at the Wynn.

  

With only two days there and a full plate for the appreciation party events, we did not have much down time to explore but did get a chance to see a few things including the wax museum.   Tuff's mom always tells Tuff how much he looks like Matthew Mcconaughey.  What do you think?

Other than a shiny appearance these wax statues were strikingly lifelike.

The main event was Garth's concert at the Encore.  Before the concert we attended a cocktail party and dinner.

We were not allowed to bring cameras to the concert so this post concert group photo was taken with Tuff's phone.  However some of our friends there did bring their cameras so I will update some of the photos when they send them along to me.  Can you find Tuff?

 
 Then the after party....we got to meet Trish and Garth.  They were extremely down to earth.  It was a really cool experience.

 Part 3:  Minnesota

We flew back to Minnesota just in time to attend my cousin Afton's wedding.  Before the wedding we spent the morning with Grandpa Hasselberg at the park. 

Soren is an awesome climber for two years old.

Lukas (14 months old) loves to swing.

 

If the kids weren't playing on the equipment at the park, they were taking rides from great Grandpa!

Bjorn (also 14 months old) started the adventure over the bridge to reach the slide, just like big brother Soren.

I want to slide!

They made it almost two hours and then it was nap time.  Big brother Soren got to ride with great Grandpa.

Packed up and ready to go in the van great Grandpa gave them.

Later that day was Chad and Afton's wedding at Afton's parents' home.

And what wedding doesn't go without a few mishaps?  First it was Soren walking around the isle just as Afton was going to make her grand entrance.  Poor grandma Becky had to chase him around and catch him, which wasn't easy because she was wearing flip flops.  Then the family dog got out and made its entrance to the isle sometime mid ceremony.  Below is a picture of my cousin Patrick (also on camera duty) getting the dog.

"Stay!"

After the ceremony the two troublemakers met up.  Haha.

Speaking of trouble, endless free pop for my nephews and niece Beck, Finn and Bo.  They were gearing up for the dance later. 

Cousins playing at the wedding site.

Soren throwing sand on his biggest cousin Finn.

Tuff and Bo played together while the boys made trouble.

Bo, Tuff and Grandma Rach.

 
Finn, Tuff and Bo.

Part 4:  Nemacolin

We drove back to Pittsburgh only for Tuff to leave the following day to caddy for his friend Daniel Sepulveda in a four day golf tournament, the Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational.  After the second day one of the celebrities had to leave and Tuff was able to fill in and golf too.  The final day Tuff played a match against former teammate Jason Taylor and won 1up.  I was pretty proud of him.  Tuff also won his best ball match with partner Bob Pompeani 5 and 4 versus Jay Caufield and Louis Lipps. 

First day on the bag for Daniel (on the teebox) and another caddy double hoofing.  I gave Tuff my green bib to wear from my forecaddying days in Nashville.

After golfing a little fishing on the course.

Then some night golf.

Below is Tuff's attempt at getting a picture of Michael Jordan without giving it away that he was taking the picture.  Because this tournament was so super star loaded they kept it extremely private and I was not allowed to go.

Nemacolin area.

Now Tuff is back in Pittsburgh and we are back to normal life...sort of.  Until next time.