Crazy July

July was fun month but it was packed to the brim with activities.We already had softball Monday and Friday's and since this was probably the nicest summer we've had in 3 years we made sure the other days were not wasted away at home.
For the fourth of July weekend we drove to Ann Arbor to visit James's Air Force roommate Stan (who's real name is Tristan) and his fiance Brooke.  It was confusing and the boys ended up just saying either "yours" or "mine" to identify which one of us they were talking to.  We also brought along Tank Monster to play with their dog Finley.  I thought he was going to be an absolute ass in the car but he turned out to be very pleasant, especially on the way home since he was exhausted from playing/fighting with Finley.  Also, Stan and Brooke were nice enough to get us tickets to the Tigers game.  James and Stan spent most of the weekend trying to be men and beat each other in bocce ball.

The next Friday we drove down to Pittsburgh to meet up with James's parents, brother, sister-in-law and nephew.  They all met down there for a weekend since they figured it was in the middle of Buffalo and Charlotte.  We only stayed Friday night and left Saturday night and got home about 1am since I volunteered at the Taste of Buffalo the next day.  It is the 2nd largest food festival in the country and boy was it delicious.  I had my two wine slushies, some mac & cheese, a pulled pork sandwich, some sushi, some shrimp, chinese noodles, a caramel explosion and some fondue.  Needless to say, I did not have to eat dinner that night.

The whole fam

Paul & Linda

EJ, Rachel & Eron

"Get me out mom!"

"Come here deer!"

Beaver, hehe

The next Thursday was the start of the Italian Festival, another amazing eating fest, as well as a fantastic place to people watch.  I had a stuffed banana pepper in a sausage roll topped with a mozz stick, meatballs, clams casino, fried lasagna and took home a cannoli.  I also took home some horrific memories of the people at the festival that will forever be singed in my head. That Friday the girls celebrated Corinne's birthday, Saturday we had an awesome time at Cougar's (Jeremy's) graduation party, and Sunday we hung out with the Weiner Dog Club of Buffalo at the Bisons game.  Tank was in a race on the field but went for someone elses treats and ended up coming in last.  We look at it as a win since he did not run off into the dug out.

Kristin and I celebrated like it was our own birthday...

Thursday we ventured down to the Square to hear the sweet sound of G Love and The Special Sauce.  Friday was Stevie and Peter's rehearsal dinner and Saturday was a debacle of a wedding.  There was a monsoon, we partied with Paul Gaustad of the Buffalo Sabres, ate delicious food, danced the night away, tried to start a few fights with the Boston kids on the shuttle back to the hotel, went out on the town afterwards, and ended the night with some street meat (James did, I did not).

Some were enjoying the music more than others...

Sniffing pixie sticks from the candy bar...

It doesn't turn out well.  Don't do this at home kids!

Sunday we headed up the Blvd to Ellicott Creek Park and played Kan Jam, catch and had a homerun derby.  We were joined by Tim, Kelly, Carter, Rick and his friend (I forget her name.. woops)

Soooo tired.  He's just hanging out in the back seat in Rick's suit coat.

This last Wednesday was Wines in the Wild at the zoo.  All of the ticket sales went to the zoo and we got to enjoy some wine from the local wineries and food from local restaurants.  It was delightful.