Letter to Kay

 Kay,

I hope you find this letter and it will help you understand this point in time and my love for you.

I love you. More importantly, I believe in you. And, while you might fight it, I SEE you.

I see you. I see the smart, sassy, fierce, street smart, kind, funny, generous, creative, strong, talented person that is the essence of you. The person who is deeply confident in their own abilities, calls out injustice, comforts friends, loves to make things and see the world through an artists eye.

Right now, the behaviors, decisions and situations you are in do NOT define you. I am sure they are confusing and cause you anger, sadness, frustration and even desperation.  And, I know they make you question your own worth, who you are and where you fit in. But...The are NOT you. Not the real you.  

You are angry at me and think I am trying to change you.  I'm not. That is the very LAST thing I want to do. 

I'm trying to give you the tools and resources to CONNECT with yourself. To understand yourself. To find a path that will lead you to happiness and a true understanding and appreciation for how amazing you are.

All the doctors appointments, therapists, chemical education, meds and even energy clearing are ALL an effort to help you learn more about yourself.  Your wiring, your emotions, your strengths, your dislikes, your talents, your decision making process, your love of risk...all the things that make you uniquely you.

You may not use them now or in 5 years or even 10 years but...you will rediscover them and use them some day. 

This arsenal is my gift to you. A set of tools that you can use to find and fight for yourself and the life you want to have/build.

In the meantime, it may not look like I am on your side or maybe it even looks like I'm getting in your way.  Just know, you have a lifetime of decisions in front of you. I can't make them for you. Nor can I influence the timing of your life. All I can do it love you, see you and build you an arsenal that will let you conquer the world.

LOVE...beyond measure,

Mom.

January Madness Update

How in the world could so much happen in such little time? An insurrection, a new president, an impeachment?  Zoinks!!

On top of it, at the LoudAmericans, gymnastics started, Jimmy went back to school and started football and taekwondo is meeting in person again.

The Packers lost the play off game and now Tracy has nothing to look forward too..

We've decided to try and try 1 new thing a week. So far....a horse drawn carriage ride in Nicolet Island (highly recommended) and pub curling (way too much fun!). Up next, finding the ice encased cave man at Theo Worth maybe walking through the ice maze in Stillwater and (finally) seeing some friends for deep dish Chicago pizza and Russian food. We promise to keep it safe and socially distanced.

And...Tracy got the call that their work can start vaccines. Yeah!  She should be fully vaccinated by the 1st week of March then hopefully Tom will be full vaccinated by end of March.

We did book tickets to go see VMI play the Citadel on 4/17 so...keep your fingers crossed that we can pull this off and meet Jim and Bunny there for a nice long weekend. 

Other updates...well, see the photos below!

Hope you are all staying safe, sane, warm and healthy.

Big big hugs.

XOXOXO

T&T

The dawn of a new day on inauguration day

Carriage ride fun with Christine and Bill 

Curling with the crazy neighbors in a snowstorm

Bunny carnage on our back stairs by a wiley fox

Brookview rocks

New recipes including soft pretzels and pimento cheese 

Before room mini make over 

Ice cairns at Westwood Nature Center (hike)

Carriage ride views

TRUTH! 

Getting ready for the carriage ride 

After 

Tracy is a geek

:)

GO Pack Go!

Kay had her 1st meet and her form is still impeccable 

3rd on JV Beam

3rd on Varsity Bars

 

welcome 2021 ...

 What an insane start to the new year.  Seriously people. We won't go into the shit show that is our nation, president and ongoing pandemic (and vaccine mania) but just know, its been stressful.

Post Christmas, we had some good down time before all our schedules changed...again.

Kay was able to start gymnastics.  Billy is back at the dojang for Taekwondo. Jimmy left for VMI and spring football.  Now that everyone has their license, this means that Tom and I are DONE WITH CARPOOLING! Its the craziest feeling to not have to rush home to drive kids 1/2 way across the Twin Cities.  In fact, after the 1st week, we looked at each other and said...we need a hobby.  Unfortunately, COVID is also preventing that.  But, we are getting creative and hoping to get in more hikes, join a pub curling team with neighbors, hosting happy hour neighborhood bonfires and the usual Erin and Jay live stream singalong shows on Friday nights. And, did I mention....lots of football.

With the count down to Jimmy leaving we made him all his favorite foods and so now we are also sick of chicken and rice. We had .. Canes, no manners, ribs, orange chicken, Korean, Indian, smoked pork sandwiches and Jim Fellows lasagna.   Maybe it IS a good thing he went back to school!

See below for photo highlights...

I hope 2021 shifts gears soon so that we can all get back to safely enjoying each other company.

XOXOXO

T&T

Headed back to Rat life, breaks out in 4 weeks and football starts!  Kay did say - au reviour ;)

Dog walk with Mary on Minnetonka, trees have been gorgeous

Minnehaha Falls hike with Wendy 

Canes!

Billys trial run of driving himself to TKD

The neighborhood crew!

Minnehaha Falls with Wendy

A snack bar on Lake Minnetonka

Minions are "hidden" around Lake Harriet on our walk (Tracy and Wendy)

No Manner (aka Shrimp Boil)

This should be fun.

Korean

Jimmy made the Deans list!! 3.2 for his Rat 1st Semester!!