Jimmy is 20!!

 Wow, Jimmy is no longer a teenager. He's 20. How in the world did that happen?! Once again, we were not able to be with him on his birthday and in typical "adult" birthday style, his birthday was sort of a non event. There wasnt anything he really wanted (other than sleep) . He was able to sleep in a bit (no football on his birthday) and hang out with his friends. Tracy ordered VMI cookies for all august birthdays on the team and they had their SoCon ring ceremony the day before so. ...I do think it was a good day afterall. Some of our favorite photos of this driven, smart, curious, committed, hard working, honest, extroverted, passionate, talented, funny, intentional, loyal and wholey unique kid.  We love you to bits!! XOXOXO Mom and Dad (we wish your birth and foster families could know you, we know they love you and would be so impressed with who you are, what you believe in and how hard you work) 

Celebrating after his 1st touchdown in a scrimmage

His selfies are the best

SUCH a happy baby 

His 1st uniform, he was so stoked 

The boys, Jimmy, Joey and Hayden 

They switched babies on us! 

The cookies Tracy ordered, a bit hit 

XOXOXO

He's sweet on Maui.

Jim Fellows had bowling shirts made for all of us, needless to say, Jimmy's didnt fit for very long 

SoCon Rings!! 

Thumbs up is another signature look 

He "won" the costume contest that year and quickly agreed that Tracy should have actually won for how much work she put into it 

With ShinBee, one of his oldest friends

The heartfelt goodbye between siblings

juking in pracctice 

Never a dull moment with him around 

Watching women's soccer at VMI, love how they support other teams 

Our 1st meeting. Love at 1st sight

Never a dull moment

Grandma and Grandpa were doing the Wisconsin/Minnesota reunion tour and stayed iwth us for along weekend.  Grandpa planned his 60th high school reunion in Wausau and Grandma had a cousins reunion in Bloomington.  In between, they had lunch with Aub and Patti, and breakfast with my old babysitter Susie and her daughter/granddaugher. They also squeezed in a lunch with Jeremiah.

Thats not all we had going on though! Tom co-hosted a shrimp boil at Leona and Bob's house for the Korean Culture Camp kitchen helpers. Kay had another one of her CHS episodes so they were in the ER at Fairview Riverside Friday night through Saturday afternoon and then she was laid up in bed for the rest of the weekend. AND, Billy decided this week would be a good time to sneak out - spreading his summer wings a bit (at 11pm). Sigh...all's well that ends well but...not exactly the relaxing visit we had planned on.

See below for cute photos and other love.

T

Cuties

The note Billy left on his pillow the night he snuck out. I was equally furious, laughing and rooting for him. Its written like the old soul he is. 

Shrimp boil, Leona/Bob's house, Tom cook 

Love these people

Mom and me with Maui staring at her lovingly 

One of Kay's naps

Super cutie grandparents!

Leona, her Mom Suni and my dad 

Getting ready for an early morning walk. The day after kay stayed at the casino until 1:30am and Billy snuck out. We were tired but committed. 

Billy showing off his national champion medal 

Summer nights 

Jimmy made his 1st touchdown at VMI!! In a scrimmage and he is on cloud 9

Another nap spot, kitchen floor

Rissotto, lamb chops and roast brussel sprouts and radish, we had to treat ourselves given what we lived through the last 5 days 

The spread.

 

10 yeas of wedded bliss

 

Not to speak for Wendy and Annemiek but we had a lovely time celebrating their 10 year anniversary!

As background, each year they host/participate in a Pride Martini Party. Each couple is assigned a color and has to create a concoction that will rival past years. Then, tasting and merriment abounds with voting at the end. We have (rightfully) not been invited to these in the past and they are an important part of their chosen family community. 

This year, with COVID and A's failing health (stage 4 cancer that sucks rocks), they decided to do a FreeTini Party (alcohol free). Little did Wendy know but...A also organized a surprise wedding vow renewal.  Belinda was to be the officiant and Tom/I the special guests since our whole family was "in" their wedding.  The day was relaxing, heartwarming, happy, sad and absolutely perfect.

Of course, I had to come up with a bit of a surprise myself (hence the heart USA/Netherlands tshirts for everyone).

We were to arrive EXACTLY at 3:15 at which point A was going to "surprise" Wendy and the rest of the crew with the program. I thought she had already done that prior to our arrival so I burst in, handed out presents while everyone looked confused. Oh well. It all worked out.

Belinda and Sheila brought champange and while they poured A explained what she was doing.

Then, Belinda invited the group into a sacred space and A read her vows. Not a dry eye in the house, especially A!  Then, she gave Wendy a few minutes to compose herself and what she wanted to say. Luckily Wendy had JUST written a card to A for their anniversary so she was somewhat prepared. Again, not a dry eye.

Once the formalities were over, then it was on to the FreeTini party. Man, they were GOOD! And...it was all followed by a delicious picnic dinner of brined grilled whole chicken, roast garden veggies, smoked salmon (us, A asked for smoked salmon and we'd do it EVERYDAY if it helped her feel better) grilled corn, salad and the most amazing dessert tarts.

It was the perfect celebration of their love.  We love them to bits, now and for always and we were SO honored to 'crash' their Pride Party.

XOXOXO  - T&T 

The gang- Wendy, A, Cate, Laurie, Dotty, Cheryl, Nia and Helen

YUM!!! The deep red was blueberry mint and it was out of this world 

xoxoxo

happy/sad

getting started 

A's try of FreeTini's 

love

Fresh and yummy! Pastierrie 48

The party of the year

I feel terrible for being so remiss on this post! My only excuse is that after weeks and weeks of singular focus on this party and a few days of intense clean up, I was "done" and needed a break.  

As you all know, Kay plans amazing parties. And, they stress me out to no end. Between her ADHD and anxiety, it can feel like you are trying to plan a party with a hummingbird. Beautiful, unique but seriously hard to capture and pin down. BUT....they always work out even though they take weeks off my life span.

Her grad party was one for the history books. Nothing less than epic for our Kay. She worked really hard on all the creative aspects (crafting, baking, decorating, etc) and I worked hard on all the logisitcs (set up, orders, pick ups, writing checks;()  Tom did whatever we needed him to do. She needed him to be at her beck and call for things that randomly popped into her mind and I needed him to herd the cat (ie: Kay).

We'll let the photos speak for themselves. Needless to say, she had the time of her life but also mentioned "remind me how much work this is if I ever want to do this again. Its a good thing you only graduate high school once".

Yep.

A josting bouncy house was a hit with all the neighbor kids AND Hayden! 

And...that's not all ... also 2 smoothy machines, a donut wall, single serve chips, and all the soda you can drink 

3 week old baby sheep, both its parents were white so it was a "surprise" to the famers too! He was adorable and the farmers so gracious.

She hand made and decorated 3 types of cupcakes, 3 types of cookies (based on Crumbl), hand dipped pretzel sticks and hand dipped strawberries) 

We had a puppy party with 4 chihuaha puppies from Ruff Start Rescue 

Smoothies, lemonade 

Candy bar

She made this! 

She made these! 

And all these.... 

There was also a mini horse, cow and baby goat...

They neighbor kids were keeping the party safe

She was DARLING and so good with all the kids and animals

Billy and Tyra ran the cotton candy machine 

Pineapple roast coconut

More tributes

Chocolate chocolate 

Patty and Aub made it! My dads best friend from high school

Deconstructed Oreo cookies and Cotton Candy cookies - recipes by Crumbl

Her very very very favorite part of the party 

They prep, my house was a disaster for weeks.

Jimmy and Hayden 

Thy finished product with Win

They petting zoo came "up" in a school bus, loved it! 

She made these 

Bill was, once again, a HUGE help in set up and prep. Thank god for Bill