26 years ago....

26 years ago we woke up to rain, a freaked out dog, and all of our friends/family ready to bear witness to our outdoor wedding. We had no backup plan and somehow the weather gods granted us 3 hours of gorgeous Minnesota spring before the storm of the century hit the Twin Cities. 

Since that day, we've had happy times, uncertainty, 2 international moves, 3 kids plus a bonus kid, 4 dogs, days that felt like they would never end, years that flew by, gut wrenching loss of friends/family, fun, adventure, therapy (more than once!), job changes, terrifying accidents, graduations, and love that is deep and wide and boring and extraordinary and... 

we still don't have a back up plan other than to surround ourselves with the people we love, not take ourselves too seriously, and be the best humans we can be each day. 

Love that Tracy is completely cracking up in this photo and that our family/friends form a heart around us as we started this crazy adventure called marriage. 

xoxox to everyone we love! We can NOT do this without you!

more photos from year 26....

VMI class of 2023, you are hereby relieved of duty

Major News Flash... as of today, Jimmy is officially attending Notre Dame for Law School! He declined every offer and held out that being on the wait list would pay off, and it did! He's over the moon and, of course, we have already watched Rudy.  You're off to big things! Proud of you!!

 Wow, how could 4 years go by so slowly and also in a blink of an eye (Steve Forbert song, a good one, look it up).

In the least 4 years, Jimmy has endured rat line, the cadre, hate from NARPs (non athletic people), having his Dyke tell him he'd never make it, never playing even 1 down of football, COVID, not being able to travel with the team to games, staying behind to study while friends went home for weekends, Crozet food (believe me, its terrible), sweat parties, and a dorm room that looks more like prison cell.

What did he learn from this? grit, perseverance, leadership, patience, hard work, bonds, integrity, honesty, an incredible understanding of what he can accomplish.

He finished with distinction, awards, a 3.91 GPA, Top 5 in his class, honor society for French and Int'l Studies, leading Fellowship of Christian Athletes groups, jazz band, Title IX committee and the list goes on.

But the signular and most important accomplishment was the amazing friends he made. They are true brothers and have a bond unlike any other. These boys are future leaders... kind, thoughtful, respectful, determined and we love them (and their amazing families) beyond measure.

So blessed to celebrate them and this amazing accomplishment.  

RahVaMil class of 2024!

 

We had a cheat sheet HA!

These boys are going places! 

Jimmy made the Linked In post for VMI, of course 

His major award!

Still one of the best moments and photos 

It was a perfect day for a 2 1/2 hour ceremony, inside... 

With the FCA chaplin, he loves these boys! 

Sue came to see him graduate and cried before it ever officially started 

Colin and Evan came back to cheer them on, they graduated in December 

Barracks

Family bonding 

Another LInkedIn post. The kid is definitely "Mr President" on campus and is known and loved by everyone. I think I'm most proud of how kind he is, to everyone, all the time. 

May flowers …

 Ok, this is a bit of a hodge lodge since last post but...as always a TON has happened. As they say, never a dull moment.

A blog in photo captions...

Big love and hugs to all who mother today. Its beautiful, impossible, loving, heartbreaking, backbreaking work and a special shout out to our kids birth moms. Your light is shining bright in this world. I hope you have peace, love, and one day get to meet your beautiful creations.

Love to all.

TTJKB

Grandma and Grandpa celebrating Mothers Day and Grandma's birthday a day early!

Visiting the peace garden at Methodist Hospital on AM's birthday 

Charlie Parr - First Avenue is the living room of MPLS. Well said, well said 

Forever friends 

Billy's home from college and already climbing the walls

Fishing opener with the Gottsacher clan - be warned 

HOLY F-CKING SHIT! Northern lights from my back deck?! bucket list item for sure and totally freaking out. 

1st days catch

Sunday catch

Fish fry Sunday! 

Tracy's work is tough but someone has to do it! (roller skating, definitely a new challenge) 

The same week we saw him, he was featured in Rolling Stone. I love him even more now.

Coach Clark has fingers crossed that Jimmy gets into Notre Dame (he's currently waitlisted and declined all other schools on a bet he'll get in)

Last day of school

More back deck aurora

Lake Independence - trying to see the aurora the 2nd night in a row 

Gorgeous sunset

Maui was so excited I was home, he couldn't stop wiggling, which is why he's blurry in this photo. NO idea how long he was up there but he definitely was afraid to get done 

Kleo's welcome home gift

Training ride 

Mothers Day dinner at Teresa's. Billy invited me for dinner and asked Kay to join. Very fun and very sweet and really delicious. They both loved it! I also got a massage (from Billy) and pedicure (from Kay)

Day 2 of northern lights

My amazing, smart, kind, calm, centered, fierce and adventurous sister turned 50 on Mothers Day. 50 years ago she was my mothers best Mothers Day present ever. welcome to the club!