The Loud Americans

Friday, October 16, 2020

COVID update 8 - VMI headed home, locked down at Meadowbrook, fall colors, fishing....

I'll do a few bit highlights and do the smaller updates below in photos...

VMI decided to send the cadets home 4 weeks early and have them finish the semester virtually. Total drag but Jimmy is excited to come home. Me, not so much. While I LOVE him and MISS him, I'm not sure I can handle 3 teenagers all distance learning. Especially when his classes will start super early in the am and Kays a vampire. We are brainstorming finding him an apartment or room to rent, maybe even John's next door? Wish us luck!

Same day we found out Jimmy is coming home 11/20, Meadowbrook went on lock down due to a active shooter on Glenwood that was heading towards the school. Tom had the scary job of securing the perimeter and making sure all the doors (which were glass) were locked. Yikes!

This fall has been SO GORGEOUS, not sure why but the colors are extreme and its been just perfect weather.

We've also taken advantage of fall fishing on Shutz Lake and have gotten our fair share of bass and sunnies. We are always the only ones on the lake.

Finally, it was Tom's mom's birthday so the family headed to St Victoria for photos and then lunch at Leo's, I mean Floyd's. It was fun.

Love to you all and hope you are surviving this crazy year!

The Outlaws

Right down the street, what does the fox say?

Early morning walk in Hutch - sunrise

St John's in Hutch, a super cool little farm church with a GREAT cemetery

German cemetery. It was the best way to spend wandering around a fall morning

Lots of babies :( This poor family lost 5 and none made it past 4yo

We managed a small paella night at Leona/Bobs and it was cold but DEE LICIOUS!!

Neighborhood tree

Fishing!

Mt Olivet Lutheran Church west as seen by Shutz Lake

Best day ever, fishing, bike ride, ice cream, indian food, martini and a book.

Why did this random lilac bush flower in October?!

Yep, voted early and canceled out Jimmys mail in vote

Leona and Bob graciously let us use their garage for the Harvesting Hope wine tasting for 9 friends. needless to say, it ended in a dance party. Best. virtual fundraiser. EVER! And, it was 75 this day

More fishing

Peak!

Salmon on Tom's new salt slab, gift from Allison and Larrie

Maui is NOT impressed by the Vikings performance this year.

Sunday, September 27, 2020

COVID Update #7

Let's see, besides celebrating Tom, we have been busy...

Billy - we got the sad news that his dojang (Twin Cities Taekwondo) is closing its doors at the end of October. Damn COVID drove another small business out of business. He'll move up to Coon Rapids and still see Master Lemon pretty often but won't have him as his coach. They have been inseparable this year and Master Lemon told Billy "You are the reason I was able to stay open as long as I did. Without you I would have had to close months ago. Thanks for all you have done for me" I'm not crying, your crying... He is also in full swing with soccer and they suck. Out of 5 games, they have scored one goal agains a cumulative of 50+ from other teams. Oh well, at least the are outside and able to be together. He also rides bikes with his posse on weekends and even explored a sewer - I'm glad I didn't know about that until later...

Kay - She's got an interview with Kids & Co this week and the timing will be great. When her Brookview job winds down, she'll be able to start doing after school care with the kids at Tanglen. She also started pre-gymnastics training and is spending a LOT of time hanging out with friends. We don't see her much, which I suppose is typical for a 17 year old girl. We just have our fingers crossed she picks up the pace at school and actually passes her classed.

Jimmy - He finally got band figured out. He's going to play alto sax in the jazz band and it practices on the only day he doesn't have football (Wednesdays). This also means he gets to use the band room and he's already been there playing drums. Thank god he figured this out. Its his stress relief. He chose alto because the are already upper classman on drums and keyboard so he offered to be their back ups. Smart strategic move. Hopefully by next year he'll win a spot on the drums. He also said their football team is going to be wicked good and is spending a lot of time in the locker room hiding out from the ratline. He said ratline simply sucks and is hard. Thank god he's got football and music!

Tom - see previous blog on all things birthday:) Needless to say, he's good.

Me - Tough few weeks at work, we had 4 people pass away unexpectedly and the team is taking it very hard. None were COVID related but all were long time people that live with us. There has also been a lot of "events" coming down the pipe. Since all in person fundraising is canceled, everything is online and its getting tiring being on Zoom. However, fall is my favorite season and its been a GORGEOUS one. We have had warm days and cool nights and we even got to ride bikes to a Oktoberfest outdoor brewery celebration and ride home in the dark. My favorite....

Maui - He's still out of sorts with Nikki gone. He gets real skiddish around other dogs and is barking way more than he ever did before. Plus sometimes he won't eat. Poor guy. He continues to be curious and funny and the other day Tom came home and he was "stranded" on center island. He had jumped up but then was too scared to jump down.

Hope you are all surviving. I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that winters coming and try and go in with a positive attitude

Love to all!!!

Tom's "desk" he check kids in and out of school and loves it!

VERY organized at Meadowbrook

outdoor orchestra practice, teachers are getting creative!

Coming up! We will be watching in Leona's garage with a few friends and lots of wine/snacks

DSP Recognition week, one of my favorite of the year

Mom made me the pillow of the kids.

Found in the back of Kay's car :( Unopened so we claimed as our own

Full on Korean dinner

Pam sent us this photo of Nikki at St Pats day, love her to bits

On my morning walk

View at my office

Happy Birthday Tom, aka Mr Tom - the big 6-0

Well, we managed to celebrate Tom and his 60th birthday DESPITE COVID!! It was a multi day affair with most of his favorite people, food and leisure activities. Tom, you are so loved. At school they played a game - 60 things we love about Tom. Kind, funny, smart, good cook, good at games, generous, creative, problem solver, loves kids, nice to everyone, involved, loves to be outside...the list goes on and on. We asked Kay and Billy too and the top of their list was - great cook and great Dad. Ahh....

School celebrated him with a party and treats. We had family dinner of lamb chops, risotto and brussel sprouts/beets. Then we had 2 bonfires, 1 for neighbors and 1 for close friends. There was also fishing, dinner with his best friend and college roommate Mike & Libby. Presents were abundant and the best was a family portrait done in as a cartoon. I also managed to get 60 people to send him birthday cards. I was way short until he came home with cards from every 1st grader and then Jennifer O gave him ~ 8 cards (they were hysterical, form his doctor, proctologist, pharmacist, etc...) He laughed and cried when he opened them. He got well wishes from all over the world. including a call from his bestie in India - Ajay. Australia, India, England, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Cost Rica, Singapore...

Tom ....again, you are so loved and we are so blessed to have you in our lives. You make us better and the world a better place .. Cheers to the next 60 years!! XOXOXO,,

A throne and crown at school