Covid update #10!!

Things have changed SO MUCH in the last 2 weeks! Tom and I both had our second vaccines, we had a snow storm and today it was 60 degrees. Kay quit gymnastics with only 4 meets left to go (lots of drama and arguing with the coaches for a long long long week). Billy might have a girl friend (he gets all smiley when he's playing video games with her - at the very least he likes her. She's Master Franklins daughter Tyra so...he'd better play his cards straight). Jimmy started playing D line in practice and is GETTING noticed!   Maui is back to loving walks and being naughty.  As always, never a dull moment with the LoudAmericans.  XOXOX T& T

Tracy and Wendy went hiking (in a snow storm) to find Zug Zug, a art installation of a caveman in "ice". It randomly showed up in Theo Worth park and finding him as been all the rage this winter in MPLS. 

Newest menu item - corned venison with homemade thousand island and saucerkraut for amazing reubens. with Kay bait (apple fennel salad of course)

1 week after finding Zug Zug, we set off to find Zarah, the female cavewoman/mom in Crosby Farm Park. It was 50 degrees LITERALLY 7 days later. Crazy

Snow melting and signs of spring 

View from Tracy's office 

Crosby Park Farm hike, one side of the Mississippi is sand, the other snow

Wendy with Zug Zug 

Maui being naughty when we weren't looking 

Wendy with Zarah and baby

That can't be comfortable 

Tracy's second dose, easy peasy lemon squeeze

Needless to say, that snow man doesn't exist anymore 

Beautiful Mississippi river walk

Theo Worth Chalet 

I guess I liked the wine tasting SO MUCH I thought I'd include it in this blog as well....

 

Official COVID update #9 + Polar Vortex

 

2 weeks in February left us all wondering why we lived in MN. Temps of -15 to -30 Fahrenheit!  But, like all good Minnesotans we found stuff to do and havent killed each other (yet).  Photo highlights of the last few weeks. Sending love, warm, spring, peace and mental wellness to you all!

Tracy and Maui have matching coats. He didnt go outside for 10 straight days. 

 Billy!! We started going through and labeling all our home movies. Then took photos and sent them to friends via text - so fun. We were pretty good parents. Didnt yell (too much) didnt talk down to them, asked them questions, let them do things on their own, traveled, gave them new experiences....feeling a little bit about how our little family is turning out.

Karen and Hayden getting ready to go to the aiport in Seoul to come home xoxoxo

1/2 cracked open bees nest on my walk 

Minnehaha Creek on a walk with Wendy 

I think Bob W is really Bob Saget and never told us

Cedrics 1st birthday party!! 

Kristin and Bjorn trick or treating - xoxo, it was so fun to see her face and hear her voice. Miss her 

Made a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting for Craig's 52 birthday - he added the "decorations" 

Billy had his 1st sparring scrimmage in a year! Yeah! 

Lesia refused to let go of Billy's hand during his baptism.  Karen and Jeff are his god parents. 

Jimmy's baptism with godparents Jim and Wendy 

Craig's random bag of birthday presents and treats. There was definitely a theme of wacky neighbors and peanut butter ! 

Creative - on my walk 

Drumming for Jimmy's 3rd birthday with Shin Bee and Katy 

Trick or treating! 

Meeting Jimmy for the 1st time. 

We did a mid week, mid day virtual wine tasting and it was SO good! Ended ordering way more than we should have:) 

Jimmy with my college friend Debbie Z's kids. They had so much fun!

Valentine’s Day polar vortex

 

Its literally freezing here. Major polar vortex.  Maui hasnt been out side in 7 days and Tracy is even skipping her daily walks for riding her spin bike (if that happens, you KNOW its bad).  But, we did manage to find a way to celebrate Valentines Day, eat good food and spread love.  

Hope you all felt loved this year!! XOXOX   - T&T 

Billy's 1st day of in person school! He'll go every Tuesday.

Tracy's retro spin bike

Even the beer froze during Pub Curling 

Braving the elements to Pub Curl with the crazy neighbors 

Tracy is remodeling their gym with help from Heart of America and her good friend Jill (ED of HOA)

Tom layering up for Pub Curling in his grandpas ice fishing pants

Moscow on the Hill! Vodka flights and accordion serenade, winter tradition 

Valentines Day Zoom Dance with MORA 

-15 - she stops walking at -20

Our 1st attempt at Ethiopian food and it was DELISH!!

Maui even got a little love and spoiling on Day - eating off china too! 

Tracy and I both got our 1st vaccines!! Woo hoo!! 

More pub curling 

Believe it or not, it got even colder than this...today was -20 with a -30 windchill

steak shrimp and grits 

I love that Billy is still willing to ride the bus 

The prep for Ethiopian feast 

She really isn't very good at painting so they let her paint the closet 

YUM

He KNOWS the scrambled eggs were for him 

Tracy tried pickle soup and it was amazing! 

Cold but gorgeous sunrises! 

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.