The Loud Americans

Monday, August 16, 2021

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.

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.

Thursday, August 12, 2021

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!