Grand View Lodge

Despite all indoor fun being shut down due to COVID, the annual year-end trip to GVL felt like a much-needed escape from the house we haven't left for ages.  So, no bingo, no pool, no breakfast buffet, no Zorbaz excursion, et cetera... but, skating, s'mores, game nights, Ski Gull, takeout and fireside patio dining (and drinking) were all fair game.  And, with some company... the Kiesers, who have also been hardcore quarantining for weeks.

New this year were pit stops at Lupulin and Starry Eyes tap rooms as well as Thielen Meats on the commute up.  As were hammocking, a variation of "broomball", Kan Jam and Aerobee on ice... and a loooong build of a quinzhee amongst the more formal fish houses.

COVID Lockdown 2.0, Week 4

Weeks 4-5 finally brought snow.  First, fake stuff at Hamel Hill... then the real deal just in time for Christmas.  Lots of sledding, chasing Buster through the wetlands and of course... basketball.

Xmas with G'pa Tom

For G'Pa Tom's socially distanced Christmas, the sibs and their families met for an afternoon sledding party at Wayzata East Middle School's slopes and parking lot "tailgate" of cookies and hot cocoa.  

The day prior Santa Tom made the rounds across the metro stopping in for brief gift exchanges at each home.  For G'pas stop in Maple Grove, we drug the tree and fire pit out to the street for a festive fire while the girls and Buster played in a freshly plowed snow bank.

Not the same... but some fun twists I hope we incorporate for years to come!

Xmas with Nana

While the state of the COVID pandemic added some rule & regulation complexity to Christmas 2020, it also introduced some fun creativity to the holiday season that just may become new traditions. 

For our celebration with Nana, my sibs picked the warmest forecasted day of Christmas week and mapped out a centrally-located State Park (Minneopa) to do a socially distanced hike, Pagliai's pizza picnic, and cousin gift exchange.  And, to spread out the fun, a few days later we opened a few final gifts from afar via FaceTime.   

All considered, things couldn't have worked out better!

Happy Holidays

Happy 44th

Breakfast in bed, game night with some new additions (Shut the Box, X-Code), our first pond-skate of the year, night hoops, and our first extended family COVID-friendly Christmas celebration back at Minneopa (additional photos to follow).

6th & 4th

School photos.  Fall 2020.  E (6th Grade) & S (4rd).  Homemade backdrop & DIY photography as COVID kept the professional services from doing the annual tradition this year.

COVID Lockdown 2.0, Week 3

More of the same in week #3.  Rotating dinner menu ownership, weeknight games (chess, Phase 10, Mexican Train, etc.) or TV (River Monsters, Saved by the Bell, Cosby, etc.), baseball/softball and basketball via Zoom, in the garage or on the court, and weekend hikes with the big teddy bear.

This weekend's hike destination was Minneopa State Park to see the falls and buffalo.  Amazon's drivers and the wrapping elves were busy as well.

COVID Lockdown 2.0, Week 2

This week's quarantine highlights were a hike through the glacial potholes at Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls, a virtual Christmas cookie decorating party/competition via Zoom with the Kiesers, Willy the Elf's return, a sunrise trip to MN's greatest dog park at Minnehaha, and Mojo Monkey donuts.

Thanksgiving

This year as much as ever... thankful for the health and one another.

An oddly quaint Thanksgiving, but we made it one to remember for positive reasons as well.  E & I took over the menu and prep work (with a little ingredient and recipe curation help from our German friends at Hello Fresh) and ran a tight kitchen in the days leading up to the feast meal.  Linds was the stuffing extraordinaire and S was the master of the mashed potato but E and I tag-teamed the rest (turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy bread, Brussels sprouts, and apple crisp... oh my!).  

After stuffing our faces, we walked it off with Buster, dropped leftovers, dessert and drinks on the front steps of family and friends, and snuggled up to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on the big screen.

COVID Lockdown 2.0, Week 1

And we thought things were bad in March when quarantining amidst COVID pandemic fears...

There were 25,000 cases in the US when the country first began "safe in place" orders.  On November 18 when MN Governor Walz instituted a second statewide quarantine, cases in the US numbered more than 10 million.  Deaths in MN were quickly approaching triple digits daily.  

Thankfully, our family has been diligently cautious and has no high risk factors.  Virtual schooling, "pauses" from activities like sports, and distancing from family and friend has been incredibly challenging. 

This said, in our bubble, life has been kind of great.  We know the drill by now.  We lock-in, embrace the slower pace and our time together, find safe ways to get take in Mother Nature and creatively drum up family fun once the daily meetings, chores and virtual classes are done.

Week #1 of 2.0 highlights were seeing an owl (Great Horned? Barred?) after a hike at Fish Lake, a Lego Master competition, canoe fishing on November 26th (!!), a Punch Pizza party in the car, a driveway bonfire, and garage pickleball.