2017 was a great year. I feel like we had lots of fun. This was the year of History, Camping and Carousels.
January - Meadow learned to ice skate on single blades.
She didn't even need the walker! Just skated like a pro after going so many times.
She didn't even need the walker! Just skated like a pro after going so many times.
February - We celebrated Scott's Golden Birthday at the cottage. We just got cross country skis. Another winter sport for us to enjoy.
We didn't get out on any trails. After the baby we'll have to get back up to the cottage for some practice.
March - Spent my 32nd Birthday hiking to our cabin at Tettegouche State Park.
The cabin popped up as available just a few days before Brooke's birthday weekend.
When Hipcamp announced road trips for Field Scouts we instantly decided it was time for a vacation. of sorts. West Virginia turned out to be a magical place.
Brooke and I even went on our first roller coaster in years.
Our long weekend in South Dakota and Nebraska was full of pleasant surprises. Hope we can get back to western South Dakota next year.
July - Another really hard choice. Staying in a school bus in New Orleans during our Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas road trip.
Our third and final road trip for Hipcamp was full of hot days and amazing stays. Personally, the highlight of that trip was staying with the Toresses just outside of Austin, Texas. I think we'll be doing another Texas road trip in the future just not in sweltering July heat.
We used to leave the state fair after a few hours. With Meadow we actually enjoyed the Great Minnesota Get Together.
It took a visit from the Farbers to get us to go to this. It turned out being really fun.
We hadn't been to the cottage that much this year, but with our house up for sale we finally got to spend a few weekends at our favorite place on earth.
It was great seeing my brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law and my parents this Thanskgiving. We also got to explore one of our favorite cities with Meadow for the first time. Glad my broham is back in the Midwest!
And for fun, Meadow's carousel rides from the year.
I always forget about these
Things We Hope To Accomplish in 2017
Brooke
1. Let's try this again. Hike and Camp the Superior Hiking Trail. We didn't make it up to Duluth as much this year, but did get to do a few backpack camping trips.
2. Maybe we will finish this year. Make at least one photo album. I'm still guilty of not completing this.
3. Finish baking all the breads in Bread Bakers Apprentice. I even bought bread flour last spring, but never got around to it.
4. Take a road trip outside of Minnesota and Wisconsin Yay we did this 3 times!
5. Visit all the Minnesota Historical Society Sites We didn't quite get to all of them. With the renewed membership hopefully we can see the rest in 2018
5. Visit all the Minnesota Historical Society Sites We didn't quite get to all of them. With the renewed membership hopefully we can see the rest in 2018
5. Do more sewing. I want to make a dress for Meadow and something for me. I sort of got there. I made a dress for Meadow.
6. Improve flexibility. Get in the habit of stretching everyday. I was really good about this in the beginning, but have fallen out of habit.
6. Improve flexibility. Get in the habit of stretching everyday. I was really good about this in the beginning, but have fallen out of habit.
Scott
1. Finish remodeling our kitchen, refinish the floors, do some final painting and sell our house!
Holy cow, we did it, we really did it! As I type we're a week out from our big move. Well, not literally big. We're just moving down by Lake Harriet just south of Uptown in a condo. So, kinda, small.
2. Which will lead us to paying off most of our student loans.
Yes, that's happening as well. Technically it will be after the new year, but we'll be saving $700 a month because we were able to make enough money to pay off a good chunk of our student debt.
3. Get more artist grants and get paid for more art work. I love doing commercial photography, but getting paid for art was so great in 2016.
It's been kind of a lull for my documentary work this year.
It's been kind of a lull for my documentary work this year.
4. Save up money and get myself a new bike. My beloved SR is ready to be moved to second string status.
I did it. I got two and one of them was a trade for a 360 photography gig.
I did it. I got two and one of them was a trade for a 360 photography gig.
5. Be nice. Sometimes I get grumpy way too easily. I need to remember to r-e-l-a-x.
Brooke just said, "I think you did." That must count.
6. Visit my parents more. We've been so lucky that my dad has rebounded so well from his lung cancer treatment. I can't be complacent. Life's precious.
We stopped by every chance we could. We even got to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with them. My brother moved back to the midwest. That meant we had the first full family Tuska Christmas in years. Sadly, my pops health isn't improving after the lung cancer started to come back. I'm glad we've been able to spend a good number of weekends with him this year. My mom and dad are planning to move by my sister near Grand Rapids. That may make it harder to visit, but it'll be great for them to have family nearby.
Things We Hope To Accomplish in 2018
Brooke
1. First of all would be having a baby in February.
2. Finish visiting all the Minnesota Historical Society Sites.
3. Take baby camping.
4. I say this every year, but maybe with our new lifestyle I will have time for this. Make at least one photo book.
5. I'm going to try this again. Improve flexibility, especially after the baby comes.
6. I did this a few years ago and I think I need to focus on this again. Eat less sugar.
6. I did this a few years ago and I think I need to focus on this again. Eat less sugar.
Scott
1. Go on more bike rides. I didn't get nearly as much biking in as I'd like to have. With the Hipcamp camping trips and getting the house ready we were pretty busy.
2. Try to spend time with the Tuska clan even if my mom and pops are bit further away.
3. Try to increase my freelance income by 25%. I can do this, no question.
4. Go on many walks with our new baby and Meadow.
5. Go on at least two Hipcamp road trips. Babies love camping.
6. Eat fewer casino buffets. Or maybe more. I'm not sure.
Meadow
1. Make chocolate chip cookies with mama.
1. Go on more bike rides. I didn't get nearly as much biking in as I'd like to have. With the Hipcamp camping trips and getting the house ready we were pretty busy.
2. Try to spend time with the Tuska clan even if my mom and pops are bit further away.
3. Try to increase my freelance income by 25%. I can do this, no question.
4. Go on many walks with our new baby and Meadow.
5. Go on at least two Hipcamp road trips. Babies love camping.
6. Eat fewer casino buffets. Or maybe more. I'm not sure.
Meadow
1. Make chocolate chip cookies with mama.
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