Postcards from 2025

January: A postcard from the land of recovery and road trips

Greetings from Duluth, where we thawed out from Nutcracker season, packed away the Department 56 villages, and immediately hit the road again for basketball tournaments two hours away, again (and thankful for the extra bedroom at John and JoAnn's). Theo made his percussion debut at his first band concert. Katie launched a New Year's Resolution to try a new art medium each month. January's was printmaking. Wish you were here (to help clean up).

Basketball wins

Ice skating in January

February: A postcard from Snowy Utah

Hello from Park City, Utah, where we saw moose and only misplaced one child. Ski patrol searched everywhere, but he eventually strolled into the condo after skiing to the base, putting his skis in the rack and walking a full mile in his ski boots - because he was mad at his sister. We now understand why parents use Apple watches as kid-tracker...or leashes. Right after that adventure with the Sikon Family, we swapped ski gear for formal wear and headed to Chicago for cousin Maya's beautiful outdoor wedding. Katie also kicked off a Drawing 101 class through community ed. Wish you were here (on the dance floor)!

March: Postcard from the Grade State Tournament

Hello from the bleachers and concession-stand dinners at the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services Grade State Travel tournament. Theo's 6th grade A team had a heartbreaking loss in the championship game (in bracket 6 out of 16). Katie took a painting 101 class and squeezed in a quick trip to Chicago where she presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions conference. Wish you were here (keeping our schedule straight).

April: Postcard from the Magic Kingdom

Sending love from Disneyworld, our big spring adventure. We fulfilled every Star Wars fan's dream in Hollywood Studios: lightsabers? Yes. Droids? Yes. Drinking concoctions at Oga's Cantina? Yes. Hanging out with Chewbacca and Rey? Yes and yes. We overdosed on Disney magic with three full days in the parks; good walking shoes, pin trading and FastPasses+ (old lightning lanes) were key. Easter was filled with cousin time, egg hunts, the creepy Easter bunny, and lots of chocolate and Regina's delicious jelly beans. Katie took a Pysanky egg dying class (traditional Ukrainian egg decorating). Seth jetted off for a guys' trip to watch the NFL draft, proving that football is a year round commitment. Wish you were here (battling stormtroopers with us and searching for the golden hallelujah egg).

May: Postcard from Recitals

Greetings from a month filled with piano music, drum beats and stage lights. The piano recital went smoothly - we are 90% sure all the notes were accounted for. Marit performed with the CongaDons Drum Club, played her piano solo at the all-school "Global Grooves" concert, wrapped up Ballet 3 and even pulled off a show-stopping Father-Daughter dance at Stacey's Studio final showcase. Theo led the percussion section in the final middle school band concert. Katie added paper quilling to her artistic resume with a class at the local library. Wish you were here (in the front row clapping.)

June: Postcard from Brickworld

Reporting from Chicago, where Theo and Katie immersed themselves in their first Brickworld - a four-day LEGO convention filled with massive custom builds, passionate creators, engineering gurus and enough bricks galore. Theo even displayed his own Star Wars "Clones vs. Drones" battle scene MOC (My Own Creation), earning nods from seasoned builders and living his absolute best life. He was in heaven! Back home, his Gitchi Gummi travel soccer team kept us busy driving around the state and often sunburned. Katie also created an ink-drawing timeline of her sister's life for a surprise 40th birthday bash at the cabin. Wish you were here (searching for missing soccer balls).

July: Postcard from Lake Life Paradise

Greetings from Balsam Lake, where time moves slowly and there is always time to watch a beautiful sunset. There was tubing, water skiing, paddleboarding, pontoon floaties, and the kind of summer relaxation that you only get with family cabin. Katie created art to hang in the cabin using colored pencils and watercolor. Seth also squeezed in a guys' frisbee golf trip to Wisconsin. Wish you were here (on the pontoon with a floatie and beverage in hand).

Katie and Anne slalom water skiing at sunset

August: Postcard from the Boundary Waters

Greetings from Little Gabbro lake in the BWCAW where we paddled canoes, hauled gear, listened to loons and eagles across the water and watched a family of otters play. It was a balance of calm and peaceful and mosquito-buzzing fun. Theo got his first paycheck for his new job, soccer refereeing! We rushed to Valleyfair for some roller coaster fun before heading back to school. Wish you were here (to squeeze around the campfire).

BWCA sunset

BWCA

September: Postcard from Back to School

Cheers to a busy month! School started and Theo joined the cross country team at Ordean and quickly perfected the art of running fast while pretending not to be dying. He also managed to catch at least one touchdown pass in every single flag football game. Katie reunited with her medical school classmates for their 15-year reunion. Seth hosted Folf-a-palooza 8, a guy's weekend dedicated to frisbee golf and more. Marit was elected to student council and spent every Friday at Amity stables taking horse riding lessons. Wish you were here (ringing cowbells at the finish line).

First day of school

October: Postcard from the East Coast

Hello from Washington D.C. where Theo took his first school trip and the girls zipped to NYC to see the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, 9/11 Memorial and Brooklyn bridge. Highlights for Theo included the Spy Museum, Holocaust museum, Mount Vernon, Arlington Cemetery, Washington Monument and ghost tour. Highlights for the girls included the experience at the top of the Vanderbilt One building, visiting the Harry Potter store and seeing Wicked on Broadway. Marit and Katie spent a crisp autumn weekend at Wolf Ridge hiking, rock climbing and attempting the high ropes course blind folded while bonding with the entire 5th grade class. After months of recovering from shin splints, Katie finished her first 50k at St. Croix State park - while also staring in a new documentary about the Team Bird training crew. We expanded our art skills carving pumpkins this month. Wish you were here (to help with laundry).

NYC

November: Postcard from the Northern Lights and the local dermatologist

Greetings from the 46.78th degree N latitude where the Aurora Borealis made a surprise overhead appearance - and where your friendly neighborhood dermatologist would like to remind you to wear sunscreen. Katie had MOHS surgery on her nose for basal cell carcinoma (healing well), squeezed quick trips to New Orleans for the American Heart Association conference and to Minneapolis to present at the Midwest Cardiovascular Forum and then we escaped to Scottsdale, AZ for a conference at the Fairmont Princess. Festive lights, waterslides, old friends, and a desert hike did wonders for morale. Thanksgiving was cozy at the family cabin with the Pastorius family. Katie learned to blow glass and made an ornament. Wish you were here (soaking up the warmth - both kinds).

Morning run with visible red pillars overhead from the aurora borealis

Dr. Reich, MOHS surgeon, from Dermatology Duluth

December: Postcard from Backstage and the Bleachers

We wrapped up the year with tutus, tights and tip-offs. Marit danced in the Minnesota Ballet's Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale as a Traveler, while Theo kept us racing between Duluth East travel basketball games. His team also scored a thrill at the NBA Timberwolves game - standing in the tunnel as the players came out at halftime. He claims he's never washing the hand that touched Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid again. Katie was invited to give Grand Rounds on the Cardiometabolic Syndrome at the Minneapolis Heart Institute, the very place she first discovered her passion for cardiology and research. Her two mentors, Dr. Kevin Harris, and her dad, Dr. John Pastorius, were in the front row. We baked plenty of holiday treats - peanut butter blossoms, green wreaths and sugar cookies. Hope your holiday season is cozy and bright. Wish you were here (sipping on hot cocoa with us).