It was spring break this past week, and the kids had the opportunity to visit Grandpa Homey and Grandma Betsy in Iowa!! (And I had my first nights alone in the house since the kids were born.)
Seasoned travelers!
Even seasoned travelers get tired when you board your plane and have to deplane bc of a mechanical issue and transfer to another airplane. But eventually they made it to Minneapolis and then made the 2 hr drive to Mason City, IA.
Safe and sound, and ready for bed at midnight.
Chess with Grandpa Homey
Steven showing Grandpa Homey his book on Easter Island
The kids got to spend time with Alana, Jason’s first cousin. (Grandpa Homey’s sister Bonnie’s daughter.)
More books to share
On Wednesday afternoon, they all made the trip back home to me. <3
This boy was happy, happy, happy to see his mama.
Sammy and Amaya worked with Sophia to start on desserts for Passover. Nana worked so hard every year, mostly on her own, and Sara and I are doing our best to fill the (very big) gap so it’s amazing to have helpers.
Cuddles with Daddy
Curls! (This boy is engrossed in Star Trek: TNG which is amazing. The kids love it!)
Steven and Jason put this net thing together, which bounces balls back to you and lets you practice fielding. It’s very cool.
A family that watches ST:TNG together makes their mom’s heart very happy.
Today was a busy Sunday for the kids after a very quiet Saturday. Sammy and Jason went out for lunch together while Steven’s friend Ben came over, and they they all played together. Amaya had her friend Leah over to practice for an upcoming talent show.
We’re back with a update from last week. The kids had a fun week with lots of activities – chess, girl scouts, ninja, baseball, play dates, St. Patrick’s Day.
On Tuesday, Amaya and all of the other girl scouts at school went to a Girl Scouts anniversary party at Thornton Creek. This is Amaya with one of her best friends, Leah.
Steven cuddles with Mommy and Sammy cuddles with Daddy.
Once again, all of the kids made elaborate leprechaun traps. Unfortunately they didn’t catch any leprechauns but one did leave letters for them in their traps.
All of the kids wore green to school on Friday. (Amaya wore my tshirt!)
On Saturday morning we went to a local art show that featured art that Steven and Amaya made in their afterschool art program. It was really neat.
And then we spent the afternoon in Mason, MI with Grandma Sunshine and Aunt Annette. <3
Today was a lazy day and, right now, the Cline men are watching the Michigan State basketball game.
I didn’t get to a blog last week but I’m back. I was sick last week but the kids had a great week.
Sophia helped them make rock candy which should be ready early this week for the kids to enjoy.
Amaya, who doesn’t typically enjoy bread, had some cinnamon toast and loved it.
It was (another) spirit week at school and Amaya wanted to participate most days. She did a great job finding something to wear for “Glow Day” and sent me this selfie (complete with arrows) or her hair ties.
The full look!
On Thursday night, Thornton Creek had a steam night sponsored by the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum. It was a great event. The school has such great activities. I stayed with the kids for the first 45 minutes and then Jason came and took over.
Sammy was supposed to have a sleepover with his friend Owen but it was canceled bc of a snow storm (thunder snow!) so, to help make it up to Sammy, Jason took him out for a 1:1 breakfast on Saturday morning. <3
Amaya had a very busy Saturday. She went to a girl scout pottery event at the Bee’s Knees and then had a play date with her friend Dylan until bedtime.
Today we celebrated Purim at Temple Israel. There was a very well done Disney themed Purim Speil (a play that tells the story of Purim) and then a carnival. I definitely thought about Nana a lot while we were there.
Ready to eat hamantashen!
The kids wrapped up the day playing in the snow for hours.
Now we’re watching ep 1 of Survivor 44 and thinking about Nana some more. <3
I drove the kids to school on Tuesday so they could bring in their valentine’s boxes and valentine’s day cards for their classmates. Only Amaya decorated her box. The boys were happy with plain cardboard, which I fully support.
Another mom sent these pictures to me from Amaya’s class party.
Valentine’s Day cuddles with my Bobes
It’s not consistently nice out but we have some nicer days now. Amaya is excited to get back to bike riding.
My girl, writing a birthday card for her friend Sara’s birthday party.
Both boys signed up for spring baseball so they started practicing this weekend. <3
Daddy and Steven, hard at work on Saturday morning
Weekend cuddles with Steven who would spend hours wrapped up with me, if he could. I’m very lucky.
This weekend the kids opened up their stores and manipulated me into buying some overpriced goods. They made some wonderful sales videos and pitched their mama hard. I was also a very lucky wife, who was gifted a bracelet and ring from Amaya’s store.
The boys also spent a couple of hours playing minecraft and roblox with their friend Owen.
Amaya reading a book that Aunt Anita sent home with me last weekend
Finally…Amaya can make smoothies on her own and send us this photo after making one this afternoon.
Monday and Tuesday I was in Colorado so Sophia, Jason and the kids held down the fort.
Sophia and Amaya
Steven got sick early Wednesday morning and ended up missing the rest of the week of school. He was his worst on Wednesday, poor kid.
Amaya with her sleeping friends – Nana Dog (a gift from Nana), Izzy and her new tempurpedic dog plush.
Curly girl making a heart from her fruit
Still not 100% on Friday
But by Saturday, this boy was ready for a 1:1 hike with his daddy at Maybury park <3
The big weekend event was the annual Daddy/Daughter dance. Jason and Amaya went shopping a few weeks ago to pick out a dress and shoes. They went to a pre-party with some friends at Claire’s house and then off to the dance.
Amaya made matching rings and gifted Jason his in a jewelry box.
Photo station at the pre-party
So excited for the dance!
Love. Love. LOVE.
On Saturday, Jason and Sammy went grocery shopping so, today, Sammy could try to recreate Nana’s lemon cookie. Nana would love that so much.
And, finally…Steven has been in mommy mode this weekend, cuddling with me whenever he can. Today he spent 45 minutes just lying on top of me listening to music. And then he surprised me with this amazing creation. I’m such a lucky mom. I have the best kids. <3
This will be a short little blog but something is better than nothing, right?
We’re reached the snowy season in Michigan and, given that it’s late late January, that’s not too bad. Of course we could have another two months of snow on the horizon so ask me how I feel at the end of March.
The boys started after school chess on Mondays. (Amaya has girl scouts.) I heard there are 20 kids in the program! They came home with chess workbooks and have weekly homework. Any shot I had of beating the boys is in the rearview mirror.
Wednesday was a snow day and thank goodness for Sophia who was able to spend the full day with the kids. They spent a good chunk of the day on new lego sets they got for their birthdays.
Steven channeled Cousin It on Friday morning.
Playing in the snow
Friday night TV cuddles for Jason and Sammy
The kids had a very busy weekend, especially Amaya. Amaya had a playdate at her friend Dylan’s house from 9am- 12pm on Saturday. The boys had a birthday party from 2- 4:30 that Amaya was invited to at the last minute. And then we had two friends sleep over (Clarie and Elly).
Amaya at Launch
Claire, Amaya and Elly watching Raya and the Last Dragon
And, today, when Amaya got home from another birthday party – spa themed.
Once again the kids woke up to “9” balloons in their rooms and, once again, their mom (hi!) made them take birthday photos before school in their birthday t-shirts.
For the first time since kindergarten, I was able to go to Thornton Creek to join SSA at the birthday table. (Virtual first grade and they didn’t have the birthday table last year.) It was so nice and I love that the kids were excited to eat their lunch with me.
Amaya’s friend Dylan brought this “Birthday Girl” tiara for her.
Amaya also wanted to eat with her friends (Dylan, specifically) so she spent a little bit of time at the time with us and then headed over to her friends to finish lunch. That’s my girl.
For the third year in a row, we celebrated the kids’ birthday with dinner in an igloo at Deadwood.
The BIG BONUS was that Aunt Sara and Charlie came for their annual birthday visit!
Look at these two girls <3
They have such a good time together whether it’s play games on devices or playing active cops & robbers games around the house.
Sisters!!
A final treat of the day was an amazing birthday cake that Sophia made for the kids. It was a huge hit!
Amaya was thrilled to sleep in the basement with Aunt Sara and Charlie
Saturday was birthday party 3 or 3 – Steven’s! He had a bowling party with 10 other boys and Sara came as my wingwoman to help out.
It was organized chaos
“Yumba” is an inside creation from Steven and Sammy’s friend group lol
Jason took Sammy, Amaya and Charlie to Panera and the mall while we were at the party and they had a blast.
One of the purchases was bath bombs and face masks which they tried out together after dinner
Aunt Sara and Amaya cuddles
We took Sara and Charlie to the airport before Hebrew school. Jason was at work when we got home and Amaya gave me a piece of paper that said, “Stay in your room and relax.” It was so that the kids could plan a special anniversary party for our 12th anniversary which is TODAY. We were blindfolded and led from station to station where the kids performed and gave us some delicious homemade snacks. It was very special.
This week started 9th Birthday celebrations for Steven, Sammy and Amaya. NINE. It’s difficul to belive.
Before the fun started, I was able to visit Thornton Creek for the kids’ rescheduled holiday parties. They had a snow day when they were originally scheduled in December. I made the rounds of all three classrooms.
Steven and Ben stuck together in his class party (Mr. Connelly).
Sammy was so comfortable and outgoing in his classroom. I loved to see how at ease he is. (Mrs. Costello)
Amaya and Dylan were side by side at their class party. (Mrs. Murrell)
Steven loves reading. Seeing him fall asleep with a book in his hands brings me such joy. It’s common for Sammy to do the same.
This year, SSA asked to have their own parties. It’s time and it was the right call. They knew what they needed. The kicker is that the decided not to invite each other to their parties. These are truly their own individual events.
Sammy’s party was first on Saturday. He chose laser tag and there were 10 boys including Sammy.
A super treat this weekend was a visit from cousin Nancy (visiting from OH and birthday buddies with SSA) and Grandma Sunshine and Aunt Annette. Nancy was my party wingperson while Jason stayed home with the other kids.
There were lots of board games and card games this weekend.
Also lots of fun playing games on switches and ipads.
Today was Amaya’s party at Putting Edge, a glow in the dark mini golf place with a small arcade. She had 5 friends attend including one boy, Alex, who’s the only kid invited to all three parties.
Amaya had the idea of bringing glow cups for everyone. It was a great idea and they were a huge hit.
We wrapped up the weekend opening wonderful birthday gifts from Grandma and Aunt Annette.
It was a great week for the kids with more fun to come on Friday when they officially turn nine, a visit from Aunt Sara and Charlie and Steven’s party.
It was a very festive week with Hanukkah, the lead up to winter break, and helping people we love celebrate Christmas.
Every day at school was themed and Amaya participated in all of them which meant holiday PJs, glow lights, reindeer ears and her “reindeer” onesie.
As we’ve done in the past, the kids brought in little mesh bags with hanukkah gelt, a dreidle and instructions for the game for everyone in their class. All three kids’ classes played together and I got very nice notes from Amaya’s and Sammy’s teachers.
From Amaya’s teacher Mrs. Murrell:
I just wanted to send a heartfelt thank you from our entire class for the dreidels and gelt. The kids LOVED them and are still playing with them today. Amaya let me take one home to my daughter and we spun the dreidel allllllllllllll morning until I had to leave for school. I thought she would eat the gelt up first, but she actually enjoyed holding it in her hand and admiring the wrapper. 🙂
Amaya did a great job with sharing facts about Hanukkah. She was very knowledgeable and confident. The kids were excited to learn from her.
Thank you so much for this experience!
And from Sammy’s teacher, Mrs. Costello:
Thank you for sharing. The game has been an absolute hit, and Sammy also answered students’ questions about the gelt, dreidel, and about Hanukkah in general. He did an awesome job, and I am so glad that he, and that all of you, were eager to share some of your traditions with us!
All three kids really enjoyed sharing their traditions with their classmates and it’s become an annual tradition.
On Monday I hosted Amaya’s girl scout troop’s holiday party. It’s a relatively easy way to help out and I like seeing the girls in a casual environment. They had pizza and cupcakes, did a used book gift exchange and Amaya showed the troop how she lights the hanukkah menorah. It was a fun afternoon, and loud.
Everything about this moment made me think of Nana. Amaya was confident and proud to share her holiday with her friends. They had time to ask wonderful questions like “Does Hanukkah have a mascot like Christmas has Santa?” and “How do presents work for Hanukkah.” They also knew a fair amount about the holiday which Amaya thinks was aided by what she and her brothers shared this week.
One of Amaya’s gifts was a fashion design kit and she made this dress for her baby Olivia.
Lights/Glow day at school
Lighting the candles on day 4!
Bedtime with Amaya <3
Favorite holiday character day
A snowstorm was expected Friday so the district made a call on a snow day by midday Friday. She and her best friend, Dylan, both cried that they wouldn’t be able to see each other on Friday. As consolation, Amaya dropped off a card for Dylan on Thursday night and Dylan came by on Saturday with a small gift for Amaya. Amaya was happy, though, about a book she got at school continuing the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Since there was no school on Friday, the kids tried for a sleepover with daddy. Amaya made it until 9:45pm when she returned to her room.
Game a Clue on Friday afternoon. Amaya was the winner after Sammy, Steven and I all made wrong guesses. I need to up my Clue strategy.
My sweet girl on a CVS run with me.
On Friday night we lit the candles on FaceTime with Grandpa Homey and Grandma Betsy and then opened the wonderful gifts they sent. (And did the same today with Aunt Ouize and Uncle Todd.)
My Bubba, sleeping in the big beanbag.
Sammy and Daddy cuddles. These guys stayed home on Saturday while Steven, Amaya and I went to see Puss In Boots 2.
A dress Amaya made for her new baby, Daisy.
Sunday morning game time for Mommy and Amaya <3
Carcassone with the kids, using an expansion pack I was gifted for Hanukkah.
Final night of Hanukkah! It was a wonderful week!
That’s all for us! I told Amaya she was prominently featured this week and she loved it. Have a great week!
