The week started with Memorial Day and, for the first time in a long time, Monday feels like a long time ago. It’s a nice change.

We had a really nice day at home in the sun. The kids manage to make games out of everything and chalk + buckets + water + soap can easily become potion making.

I think Amaya looks a lot like her cousin Nancy in this picture.

At times I think Amaya’s hair is getting darker and then I see pictures like this and think, nope, still quite blonde. My little sorceress.

Scoping out a shady spot to do some art. This child can sit and draw anywhere.

I think Amaya spent 2 or 3 hours on the slip ‘n slide on Monday. The boys like it, but she loves it. She just loves water, in general. I hope we reach a point where pools are open and safe this summer. It was going to be the summer to really learn to swim and, while that might be off the table, I know she’s so eager to swim.

Searching for robots with Daddy. The kids have had a chance to earn and save money and, with that, is an interest in spending money. Steven, in his true fashion, seemed to explore every possible option before making a decision on a remote control car that turns into a robot.

We’re still hard at work at school. Last day is Thursday, 6/11 which will be so bitter sweet. It’s still hard to believe this is where we’re at.

Steven wrote to Sloane this week. That first page says, “Sloane be careful about me on the school playground.” Apparently, little boys do chase the girls they like.

Sammy wrote about bees.

Amaya wrote about her needs and wants. I hate to break the news to her about her “wants”. Maybe some extra ice cream will help. 🙂

Amaya drew Evie and Mal from Descendants.

My handsome viking.

On Friday morning, the boys’ purchases came. Their very first! Steven got his remote control car and Sammy got this very cool robot that he can program and also command with hand gestures.

Steven and Sammy spent about 30 minutes transfixed by the work our landscapers were doing.

After dinner on Friday night, Steven really wanted to go back outside and play in the front of the house. It turned out I was able to make that happen for him. It was such a nice night. I loved summer nights as a kid. I hope SSA grow up with that same feeling.

While Sammy, Amaya and I stayed in bed on Saturday morning, Steven and Jason got to work putting together a new staying in bed prize.

We found them eventually…

After months and months and months, Steven agreed to let Jason cut his hair. He wanted it short in front and the back with curls on the top. It was a much needed cut. He looks so much older now. I can’t believe it. Then he opens his mouth and he’s the same silly 6 year old.

Big, big difference. He wants it a little curlier on top so he’s counting the days he doesn’t think it’s curly. 🙂

I offered to take Steven on a drive through the neighborhood so he could get even more use out of the car from Grandma Sunshine. Amaya came along on his tricycle and, of course, halfway through our 40 minute walk she decided she wanted to ride as his passenger. I got a nice little workout dragging that trike.

How she rolls…

Of course Queen Amaya wanted her own turn to drive. The entire time Steven was driving, there was near total peace between Steven and Amaya. The minute Amaya was driving – chaos. He just can’t keep his body still in the passenger seat. Can not do it.

Queen Mommy

Like much of America, we all watched the space launch on Saturday afternoon. Absolutely amazing. Amazing. It was so cool to watch a new rocket launch and especially so to watch with the kids. They’re totally enthralled, as they should be.

Sammy got a haircut, too. He has always said he doesn’t want any bangs on his forehead so he went for a buzz cut. (A buzz cut plus.)

He slays me. <3

Amaya wanted me to dye her hair with some rainbow colors which I did, but it didn’t turn out quite the way I expected. A day later, it’s pretty much too subtle to see. But it was a solid try.

She’s got the routine down pat.

“Take a picture of me and make it black and white.”

This morning, the kids and I settled in to watch SpaceX Crew Dragon dock with the ISS. The views we can get, live, are really incredible. What a time for space flight.

Photo credit: Amaya

“In black and white, mom.”

Photo credit: Jason 🙂

The way she loves her dad. <3

We wrapped up the weekend with a family canoeing adventure at Kensington Metro Park. It was a gorgeous day and the kids are finally old enough to do activities like this. I had Steve and Amaya (Team Sparkle) and Jason and Sammy were together (Team Bridge).

We were out on the water for about 2.5 hours. I am sure my arms will feel it tomorrow, especially since my crew mates eventually decided to forego paddling in favor of grabbing lily pads of the side of the canoe.

Toward the end of the afternoon, we were rowing toward a bridge and Team Sparkle really struggled. When we finally got there, we lifted our oars in the air and cheered, “We did it!” Team Sparkle does not quit. But, if you talk to Sammy, Team Bridge wins the race.

Such a nice day.

Steven, being Steven, has set up a mailbox where he likes us (mostly daddy) to leave him mail. I have to have a record of some of these letters to Steven from Jason.

If you recall, last week I reported that Jason had a bad case of the pig pox cured, in part, by Dr. Steven.

We love the Lego Movie.

Star Wars, of course.

Gabby is great at engaging the kids in game. I love this one. I picked it up when I was in Copenhagen last year. (Remember when people traveled?) There are 6 dice, with 36 different pictures among them. You roll the dice and then tell a story based on the pictures that show face up. It’s fantasy based so there are castles and dragons and witches and cauldrons.

Go Fish with Bobes

Via text from Gabby, “Amaya says, ‘I love you mommy <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3′”.

Tuesday was a sad day. I had to run over to Thornton Creek to pick up the kids’ stuff. I think it will be a while before I can go through their stuff, though another TC kindergarten mom said her daughter loved it so maybe I’ll bite the bullet for their sake. It was just so sad to be in the building – empty and packed up. The last time I was there was the day before school closed – 3/12 – to read in the boys’ class as the week’s mystery reader. The book I read is still in my car, like an artifact from “before”. Seeing the CDC recommendations for the fall is depressing but I’m hoping the school district can figure out a way to keep the school experience as normal as possible for the youngest kids.

Because here we are… back on our laptops.

Sammy: “There is a tree in space. The tree [was] destroyed by a meteor.” The kids always want to know if they spelled words correctly and I try to find a balance between encouraging their awesome effort and helping them see where it wasn’t right. I mean, English is so silly that sometimes there’s no way they could figure it out. But all three kids often forget vowels so that’s an easy on to provide guidance on.

Amaya: “The bears sing by the light at the moon.”

I am so happy that we (they) can be outside for so much of the day.

Mr. Olive Hand! I love that simply saying, “Yes, you can put olives on your fingers” can create so much joy.

Last week I mentioned that I started a pillow for Steven. This week I finished it and also completed pillows for Amaya and Sammy. Knowing what I know now, I’d have probably left the sleeves on Steven’s but he loves it which is legitimately all that matters.

A little post-work conversation. You know a guy wants some Daddy time when he skips an episode of Clone Wars. (Star The Clone Wars Wars)

Lake Day Thursday! The kids have three more weeks of school, after which I bet they can get to the lake even more often. (Everything with camp is still up in the air. The overnight Jewish camps all canceled for the season. The local Northville school district camp is open at $500/week/child. Nothing yet from the JCC Day Camp. I’m sure they’re trying to figure out a) when the JCC will open again and b) how to best operate the camp safely, if at all.

On Friday I took most of the day off, which was really nice. The kids did some of their Kiwi Co stem kits and Amaya made this cool kolidascope.

Lots of time for cuddles when I’m home for the day, even with a long afternoon nap.

So far, we’ve been really lucky with Memorial Weekend weather. On Saturday, Steven and I took an hour long ride though every street in our sub. He chattered away the entire time, as expected. <3

Playing Super Mario Run

Amaya, Sammy and I went for our own ride around the neighborhood where they collaborated on chalk drawings.

Sammy took my phone and snapped a picture of how I spent time during their chalk adventures.

A castle with a path to a spider and, along the way, is a princess and more spider friends.

They also drew a birthday message at a home where someone was celebrating his 18th birthday, planet earth, and a forest with some birds.

Sammy made a kite in his Kiwi Co kit, which got a bit of air, but not quite enough. So Jason promised to get the kids some bigger kites to try.

Saturday evening Jason grilled burgers and corn and we had our first outdoors family meal of the season.

This is such a nice weekend but it’s not what it’s meant to be. Bitcherie Weekend 15 was canceled due to coronavirus, which was an awful decision to have to make. We had an awesome two hr zoom on Saturday night but it’s nowhere close to 4 days in Bitcherie isolation. Hopefully by August we’ll be traveling again and we can take an extended weekend in Oregon to celebrate Erin’s wedding.

Today the kids and I headed over to Maybury Park. The original plan was a bike ride but they wanted to geocache so we adjusted along the way. We’ll have to get back out for just a regular bike ride, though, and I really need both a bike of my own and a bike rack for the van.

Sammy found the first geocache. We took three treasures and left three treasures.

Once we headed towards geocache #2 we had to head onto an unpaved trail and Steven and Amaya called it quits on the bikes but Sammy was game the entire time. He’s totally ready to ditch the training wheels.

Geocache #2! Steven really hoped to find one so I pointed him in the right direction, which did not go past him. Inside was a fairy charm which Sammy really wanted and Steven and Amaya were happy to acquiesce.

It was really, really nice to get back out in the world with SSA.

We spent the rest of the afternoon outside in the welcome heat. I’ll take it any day over the cold.

Jason delivered on the kites! They can really fly when the catch the wind!

That’s our week! Have a great one.

Here we are again! Distance learning! The highlight of the week was Friday’s scavenger hunt. Ms. M and Mrs. Shuart would tell the kids to find an item and they’d have 30 seconds to find something and bring it back to share. For “Something that smells good”, Steven brought Olive Oil Pam. While I was upstairs working I could here all of the scurrying around downstairs and it made me smile.

Even when I’m professional on top for meetings, I’m still pretty darn casual down below. 🙂 The return to an office environment is going to be rough lol.

On Sunday night, Steven drew Queen Amidala for Amaya. He worked so hard to get it right.

Amaya and Sammy both loved the picture so they decided to try their owns.

Amaya’s:

Sammy’s:

And an angry Anakin Skywalker by Steven:

The Star Wars day continued. Steven conceived of this Darth Vader idea with Darth Vader on one side and Anakin Skywalker on the other. He made it for Jason but decided, at the last minute, that it was too cool to give away.

This is another one of Sammy’s drawings! He’s least likely to sit and draw and I’m so impressed. (Jason – This has since disappeared so it either got tossed or it’s part of a surprise for you. Shhhhhhh.)

For one of her weekly lessons, Amaya had to draw and label a butterfly. Then she had to write how it moves. Which she refused to do because it has wings and it’s obvious that it flies. Hearing about penguins made no difference to her. She was obstinate in her assertion that Mrs. Shuart would know it flies because of the wing.

Hard at work…

Since they have the same math worksheets, Amaya was hiding her work from Sammy so he wouldn’t copy her answer lol. It was a good point, though, since Penni talks to the kids about their work so we talked about ways to adjust the problems slightly from child to child.

I keep saying this to Jason, but I’m so glad that SSA have each other. They’ve been playing together so well and I think it’s awesome that they’re not truly isolated during this time. (I can’t wait until they’re back at school, though.)

Wednesday was a gorgeous spring day so the kids went back to the lake. I think they spent 4 hours there, loving the sun. This week they saw someone who had a remote control boat, which sparked a lot of ideas among the boys. Next on their wish list – a remote control boat.

Sweet Sally is letting the kids love on her more and more. It’s so sweet and special, especially after how long it took us to get here.

This week the boys did partner work where they were paired up in Zoom 1:1 and had to write about one another. I found this in Sammy’s notebook. Hannah’s mom told me she wrote, “My partner is Sammy and he likes Minecraft.”

After work snuggles with Bobes.

In Friday’s mail, Steven got a letter from his friend Sloane! He was so excited to get mail and, to be honest, I think the fact that he was the only one added to his enjoyment. It said, “Dear Steven, I have been doing things like playing on rocks. What have you been doing? Love Sloane.”

First of all – this child. She has such a sense of self.

Second, on Friday our landscaper came by to help set up the sprinklers for the summer and the kids couldn’t get in bathing suits fast enough to get in the water. I think Amaya is going to ask for some sprinkler time every nice days of the season. This poor girl just can’t wait to get back in a pool and I have no idea when that’s going to happen for her. 🙁

Saturday was another nice day and, besides time spent in the sprinklers, we had out door sewing time and the fun of watching Jason powerwash.

Steven loves this t-shirt but it’s way too small on him. He was having trouble letting to so I offered to make it into a pillow for him. It’s still in progress while I wait for more stuffing to arrive.

Sweet Sammy has been working on this fox since the December. He’ll be so satisfied when it’s complete. <3

This month’s Raddish Kids featured meals from Morocco. For the first time, we took out the Q&A cards that came with the kit. One card suggested smelling the spices on your spice rack and picking your favorite. It was actually a lot of fun.

Steven: First choice – Garlic Powder. Second Choice – Cinnamon.

Sammy: First choice – Cinnamon. Second Choice – All Spice.

Amaya: First choice – Cinnanom. Second choice – Garlic Powder.

Amaya only chose two to move on to the “finals”. Sammy picked almost all of them. Steven had 10 finalists and spent about 15 minutes in an elaborate process to narrow them down.

My girl.

A couple of years ago, Amaya got a doll bed from Auntie and Dod Shuki. It was in the room that is now Steven’s and he had been using it until Amaya decided she wanted it back. I decided to let Sammy and Steven each pick out their own beds for their sleeping friends. Steven chose a triple-decker bunk bed and Sammy picked out this bed that adjusts from 2 singles to a bunk bed. I caught him so gently tucking in Puppy, Celestia and Luna. Puppy even had a flower placed under his blanket with him.

Steven’s curls!! Steven hasn’t wanted a hair cut and, at times, bed head can leave his hair looking disheveled but I figured something out – his curls need TLC just like mine do. Of course! As long as you wet them and let them be…wow. Also, leave-in conditioner works wonders. I am curious how long he’ll want to go without a trim. He seems satisfied right now.

My Sal.

Last July, back when people traveled, I got the kids these awesome shirts from the Viking Museum in Denmark. I just pulled them out again and they fit perfectly. I remember intentionally buying them big and I’m so glad I did.

Jason had a bad case of the “pig pox”.

I had some great helpers with my Lego roller coaster. 2 bags and 2 hours in!

So sweet. Jason was asleep and Amaya cuddled right up. <3 It reminds me of a picture we have of my sister sleeping on my dad’s chest when she was little.

Tonight, for Made in Morocco, we baked Orange Blossom Tea Cakes and cooked Morocccan Chicken Tagine. This time, we added a new cooking skill – grating. I’d been nervous about letting the kids use the grater but they’ve demonstrated care with kitchen utensils and we were grating an orange for zest, so the size made me more comfortable. I also gave them the option of using their cutting glove, which Amaya and Steven took me up on.

We’re working on level measurements for baking.

Sammy loves cracking eggs. (Despite how his face looks.)

While Steven was grating, Amaya and Sammy were squeezing oranges for juice – used in the tea cakes themselves and the frosting. Same with the zest.

Dicing an onion, while Amaya took charge of the garlic. They’re getting better and better at dicing, too, though I’d say we’re closer to a “chop” right now.

Sammy did an amazing job cooking the chicken. He seared it, flipped it, and then added a host of other ingredients. I feel pretty certain that the kids eat better when they play a part in the cooking. It was all delicious. Citrus desserts aren’t really my thing, especially with zest, but I could appreciate how well they came out. The Moroccan Chicken Tagine is definitely one we’ll do again.

I’ll end this week with a video of Amaya talking about coronavirus. It’s interesting to hear what she has to say and who she thinks is safe. (6 year olds, 44 year olds and 51 year olds lol.)

Have a great week!

The week started with a celebration of Jason’s birthday and ended with a celebration of Mother’s Day.

On Monday morning, I overheard Amaya on her zoom call. “It’s my dad’s birthday. … No, brownies. … Yes. I made goody bags.” It was so sweet.

The kids also celebrated their dad in their morning journaling.

Decorations for Daddy!

Cards and presents and stories and crowns and brownies goody bags!

They love giving. <3

Penni has been bringing Lunchabes to work every now and then and the kids are jealous every time so, occasionally, Jason gets the kids Lunchables, too. Happy Tuesday Lunch!

This week the kids studied habitats for science. I love Amaya’s work on robins. She’s so focused when she writes and draws.

Penni took SSA back to the lake on Wednesday – another gorgeous day. They spent hours there and were the only ones.

While I’m working on Wednesday afternoons, I like to peek in on the kids’ dance class via Zoom. It’s definitely harder for them to focus from home but I think they’re still (mostly) glad to have dance once a week. These are strange times.

For May the 4th week, the them was Fan Art and Amaya was totally on board. I love her pictures of Rey and Princess Leia. Especially the eye lashes. 😉

Each of the kids picked out new books. Sammy picked out a new Tacky book. Steven got a Mo Willems art/activity book. Amaya picked Knuffle Bunnny, which I can’t believe we didn’t already own. I’ve read it to her almost every day since it arrived.

Steven dove right into his art book.

I think I’ve said this before, but I’m so glad that Steven, Sammy and Amaya have each other. Boy, they can fight, but they also play amazing games together. This was some version of hide-and-seek involving our orange cones. They’re also into light saber duels. Steven explained that they each have to take theirs proper starting spot, so it’s fair. I know things change when siblings grow up – especially mixed gender siblings – but I hope they’re close forever.

My girl is 6 going on 16.

All of us hard at work! I ate lunch downstairs (rare!) and did some work side-by-side with the kids. <3

On Thursday night I declined Amaya’s request to take a picture and print it for her. She was beside herself. She directed Sammy to come tell me, “You should care about other people, not just yourself.” Then she spent ages crying to Jason, “She’s so mean to me. She doesn’t love me. She hates me.”

From my conversations with other moms of 6 year olds this is par for the course (and won’t improve for a while) but ugh, it’s hard! Then, one day later, she’ll tell me I’m the best mom in the universe.

On Thursday the kids were rotating through virtual piano lessons and our housekeeper was upstairs (Welcome back, Claudia!) so I hunkered down in the basement to work. Of course I wasn’t alone for long. 🙂 Steven worked hard on his Elephant and Piggie activity book.

Sammy got two splinters in his hand, coverable by one bandaid but I think he was feeling the need for a little extra security. (They’re still there, by the way. We’ve been doing baking soda paste round the clock and he took a long bath yesterday but no lucky. I think we’re going to have to go digging. 🙁 )

And doesn’t Sammy look old here. Old, and like Jason.

Piano!

For show and tell on Friday, the kids had to bring something connected to their moms. Something our favorite color. Something we like to do, etc. Amaya brought a picture of one of my lego sets. Steven shared his orange headphones. Sammy brought one of my lego sets.

The consistency of the daily Zoom meetings has been great. I feel like the only mom in America who is going to be sad when school ends for the summer, especially if they don’t have camp. They need routine and outside contact. We’ll build our own routine when school ends, but it won’t be the same.

A Friday highlight was watching the pick-up for our dumpster. Steven was sad to see “Dumpy” go. He’s like his dad with nicknames for everything.

“Bye Dumpy.”

Somehow, the kids convinced us to have a slumber party in the living room on Friday night. I thought it would be a nightmare but I actually slept until 7:45am, and my sleep was my measure of success. I’d do it again. But it’s probably better saved for a time of year when the sun sets before 9am and rises after 6am.

When one Cline kid gets a bath, they all get baths. Which is a 90 minute exercise for their mother. But it’s worth it when Amaya is in the bath singing, “This is the best day ever! This is the best day ever!”

She’s been into the idea of curly hair, so after her bath we used leave in conditioner, scrunched in a bunch of jell (upside down) and plopped. I’d say she ended up with a fun beach waves look.

Steven and Sammy are pretty much always up for art.

The influence of laptops is strong in our house, right now.

I still can’t even, with this mask. (Do you think, hundreds of years from now, linguists will see phrases like, “I can’t even” and shake their heads?)

This morning I was treated to my most favorite meal, in bed – toasted everything bagel, lox, cream cheese, tomatoes and onion. Perfect.

I also got some amazing cards from the kids.

My Mom Can. By Amaya Cline.

My mom can swim. My mom can read. My mom can work. My mom can sleep. My mom can go to New York. My mom can cuddle.

To Mom. By Sammy

My mom has black hair. My mom has curly hair. My mom likes to go swimming. My mom likes cats. My mom is special because she loves me. My mom is special because she is my mom.

Mommy. By Steven.

My mom has love. My mom has glasses. My mom likes orange. My mom likes me. My mom is special because she helps me.

It was a very lazy day. Lots of Star Wars including Revenge of the Sith and two episodes of Clone Wars. (Or, as Steven says, “Star The Clone Wars Wars“. <3) I’ve been craving Popeyes for weeks but there nearest one is 20 minutes away so, for dinner, Amaya, Sammy and I took an hour long round trip to the Popeyes drive through. Totally worth it.

Here I am with my kids on mother’s day – captured in the moment with SSA as we look at some of my legos.

Have a great week! Happy Mother’s Day!

As we work out way through the Star Wars movie, we’re playing a lot of Star Wars games lately. Overheard while I was working, “WYN Team, the Death Star has been spotted. Team – the Death Star is headed toward our tower. We’ve gotta go.”

I’m not sure what’s going on here but I loved to see the end result.

Turns out he man doesn’t have 6 legs. Sammy noticed and added another one later.

Tuesday was gorgeous so Penni took the kids to a local park where they spent a good 3 hours outside. Amaya was worried there would be bees so she dressed accordingly lo.

I love this picture of my socially distanced kids out in the world. And I’m glad that Amaya felt safe enough to take off her jacket and gloves. 🙂

Gabby couldn’t work on Tuesday and Penni left at 3pm so I got out, for the first time in a while so I took the kids through the McDonald’s drive through for a dinner treat. The Happy Meals toys were from the new Trolls movie and, with their order, I asked the kids if they wanted Branch or Poppy. We had orders for one Branch and two Poppys, but when we got home, we saw they made a mistake and we only had one Poppy figure. Sammy noticed first and burst into tears saying, “I asked for a girl troll, why did only Amaya get a girl troll?” I looked at him and said, “You did get a girl troll. They made a mistake with Amaya’s order.” I wish I could have captured this kid’s smile. I don’t know why he assumed it was his order that was wrong but I couldn’t let that stand. And Amaya was appeased by a Hershey Kiss.

Steven found a new spot to watch the neighbors doing yard work.

Stuck at home, we’re trying to get outside whatever the weather. I think the kids were actually excited to be able to play outside in the rain – but I’m not sure how many days we can pull that off.

Next time we’ll get the umbrella up before the rain starts.

It’s a season of celebrations around here and the kids had a good time this week with preparations for Jason’s birthday. All week, they hid birthday artwork around the house.

Steven watched a video to learn how to make his birthday craft.

This week, Sammy used his journaling time to express his POV about my work load. Though, to be honest, it’s normalizing. It’s just hard for the kids to have me here, but not here.

I peeked in on jazz class today and caught this exchange with Steven and Sammy. Bless these dance teachers instructing little kids in dance, via Zoom.

I bought felt for a project but didn’t realize that what I purchased is adhesive so the kids got busy with their own projects. Sammy started with headwear.

It was funny to see what the kids brought for show n tell on Friday. Sammy picked a carrot. Steven wanted to bring grass but he didn’t want to rip up real grass so he made some. Amaya brought Penni, via photograph.

Penni saw we had some perfect baking bananas so she and the kids made some delicious) chocolate chip banana bread.

They’re getting better and better at cracking eggs.

Amaya asked to see what it looks like to look through Stevens glass. She wears them well!

Coco, read by Daddy

Jason slept in a bit and, when went to get Sammy, I found him like this curled up against Jason. Both snug as bugs in rugs.

The kids have been sleeping with us a lot lately. To hep wean them, we have a new rule that they can only sleep with us every other night. If they choose to sleep in their room instead of with us, they earn 2 stars. So far, only Steven has taken us up on that offer but I think its been good for everyone to break the habit of nightly sleepovers.

Steven and Sammy got to work on a birthday breakfast for Jason. Sammy had the idea to make honey chocolate sauce so he melted hershey kisses on the stove and then added honey. His first original recipe! 🙂

The weather this weekend was amazing. We spent a lot of time outside on both Saturday and Sunday. The kids are back to bike riding and its amazing how much more confident they are now than they were in late fall. Same for their motorized car. Everything about being 6 makes life so much easier for all of us, especially now.

Steven has been committed to his tricycle. He was definitely more comfortable on the tricycle but I think he realized that he can’t quite keep up with his brother and sister so finally, finally, he gave his bigger kid bike a shot.

Go Steven, go!

He was really proud of himself.

The kids are all riding well, breaking well and pausing at driveways so they’ve aged into, and earned, more freedom riding their bikes. The end of our street curves into a dead end and they’re doing really well circling around down there and back toward our house with supervision from a distance, so we let Sammy try it on his own. It is amazing to be at this point.

Footrest for daddy!

Why not sew outside?

Jason was going to play ball with the boys and asked if I wanted to join. Steven said it’s more fun with just the boys! “It’s more fun with just the boys. But I still like playing with you, Mommy!” He said it’s because Jason is a better baseball teacher.

Amaya’s big plan for the day was a birthday tea party with Jason. <3

Photo credit: Steven

Photo credit: Sammy

Steven and I tried to play memory outdoors which worked, except for when the wind gusts came.

Finally, today was the last day of religious school for the year. It was always planned as the last day so the timing isn’t COVID-19 related. I hear they’re going to try to find ways to keep the kids engaged, though, since we can’t be at the temple now. (And until who knows when.)

I’ll leave you with this photo that turned up this week. Joanna and Sara, circa 1994. My senior year of HS, Sara’s freshman year.

Have a great week!