I left UT very early on Monday morning but, with the time difference, arrived back at our house around 4:30pm. While I was away, the kids and Penni had a great pool day. Though I hear the pool is still freezing and our wet suits are probably a good idea in the future.

Nice and uncrowded on a weekday!

Back home to my loves!! I brought them each some UT honey plus a gift for everyone. (Because Steven told me that I have to bring home presents if I’m gone for 3 nights or more. Fair enough.)

I bought Steven a puzzle and got this sweet text from him the next morning. ❤️

Amaya had swim on Tuesday and graduated to level 7!! Way to go, Amaya!

After swim, it was off to the lake. I haven’t been to the lake with the kids this summer (or last!). I’ll have to make a point to go with Steven, Sammy and Amaya before summer is through.

This week each of the kids picked a recipe to make with Penni or Lindsay. Amaya made her pineapple & ham dish (with bacon instead of ham). Steven picked out this meatball dish.

On Wednesday the boys had a make-up swim lesson. (With another lesson on Thursday!) Afterward it was a quick stop at the optometrist to pick up Steven’s glasses.

This was the meal Sammy made with Lindsay. She said it looked gourmet and that he helped with almost everything! Looks fantastic to me!

On Thursday the kids spent time at a playground and then visited the library for books of the week.

Amaya borrowed a face painting book and Lindsay turned her into a softball. 🙂

Evening shows with Steven…

He did my hair for me 🙂

On Friday Penni had a vacation day so Lindsay came for the full day. It was a treat for the kids to get extra Lindsay time. She took them to The Bees Knees to do pottery. Then to Starbucks for hot chocolate (where they wanted to sit like they’re “mature”), and then to a park. A full, fun day!

Sammy painted a dragon

Amaya painted a pig

Steven painted a sandwhich

Mature lol

Some field!

Amaya loves sweet Sally. All the kids do. I can’t believe she’ll be 17 years old next month. Good thing she’s immortal.

This morning, Amaya got a new summer look with some pink and blue in her hair. I think it looks great!

And I took Steven to the barber shop (JJ’s) for a clean up of his curls. Jason did a great job cutting the bottom part of Steven’s hair last weekend but Steven wouldn’t let him at the top. His hair needed some balance and he was also hoping they could shave the hot wheels logo in the side. Amaya joined us on the trip. Afterward we walked next door and got ice cream – for Sammy, too.

Jason and the kids played Monopoly this weekend. I’m pretty sure Jason won. Every time someone was out, Steven played the Imperial March from Star Wars.

Sammy wasn’t in the mood to swim today, but Steven, Amaya and I spent the day at the JCC pool. It was a hot day – perfect for swimming. We had an extra treat because their friend Ruxin, Ruxin’s mom and his brother Apollo joined us there for a couple of hours.

While Sammy hung out with his dad, we had a great day out in the sun.

Amaya passed the deep water test for the season.

She spent nearly 2 hours of our time there just going in a loop – jump off the diving board, climb out of the pool, get in line, jump off the diving board, climb out of the pool…and so on.

Steven really enjoyed watching everyone jump off the diving board.

Amaya, handling concession on her own.

Diving!! My friend Addie watched her video and gave her a few good tips to try next time: keep her arms pressed against her ears to keep her head down the whole time and keep her knees together to help keep her legs together and straight.

Great day!

That’s it for us! Have a great week!

This is going to be a short little blog. I’m in Sundance, UT with friends and so my focus is there. But still, a blog.

It rained almost the entire week. Definitely disappointing for a bunch of kids who want days at the pool and the lake. They did get to spend time cleaning the play room. Poor consolation, I suspect.

Just lounging around with Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars.

When I read books at bedtime it always offers some prime “Sally petting” time before and during. Sally has grown so docile in her old age or, perhaps, she’s just grown to trust Steven, Sammy and Amaya.

Amaya thinks this is a funny picture – trying to pose while focusing on Sally.

On Wednesday, the kids went to Stemville – a hands on play place that Steven has been eyeing for a while. It was reservation only and looked pretty quiet. The kids played for two hours, ate out with Penni and then hit up a playground, taking advantage of one of the few dry days of the week.

Steven always has time for cuddles with his mama. <3

If Sammy has trouble sleeping, meditations are a great option for him. I love that, at such a young age, he’s building skills like this.

On Thursday, after more than two years, Bitcherie Weekend is back. Our 13th! This trip highlighted the challenge of the kids and I having been in each other’s space for the past 15 months. I know I’ve done 1:1 trips to NY since the pandemic started but it was very, very difficult for Sammy to see me head off for 4 nights. We’re all so used to being together and the kids are used to knowing I’m home with them. It led to some very sad goodbyes with Bubba.

Steven, shockingly, didn’t bat an eye. I just got a “goodbye Bestie! I love you!” and off I went.

Amaya also sent me off with a big smile

Waves goodbye.

Shortly after I left, we had some fun deliveries – an air hockey table and a foosball table! I’m so excited to get home and play with them.

Sammy, via his iPod, stayed in near constant contact with me as I traveled to UT. I had phone calls and FaceTimes and arrived in UT to about 20 pictures that looked like this. My poor Bubba. 🙁

(On of the times we were on the phone, Amaya was in the background yelling, “This is Steven! I love you, Mommy! You’re the best!!” Funny girl.)

This is definitely my favorite text of the weekend from Sammy. ” That doesn’t help. Please respond.”

The separation led to, I believe, many nights in a row of sleepovers with Daddy. I am going to have to put a plan in place to get used being apart from one another.

On Friday, the Penni took the kids to Panera for breakfast as a way to get out of the house during more rain. So much rain. They also had a popcorn movie afternoon (A New Hope) and a lego building contest.

Haircut weekend – long overdue – and Steven’s set on long on top, sort on the sides. We’ll work on taming it. 🙂

On Saturday night, the kids skipped right to Return of the Jedi for movie night #2. Movie and cupcakes while Mommy was away!

It was a lazy day at home for the kids and Jason, followed by dinner out at Garage where they were thrilled to wrap up the weekend with ice cream sundaes.

Finally, here are some pictures of the Bitcherie in Utah! Together again!!

Have a great week!

This was another week that feels so full of activity it’s hard to believe that Monday was, as I type this, less than a week ago.

On Monday morning, we gathered our stuff and said goodbye to a wonderful weekend in OH but not before we managed get this great family photo. <3

Steven wanted a picture with Grandma Sunshine because they were both wearing red.

When we were in NY, we started keeping track of the license plates we saw. This first part of the list is compliments of Nana who transcribed our list as the kids and I drove home from Westchester. We’ve been adding ever since. (And this week we added Idaho and Wisconsin.)

Some Monday cuddles

Amaya and Steven (^^) both got new hats. Will it surprise anyone to hear that Amaya’s matches Charlie’s? She looks so cute in it.

A parting gift from Grandma Sunshine was a box of 480 water balloons. Monday was a hot, hot day so we decided to get busy and have some water balloon fun.

I thought I was just going to watch peacefully until Sammy the Stinker decided to soak me and drag me into the battle. Totally worth it! We ran through about 350 of the water balloons and were drenched by the time we were through.

We went out for a family dinner to wrap up the 4th of July weekend – Amaya went in style.

Deadwood! We ate here in an igloo for the kids’ birthday but it’s been a long time since we ate inside. The table we were seated at was the first table all 5 of us ate at together, many years ago.

The Sloomoo experience carried on…

This week the kids started back at swim! It’s been since late November that they’ve gone but we definitely feel comfortable returning now and have the freedom in our schedule. Since Jason was off on Tuesday, he joined the boys and Penni to watch Amaya.

Right back into it! She did great!

Other than that, it was a quiet day. The kids went to a park and settled back into a new summer routine.

In the evening, Steven showed me his progress at Super Mario Odyssey.

Summer means summer reading! The kids picked out new books.

On Wednesday night I went out for dinner with friends which sent the kids into a tizzy. They’re really used to having me around most of the time. We’re going to have to adjust together.

Here’s how Steven fell asleep…

On Thursday, Amaya dove into a new slime kit that she bought with her own money. She wants everyone to know that Sammy isn’t the only one who loves slime. 🙂

Slime is a great bonding activity for these two. <3

Just like Amaya did, on Thursday the boys jumped right back into swim class. So proud of these boys.

Friday morning, while the kids got ready for a zoo day, Amaya worked on her slime. If this isn’t a zoo look, what is right?

Breakfast hugs

Zoo day!! Penni said it was back to pre-COVID crowds. The zoo requires masks inside but all of the inside exhibits are open again and all of the food vendors are ready to go. Whoo hoo!!

They wrapped up a looooong zoo day on the carousel.

Friday we returned to “Sleep with Parents” night and I got a smiling Bubba. This boy is such a ray of light. Before bed, he told me all about “the cutest” episode of Phineas and Ferb. It’s one where Perry (who doesn’t like to team up) teams up with another animal agent and, at the end, sees Perry giving a small “Platysmile”. (Perry is a platypus.) Now I call Sammy’s sweet smile a Platysmile. <3

On Saturday morning, the kids and I headed back to OH for a weekend with my friend Hannah and her family. Every summer she comes up from Baton Rouge to stay with her parents in Lakewood, OH – outside Cleveland and, every summer since 2016 – except 2020, the kids and I have visited Hannah and her family.

Amaya took this picture of me when we were stopped at McDonalds for a late breakfast. I had a shirt on my head (plopping) and they thought it was hysterical that I went out like that.

Only I could turn a 2:40 trip into a 4 hour extravaganza with stop after stop. But I did. The kids were in great spirts for our last stop at a Service Plaza. Some Popeyes and then we were almost there!

We made it! It’s amazing to me that this is the 5th time we’ve visited Hannah and her family. Hannah has 6 kids and the youngest three, Bonnie, Betsy and Abby, are triplets born a few months after SSA. Her oldest, Evelyn, is 11 with Lucy and Josie in between.

In the past, SSA stayed by my side for a while after we arrived and the kids needed a reasonable amount of supervision. This time, they all took off together playing imaginary play games outside and with all sorts of physical games (foosball, air hockey, ping pong) inside. It was awesome for them and so nice for Hannah and I to just be able to sit and talk.

In a battle, the dead lie in place hoping their surviving teammates pull out a victory.

A lot of fun was had in this box.

Dinner outside!

After dinner, we took a trip to an ice cream parlor. It was so much fun.

We wrapped up the night with an episode of Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn – an older Nickelodeon show about quadruplets. Perfect for this crew and something I’m sure SSA will revisit.

We were able to stay in OH until almost noon today. Later than I intended but the kids were having so much fun playing with the Birchman girls.

We took a picture of Steven, Betsy, Amaya, Bonnie, Abby and Sammy in the same order as a picture of them in 2017.

For fun, here’s a picture of the gang when we first visited in 2016.

It rained and rained on the way home. Sammy was a fan. (I was not.)

The kids wanted me to get pictures of this Service Plaza because it looks so different from ones further east. It’s really something when your kids are that familiar with OH service plazas but we also stop in them on drives to and from NY so there have been many visits in the past 12 months.

This is the view Steven wanted.

And that’s it! We’re home safe and sound in MI and I’m staying put until Thursday when I head to Utah for Bitcherie Weekend 13! Have a great week!

Some weeks it feels like more of a miracle than others that I get the blog published so, as I type this on Saturday morning, I am curious to see if I make it for Sunday night with all we have going on. Future me will find out!

We had a fantastic rest of our week in NY. Each morning, while I took some morning meetings for work, the kids went across the street to Nana and Papa’s for breakfast. It worked out perfectly!

After Sunday, we had another three full days at the beach. It was hot and sunny and we all made the most of it. We got into a good routine. Right when we got to the beach we’d stop at the playground and I’d apply sunscreen to everyone. While they waited, and afterward, Charlie and SSA played a game called “Toilet Tag”. I get the sense it’s like Freeze Tag.

Monday was primarily a pool day. The kids were in the pool, on the playground and then back in the pool.

Steven really wanted to go on a shell hunt and I agreed to be his partner in crime. It was so hot. I brought a small backpack with water which was a lifesaver.

Steven took me to a spot he’d checked out on Sunday.

Steven hadn’t planned to go down to the ocean but the heat got to him, too, and it was beautiful down at the water. Cooler and breezy.

Back up by the cabana, Papa and the rest of the kids hit the pool.

The whole gang. Savta joined us on Monday. She mostly stayed by the cabana but it was great that she could come with us. <3

When we got back to Glenwood Rd, we took the kids on a promised trip to Carvel for ice cream. Joe & Nicole’s daughter, Dalia, was staying with Auntie and Dod Shuki this week so she came by and, after ice cream, the kids all played with legos together for a short while.

My view of Nana from the rental. Back and forth and back and forth she goes.

On Tuesday we headed down to the ocean right away. It was another hot, clear day and the ocean called us.

Three years running, this is Sammy’s favorite bathing suit. Now it’s soft and worn and has been mended multiple times.

Amaya and Steven went on a shell hunt with Nana. They didn’t find many shells but they did find a whole lot of birds.

Charlie and Sammy chatted while Steven and Amaya went for their walk.

Auntie, Dod Shuki and Dalia joined us at the beach and Auntie got comfortable in the sand.

Dod Shuki was on ocean duty with Dalia and Amaya

Amaya and Dalia, playing together. Cousins’ kids!

Even I got in the water on Tuesday. I got a little red on Sunday so worked hard to stay covered the rest of the trip, even in the ocean.

Such a pretty view

I had a work dinner in Manhattan on Tuesday night so I left the beach around 2:30pm. Nana, Auntie and Dod Shuki stayed with the rest of the kids and wrapped up the day with ice cream. Then it was a sleepover at Nana and Papa’s house.

Wednesday it was back to the beach again for our last beach day of the trip. Auntie, Dod Shuki, Savta and Dalia all joined us.

Everyone in the ocean, including me!

Charlie and I are out in the waves while Steven looks on.

Amaya loved her wet suit all week long.

Steven lived it up on Wednesday. He created a little sand nest for himself and settled in, living his best life. Watching him relax in to the sand was one of my favorite moments of the trip.

After our last beach day, we headed to the Point Lookout Clam Bar. Aunt Sara, who has been working during the day, was able to join us! ❤ ❤ ❤

Thursday morning, again while I worked, Charlie, SSA, Dalia and the grandmothers spent time visiting with Savta at her house.

It was a rainy day and our NYC day! The adventure of the trip was a visit to Sloomoo – a “slime museum” in Soho. The museum was full of different slime experiences including a catapult, a “move slime with your mind” game, and a DIY bar.

Amaya, shooting slime at the rest of us.

So much slime! (With alcohol wipes between each station.)

The museum offers an opportunity to get slimed. We didn’t buy tickets to that part of the experience but, apparently, someone donated a ticket and Sammy was the lucky recipient! He was first to volunteer and off he went.

They covered him in a shower cap and smock and then rained down a ton of slime on him. I think he loved it!

Ready to go!

SLIME!

Glow-in-the-dark slime

We wrapped up the day with the DIY bar – we picked base, a scent, added a color and then selected some charms.

Mixing in our colors

Oomooyoo with her slime! (We got nametags that replaced vowels with “oo”. It was Choorloo, Stoovoon, Soommoo, Oomooyoo, Moommoo and Noonoo.)

On the way out, the kids ran through slime! (It says “no running”. There was lots of running.)

Such a fun experience!!

Before heading back to Long Island, Steven asked that we walk the few blocks to Chinatown. On the way, we saw this building in the background. It’s 56 Leonard St and the kids recognized it right away because we watched a show on how it was built. Very, very cool to see in person.

Starbucks, compliments of Nan

Sara came over for dinner (IHOP!) and then it was time to say goodbye to Charlie. It was a rough goodbye for the kids. Amaya cried when Charlie left and Sammy cried at bedtime. Nana came over to rub backs to help ease the kids into sleep.

Very early Friday morning we headed back to Detroit, where we were all so happy to see Jason!

Then, after a few hours at home, we jumped in the car to head to Sandusky for a weekend adventure with Grandma Sunshine, Aunt Annette, Aunt Ouize, Uncle Todd, Nancy and Abe. Another AirBnB for the Cline Kids!

Art contest, let by Steven. Grandma Sunshine was the winner.

Snuggly Sammy

We had a lazy Saturday morning while we waited for Nancy to arrive from the airport. The kids played cards with Grandma and then Steven led another art challenge.

Today we spent the day at Cedar Point – a first for the Cline Five? (Not for Jason, for a first for us as a family.) We were there from noon to 6pm and had a blast. Abe and Todd soldiered on even longer, leaving closer to 9pm.

Ready for the day!

Nancy and Amaya on the carousel.

Nancy and I adventured together on the pirate boat ride.

Steven found a jeep ride he wanted to try. I was his happy passenger.

Sweet little face.

Bumper cars were a huge hit for Sammy and Amaya. I think they went three times.

Amaya and Aunt Ouize!

Pilot Steven

Steven and I joined the crew for bumper cars.

Cedar Downs – a fast horse racing ride. Sammy was very nervous at first but loved it enough to ride three times. (2.5 times, really. Our 2nd ride was stopped and restarted because they had to remove a rider who wasn’t following the rules.)

While Sammy and I were riding, Ouize took Amaya and Steven to the arcade so Sammy wanted a chance to win tickets, too.

Meanwhile, Aunt Annette and Aunt Ouize took Amaya and Steven on one of those rides where you drive a car on track that runs down the middle of the vehicle.

Steven loves his maps.

While Ouize, Nancy and I rode the Iron Dragon roller coaster, Grandma Sunshine, Aunt Annette and SSA took a train ride.

We wrapped up the park with a tram ride to the entrance.

Back at home, there was time for Super Mario Party, dinner and then smores – compliments of supplies left by our AirBnB host.

Happy, happy kids <3

We spent today at Cedar Point’s water park. The kids got off to a slow start but ended up having so much fun. I love water parks and was really excited to have time for a fewer bigger slides, myself.

Sammy and I went on a big raft ride together. It was an (unexpected) hour long wait but he thought it was worth it. So much so, he wanted to do it again!

Mid-day lunch in the shade.

Steven, Sammy and Amaya probably spent 2 hours in a section of the water park with tons of slides for kids. It was exactly their speed. So many smiles.

All 3 kids also hit up the rapid river (slightly less tame version of the lazy rive) and the wave pool. Then ended the day with funnel cakes.

Somehow they still had enough energy post-showers to play catch with Uncle Todd and Steven hosted a final art challenge. The artists had to draw things Steven loves so Grandma Sunshine drew me. <3

And I did it! A blog tonight! It was a phenomenal week. We are so lucky to have our family.

Have a great week and happy 4th!