Last Sunday, the kids told met that May May’s mommy was still sick and they’d see Taco again on Monday. I was pretty sure that wasn’t the case but they were right and I was wrong! Here’s Taco following the Big Kids up the stairs at nap time. Their relationship is so sweet. All weekend Steven has been telling me, “That’s too small for Baby Taco. We shouldn’t have that in our house if Baby Taco is there.” 🙂

Almost every night, when I get home from work, the kids are hiding behind the couch cushions waiting to “caprise” me. I’ve learned to enter slowly because there are meltdowns if they think I saw them before they had a chance to hide, especially from  my Sam Man.

Sammy is building patience with his cutting. I think he has the skills but he tends to run out of patience pretty quickly into the bigger projects.

Sammy asked Amaya to help him with the corners. How cute is that!?!? Leveraging their strengths!

Mommy, make me a crown!

“Don’t take my picture!”

Three kids in crowns, watching a show on the iPad while Sammy poops. I was home alone and they kind of hosed me with this one but Sammy insisted he needed a tv show because he was scared to poop.

Art projects!

Amaya continues to work on her cutting.

And her multi-media.

One from Steven, too.

Dance class Wednesday!

After dance class, Megan came to my office to drop off Steven so we could head to the airport for our trip to NY. Yay!! Amaya had a hard time saying goodbye. She held onto Steven for so long that we finally heard, “Can somebody help me?” 🙂

Our flight was delayed so we had time for a sit-down dinner at the airport. Steven is writing his order on the menu. Mac & cheese, please.

Ready to roll! Heading off for these trips is so much fun. The kids and I are always SO excited.

A late, but easy, flight and then into Nana’s arms.

Fast asleep in mommy’s childhood bed. It still can’t get over the sight of my child sleeping in this same bed I slept in for my entire childhood. Steven saw the fabric on the wall and said, “this is the same as Poppy Steven’s chair!” Yes, it sure is!

When you wake up before mommy and your pants are in her room, Nana improvises with her big, big socks.

On Thursday I had work in West Haven so Nana and Papa took Steven to the Long Island Children’s Museum. I remember going here with Chase way back when!

I even remember a photo of little Chase on this motorcycle. <3

Back at home, Megan took Amaya and Sammy out for lunch after school. A special treat while Steven was away. Sammy looks so old here, almost not even like himself!

Both boys have the same squinty forced smile right now. 🙂

We wrapped up our day with dinner at Aunt Sara and Uncle Dave’s house. Chase, Charlie and Steven were so excited to get to see each other. The big cousins are incredibly engaged and patient. It’s amazing to see.

During Thursday’s visit to the Children’s Museum, Steven saw the Firefighter Museum and was really excited about visiting so we made it our plan for Friday morning. He even had his rescue vehicle shirt to wear for the occasion.

He was a little nervous about the helicopter but worked up the nerve to climb inside. I had to reassure him that it would NOT go.

Talking to a pretend 911 dispatcher. (You should have seen me explaining the telephone to him. 🙂 )

Here he’s showing a real fire fighter the rescue vehicles that Nana and Papa bought for him.

The afternoon and evening was spent at Nana and Papa’s. I really can’t get over how well my kids and Sara’s kids play together. It’s awesome to see.

Back in MI, there were smiles all around!

That is until someone uses his scissors to cut something other than hair. Bound to happen? Right of passage? Hopefully this was the first and last time the Cline kids get creative with their scissors.

Back in NY, we wrapped up the evening showing Steven videos of my pregnancy and his birth and looking at photos in his first year blog book. “Why did I need to wear a helmet on my head when I was a baby?”

Saturday morning started eeeeeeearly for everyone after a sleepover where Chase and I were roommates and Steven and Charlie roomed together. It was so early, in fact, that after Charlie and Chase went home I was able to convince Steven to take a nap before 9am and he slept until just after 11am! He needed it, too, because we were heading to two Hanukkah parties that day.

Drawing stop signs.

The first party was at Aunt Sara’s house with Nana’s side of the family.

The great grandkids and Savta!

Joe, trying to convince Steven that he was an astronaut who walked on the moon.

Steven was very, very excited about his new Hulk action figure. It has a button you can press to make him talk and he walked around to everyone asking, “Would you like to push the button?” I don’t think he missed a single person there.

It snowed in NY on Saturday and all the kids wanted to go outside to play so, thanks to an old pair of Charlie’s snow boots, Steven was able to join the big kids and help build a snowman.

Our 2nd Hanukkah party was at Glori’s house with Poppy Steven’s side of the family.

Captain America!! Steven is so excited about this costume from the Engels. Out of his mind excited. It is amazing to see.

Steven has been talking about getting an ambulance for Hanukkah for months and Spencer and Jamie delivered! “This is just what I wanted!!”

We’re saving the rest of our gifts from our Hanukkah parties to open at home with Sammy and Amaya. <3

On the way home from the party Steven told me, ,”I’m funny but not as funny as Uncle Dave!”

All the cousins – minus Heidi, Sammy and Amaya who weren’t with us for the party. Such a great tradition!

Today was our last day in NY! We spent the morning at Aunt Sara and Uncle Dave’s house and then went out for brunch to celebrate Papa Gene’s birthday. Someone spent the whole morning dressed as Captain America.

In MI, Sammy and Amaya also had a chance to play in the snow!

Sammy showing off a bowl of play doh cookies.

And that’s it for our time in NY! Steven and I are up in the air right now, making our way back toward the Land of Cheltenham. We had the BEST time.

Have a great week!