Monday morning Amaya had to stay home from school because of her fever on Sunday. She was feeling fine and fever free but rule are rules and they’re there for a reason so home she stayed.

SSA were excited to get outside and “do science” in the afternoon.

Tuesday was Sammy’s turn to stay home. I had a series of conference calls so I was able to stay home with him until Megan came at 11:30am. We were cool in our shades before I left for school and Sammy went to collect his brother and sister.

I packed a pb&j lunch for the kids because Steven (finally) had an appointment to get his new orthotics.

He picked out orange straps with construction vehicles. Three times, he told Josh the orthotist that he picked orange straps because they’re his mommy’s favorite color. <3

Amaya is very into rainbows. Steven, too, but not quite as obsessively as Amaya is. She draws them and cuts them out all the time. This was on Wednesday morning before school.

Sammy: You’re a really good cutter-outer.
Steven: Yeah, my sister is.

Wednesday was dress rehearsal day! My heart. My heart, my hear, my heart.

Megan got the kids all ready and I met her at Northville but High School a little after 5pm. Amaya was too cool for school and couldn’t be bothered with me but Steven was particularly clingy. As soon as it was time for their class to line up I rushed away so Megan could coordinate and they wouldn’t be afraid to leave me. Steven was specifically nervous about the curtains but Miss Christina reassured him that there was nothing scary in the curtains. (He didn’t realize they were open and you could see from the wings to the stage.

 

I was SO proud of Steven, Sammy and Amaya. I’d been worried that they’d be nervous and refuse to go on stage but there they were – (mostly, kind of, sort of) doing their dance!

The kids were offered lollipops by another mom and Steven turned them down only to immediately regret his choice. Daddy came to the rescue and bought lollipops which meant Steven got a special treat of a lollipop on the way to school on Thursday.

Friday was the last day of school! What a wonderful year the kids had. They’re in an amazing program and all loved their teachers, Ms. Faith and Ms. Eugenia.

A shocking amount of growth this school year!

Ms. Faith wore her Captain America t-shirt for Steven on the last day of school.

He had a fever and couldn’t go to school for the last day so, when he returned to pick up Sammy and Amaya, he was wearing his Cap shirt, too!

The whole gang.

Last day of school pool time!

Nana and Savta are visiting this weekend! As always, that means celebrating Shabbat together on Friday night.

Saturday morning Amaya was ready for a pretend play date on the beach.

Amaya had an empty vitamin container and Steven really wanted it. In a nice show of generosity, Amaya let Steven have it. It was a sweet little moment between them.

While Sammy was at the grocery store, Savta held down the fort with Amaya and Steven.

Lunch at Bricks! Checking out the bar with Savta.

“I’m drinking milk like a grown-up!”

The kids wanted lemons and got up the nerve to go to the bar and ask the bartender. I remember being nervous about stuff like that when I was a little kid.

Strong hand dryers!!

Our evening event was the big dance recital!! A little chaos ensued late afternoon when Steven tripped and hurt his toe. He was refusing to bear weight which is, obviously, problematic for a dance recital. We iced it and gave him tylenol which was enough for the tough guy to push through. (Editing to add some more context from Jason: “The ice was on the wrong food (for crying out loud) and Daddy performed the medically advised orthotic treatment, without the benefit of a medical consult and with chaos swirling around him!!!!” All true. Daddy wrapped Steven’s toes like a champ!)

And off we went!

Jason took the kids because it seemed more likely they’d stay in the dressing room if I wasn’t the one leaving them there. Each class needed two chaperones and our new sitter, Madison, was on board to do it for our kids’ class so they’d have someone they (kind of) knew staying in the back with them. It was certainly more comfortable for me to leave them with someone I trusted to look out for them.

By all accounts, they had a blast back stage. Madison sent me these awesome pictures from before and after their performance.

The whole class, proud of the awesome job they did onstage.

The gang watching included Nana, Savta, Grandma, Aunt Annette, Megan and my friend Beyonca. An huge cheering section for the Cline Kids.

Megan and I think this might be our first ever selfie!

We picked up the kids after intermission and headed home. It was a 7pm show which is normally bedtime and it was after 8:30 but the time we headed outside to celebrate. The kids were so excited to get flowers – three bouquets each!

This girl holds bouquets of flowers like she was made for it.

Grandma & Nana!

Savta & Nana!

Aunt Annette & Grandma!

May May!

Enjoying M&Ms from May May. 🙂

Watching a video of Beyonca’s daughter’s dance recital.

Here are some videos! The first is from the dress rehearsal and the 2nd is from the recital.

SSA’s first dance recital ticket.

First program

The whole experience was the BEST.

The kids went to be laaaaaaate and were out faaaaaaast. (Steven took a turn on the floor so Amaya could take a turn in the bed. Not long until Amaya’s new bed arrives!)

This morning it looked like Steven’s toe was a lot worse and Sammy was up in the middle of the night with an ear ache so we made plans to spend the morning at Urgent Care. Whoo hoo!

But first, celebrating Daddy on Father’s Day!!

Amaya’s first time writing “Daddy”. <3 <3 <3

The kids, Nana, Savta and I spent 3 hours out between Urgent Care and a trip to the ER for an X-ray. Sammy has an ear infection (as does Amaya) and the doctor thought Steven’s toe looked bad enough that the x-ray was worth while to be sure it was immobilized correctly if it was broken. Steven was a rock star. The tech was amazing and explained everything to him very clearly. After the x-ray, she even let him come back and see on of the images of his “bones”. We heard back a few hours later and got confirmation that it’s just badly bruised, thank goodness! So we’re just left with two kids on amoxicillin. Better than broken bones!

Three more random Steven stories to wrap up.

First, this picture came home this week with a packet of artwork that was still at school. I asked Steven about it and he said, “It’s you and me, mommy.” Be still my heart.

Here’s another picture he drew during the week of “a crane that can knock down buildings”. Damn accurate!

And, finally, here’s an exchange Savta had with Steven on Thursday afternoon:
Steven to Savta: I love you
Savta to Steven: What does that mean?
Steven, after some thought: It means I want to keep you.

These kids of ours. We are lucky parents. <3

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads in our lives! We love you!