Once again Monday seems like a loooooong time ago but it was Steven, Sammy and Amaya’s first day of camp! They go Monday- Friday form 8am- 12pm – the same as their school schedule. They have swim or splash pad on Tues, Wed and Thurs and are with new “teachers” and some new kids, too. After their first day they said, “We like our teachers and made new friends.” What more can I we ask for!?!
I came home Monday night and Steven was drawing rainbows and trying so hard to add hearts. They kept looking like M’s and the poor guy was super frustrated (and pissed). Thankfully Megan was there to help because, when I offered, he said, “You can’t help me! It’s for YOU!”
For months, Amaya’s dresses have been sitting in a laundry basket in her closet. Megan had the great idea to get a bar that was accessible for her height. Genius! She was thrilled and she and Steven spent a solid half hour working together to hang all of the dresses.
The finished product!
Sammy and I had plans to go to NY on Wednesday night. He was bouncing with energy about the trip and had been asking to start packing for a solid week before we left. The weather for Wednesday looked terrible so, rather than risk a delay or cancellation, on the way home from work on Tuesday I called an audible and made plans to fly out that night. I wish I had Sammy on video when I told him. “We’re going tonight!?!?”
We finished packing quickly and by 7:45pm were off to the airport.
“Mommy, can I hold your hand the whole time because this is Mommy-Sammy time?”
First time standing on the airport train.
We didn’t leave until 10pm and within 5 minutes of take off this boy was OUT.
I was even able to carry him off the plane and transfer him to his stroller. 100%, Sammy is our best sleeper. In fact, he sleeps so well on these trips because he’s alone in a room with no one to wake him before he’s ready to get up.
Since I came in a day early, I worked from Nana & Papa’s house on Wednesday. My colleagues got a kick out of the idea of me working from my sister’s childhood bedroom.
Early in the day, Sammy got some quality time with Papa.
Then he spent the rest of the day hanging with Chase, Charlie and Nana and Aunt Sara & Uncle Dave’s house.
Post-surgery Chase needs to wear a face mask to play games like soccer and Sammy wanted to be like his big cousin.
Making each other laugh at bath time. I love this cousins picture. 🙂
Wednesday night, around 8:30pm, we lost power back in MI. Jason took Steven and Amaya into his bed in case it was took dark to navigate if they needed him later. Steven was fast asleep so Amaya told Jason to carry him and she’d get Morminer. In this picture she’s rubbing his back as he sleeps. <3 I love how these kids care for each other.
Thursday was a vacation day for me so we hit up one of Sammy’s favorite restaurants for lunch – Benihana!
With Savta!
Of course Nana was prepared for a wait at the table. Who wouldn’t want a story from their great grandmother?
He was so excited to see cooking start at a neighboring table.
Watching the chef – completely enthralled.
Sammy likes a lap for the part with the fire.
It’s hard to tell but the chef set it up to make it look like godzilla was blowing the fire. He was great!
If you take Sammy to Benihana, be prepared to add a lobster tail to his order lol. He did awesome with the chopsticks, too.
Sammy had mentioned that he wanted to go on the carousel so, after lunch, we headed over to the Nunley’s Carousel. First, he wanted to look for “beautiful things” with Savta. (And again, after our rides.)
Sammy prefers the bench to the horses. On our second ride he did watch me on a horse while he sat on the bench on his own.
We rounded out the day at the Goldberg’s house. Chase saw the shirt Sammy was wearing and immediately went to change into his matching shirt – both gifts from Aunt Dale and Uncle Arnie.
And we finally got to see Uncle Dave!!!
By the time we got home a downpour hit and Sammy was thrilled to get to stand out in the rain with an umbrella. I love the simple joys for 4 year olds.
Meanwhile, back in MI, Megan met up with Mikey and Taco and took Steven and Amaya to a big party at the JCC complete with a petting zoo and inner.
“I pet a sheep like Morminer!”
Amaya still has no interest in petting animals but she was ready to chow down.
Friday was a planned work day for me, visiting schools. I headed out early while Sammy, Nana and Papa prepared for a beach day. First order of business – cleaning a school bus to get it beach ready.
When we first woke up, Sammy asked if Nana had a big shovel with plastic at the end. He knew/remembered exactly what he wanted and fortunately the shovel is still at the beach – ready to dig holes for umbrellas with Papa.
He had a great day and I ended my meetings at 4pm just 15 min from the beach so I was able to meet up with my Sam Man.
We rounded out the day with dinner on the bay. Fried shrimp for mommy & Sammy. He really got a kick sitting on the edge of the dock, watching the fish.
Sammy went to bed and, shortly after, sat up asking what day it was & crying. He realized it was Friday and he hadn’t lit the Shabbat candles with Nana. We couldn’t have that so out of bed it was to light candles and enjoy two big pieces of challa with butter.
The big adventure back in MI is that Amaya was going to a wedding with Daddy as his +1! She has been soooooo excited for weeks. She even got to wear fancy new shoes with “heels”. Since Amaya was going to a wedding and Sammy was in NY, we wanted Steven to get to have something special of his own so we arranged for our sitter, Penni, to take him out to dinner. Steven wanted to get dressed up for that, too. These kids fill me up.
Amaya and Daddy – ready to go!
Making friends
Saving a seat for Daddy lol.
Amaya made a friend and stuck by her side all night!
Our girl. <3
Jason said, “It’s time to cut her off.” 🙂
She had a blast!!
Meanwhile, Megan decided to make it a special afternoon for Steven, too, and took him to glow-in-the-dark putt putt! His first time!! He told Megan it was “awesome”.
With his mile of tickets Steven redeemed prizes for all three Cline kids.
Then it was off to dinner at Garage with Penni! He knew exactly what he wanted to eat (noodles with butter). There was a bit of drama when the shape of the noodle was different than it had been but Penni was able to get him through it and they had a great time out together!
Saturday was another beach day that I got to enjoy from the start. This time we headed down to the ocean! It’s a looooooong walk from the cabana but Sammy was ready.
This kid was SO much more comfortable in the ocean that he was 10 months ago in August ’17. Last year he didn’t want the water touching him at all. This year he had a blast in the waves, with tight hands holding his. It was so much fun!
Digging and exploring with Nana.
Our last night in NY was a big adventure to a Yankees game with Aunt Sara, Uncle Dave and Chase. Off we go!
It was a long, long walk from the car to the stadium and up to our seats – mostly because we missed a perfectly positioned elevator. Sammy was taking it all in, though, and loves drinking water like a big kid. He was so funny all night. “The Yankees are terrible!” “The Detroit Tigers are my favorite team.” “The Red Sox smell like poop.” Can you hear Jason’s influence anywhere there? (That last one might have been me telling Sammy that Yankees fans think the Red Sox stink.) 🙂
Uncle Dave was so much fun with Sammy!
Right by our seats is a new Kids’ Club with space to play and family bathrooms.
THIS FACE.
We stopped off to get his “First Yankees Game” certificate and Sammy convinced me to get him cotton candy.
I think he liked it!
It was a great time at the game and a GREAT 4 days in New York. Next thing we knew, off we were to Michigan to reunite with Daddy, Steven and Amaya.
I’ll leave off this week with a video of Steven celebrating Morminer’s birthday.
Have a great one!!