This is one of those weeks where it’s hard to believe that Monday was just a week ago. So much has happened between then and now!

Amaya earned a staying-in-bed prize on Monday morning and picked this fuzzy Elsa journal which she started writing in immediately with a pictorial log of the family’s allergies.

Much earlier than I expected, we have our first snow. Sadness for me, but the kids were excited. Sunday night, in anticipation, Jason ran out to get snow boots. Thank goodness!

The kids were so cute in their snow gear. My friend Heather got these monogram hats for the kids three years ago. I can’t believe Amaya can still wear hers.

What I expected to be a sprinkling of snow absolutely nailed us. Gabby texted me at 3:30pm to say that she was stuck in snow traffic and worried she’d miss the bus so I grabbed everything and ran out the door of my office fast. My normal 12 minute commute home took me almost half an hour but, fortunately, the buses were running late, too. [Side note: I just learned that the plural of “bus” is not “busses”.] And it’s a good thing I went home because an hour later poor Gabby was still stuck in one lane of traffic.

There was so much snow to trudge through in our winter wonderland.

Obviously I had to let the kids go out to play. Sammy and Amaya wanted to traverse the back yard and Steven had his eyes set on clearing off the deck.

Here’s a small sampling of Amaya’s allergy log.

Mommy: Codeine

Grandma Sunshine: Medical Tape

Nana: Cats

Nana (again): People coughing on her. Which isn’t quite an allergy but definitely something for her to avoid.

Daddy: Dog poop. Again, not an allergy but there’s definitely an aversion lol.

Steven: Amoxicillin

Our wacky kids still don’t sleep in their beds. It’s the floor or beanbags for all 3. (Aunt Sara & Uncle Dave – those 1st birthday presents are getting good use!) Steven has also taken to sleeping under my childhood blankie which is so, so special – even as I remind him that it’s still mine.

Amaya sleeping with her daddy. She looks pretty angelic here.

Tuesday was a snow day with no school so I worked from home until Gabby got out of class. To pass time before they binged Descendants 1 and 2, the kids took turns circling gift ideas in the Amazon gift catalog. This is the first time they’ve gotten to do that and it was fun to see what they’re each interested in.

Steven was very proud of this extremely large number he wrote and wanted to know if “it’s cinfinity or past cinfinity.”

We still have work to do on the concept of infinity. 🙂

I have this copy of Leo the Late Bloomer from my childhood and it’s a favorite book to read to SSA. Steven decided to draw his own version of the story.

We were stuck with snow all week long. Can you see those bags the kids are carrying? They’re supposed to bring snow pants back and forth to school every day. What the heck!?! I sent notes to the kids’ teachers letting them know we have extras at home so Amaya’s teacher kept her’s there but the boys are still going back and forth with them each day plus backpacks and, on days when they need snow boots, a change of shoes. It’s a lot for them to carry and a lot to remember to take off the bus each day. They’re getting the hang of it though!

On Friday night I took Steven and Sammy to a mother/son dance in Northville. It was much smaller than the one we went to in Novi last spring and, like much in Northville, it had the feel of a very small town event. Parks and Recs-esque. It was a good time, though, with enough to keep everyone occupied. We had pizza, face (arm) painting, dancing, balloons and minute-to-win-it games.

I had to provide directions of what to draw and Sammy had to draw the picture on the plate on his head without looking. I think this was my favorite activity. Sammy was super into the games while Steven was happy to run around and play with balloons for most of the night.

Steven, at the end of the night, talking to the community center employee he befriended.

On Saturday morning, as we got ready for a family weekend at Great Wolf Lodge, Amaya convined me to let her wear make up. Lipstick, blush, eye shadow and mascara. “I look like I’m ten.” She was so happy.

We made the drive to Sandusky and, when the kids saw the water park for the first time, Steven said, “Wow. It’s even better than I thought it would be.”

Hitting the water park!

For the most part, the kids were pretty timid. Steven didn’t really stray past the little cubs area. Sammy and Amaya both tried the bigger pool and Sammy tried out one small slide. I think he’d have loved the bigger water slide but he was nervous and couldn’t pull the trigger. (And, of course, ended up sobbing at bed time that he didn’t go on he big one.”)

Only Sammy was willing to give the fort a try. In fact, when it was down to the two of us at the water park, he hunkered down while I tried out two of the water slides connected to the fort. (I love, love, love water slides. I can’t wait until they’re older and willing to give them a shot.)

Snack break! “Is my tongue red?” (Side note: While he was eating his ice pop we were talking about New York and I asked if he knew which room was my bedroom when I was a kid. “The one that Poppy Steven made?” It’s so meaningful to me that the kids can call up references to Poppy Steven like that. <3)

Despite his fear of the water slides, Sammy is remains my adventure buddy. We stayed at the water park nearly an hour after everyone else left. We rode the lazy river and I got my shot at some slides.

Dinner for the wolf cubs.

Sammy loves ordering Shirley Temples.

A meet-and-greet with Oliver for Steven and Amaya followed by a knighting ceremony.

We finished up in the arcade where we spent $60 for about 45 minutes of game play and $5 worth of prizes. Worth it!

The water park didn’t open until 10am (WHAT???) so Steven, Sammy and Amaya entertained themselves by jumping and jumping and jumping on the beds.

Great Wolf Lodge has this money grab where they sell expensive wands that kids can use to go on quests. The wands can activate different elements throughout the hotel. Sammy really wanted to go on a quest so, while Amaya and Steven shopped in the gift shop with Jason, Sammy and I went on our quest.

We wrapped up the morning with another stop at the water park.

Amaya loves to swim. We really need to get her proficient. (All 3, actually, even if just for safety.)

Sammy and I stayed longer again, this time in the lazy river and then the family hot tub. It was such nice together time with my Bubbalicious.

We made it home around 3:30pm, I think, which was just enough time to decompress & relax a bit before bedtime. We rounded out our day with the chemistry set that came as part of Grandma Sunshine’s STEM subscription. The kids were so engaged.

That’s it for this week. And what a week!

Have a great one.