We don’t have any loose teeth in the Cline house yet but I wanted to be prepared for that first tooth fairy visit so we got these cute little pillows for Steven, Sammy and Amaya to use when they start to lose their teeth. Not that I’m in any rush. Not at all. I just like to be ready.

On Monday night, Steven came downstairs with his hands behind his back, clearly holding something. It was a paper heart, and he told me that he didn’t want me to look at what it said on the front but that it was for Ms. M. (Earlier he’d yelled down from upstairs to ask me how to spell “Ms. M”.)

I’m sorry Steven but I had no choice but to peek in your backpack and see what you wrote. <3 I hope older you understands.

Steven and Sammy got their class t-shirts and were asked to wear them to school on Tuesday. Sammy’s favorite color!

They wore them for the Turkey Trot that we were going to miss because of the timing of our flight to NY. Amaya was thrilled that we wouldn’t be there. After our Fun Run, she thinks anything that involves running is “terrible” and “boring”. “All we’re going to do is run around the school.”

Tuesday, before the start of school and after we got the kids on the bus, Jason and I had our conference with Ms. M. I know I’ve mentioned that Ms. M is less communicative than Mrs. Shuart but the conference assuaged any concern I had about Ms. M’s engagement. She knew both of the boys so well and really sees them as individuals.

Both boys have great imaginations and are often ring leaders on they playground for imaginary play. They both have friends and are very independent from one another, often not even playing with each other on the playground.

She noted that Steven has tremendous enthusiasm for learning and doesn’t miss a detail. If she’s wearing her hair differently or keeps her glasses on, Steven is sure to notice and comment on it.

Sammy is making friends easily and can often get lost in his own world. She said she sometimes sees him staring off, singing quietly, in the middle of circle time. That’s our Sammy!

They’re both doing well academically, too, which is obviously great to hear.

Ms. M said that she’s working with the class on expressing more in their writing and, all year long, there has been a focus on drawing with 5 different colors and 5 different details. Below are examples from Steven and Sammy, featuring Grandma Sunshine. <3 (I’ll have to tell my colleagues that I go on work vacations lol.)

She’s working with Sammy on expressing more and with Steven on using spaces instead of periods between his letters.

We picked the kids up from school early and set off for the airport for Thanksgiving in NY. These kids are such experienced travelers and our season of frequent trips to NY is acclimating them even more. After all of these trips we have a set routine down that feels comfortable and familiar.

What a difference!! On this trip, Anna flew with me. We were in the last row of the plane because I’d been upgrade without any of the kids and the only way to get us back together was in the last row of the plane. Shortly into our flight the pilots realized the altimeter wasn’t working properly so we had to return to DTW and, miraculously, board another plane that was sitting at the next gate and available for us.

Our flight was on time!! (And I do still bring a single stroller. I use it to tote stuff around the airport – our coats, my backpack, happy meals, etc. The rule is that the kids can’t ride in it, though.)

Back to the laaaaaaaast row of the plane.

Steven took out his safety card to read along with the safety video. Oh! Before we left he told Jason he had a question for the pilots. He wanted to know how many doors were on the airplane. The pilots were busy so he asked a flight attendant instead who told him, “There are 8 doors on the plan but you can go count them for yourself.” Which of course he did and then verified in the safety card. When we got off the plane the flight attendant took time to ask him how many doors he counted.

As we descended, Steven watched out the window and kept saying things like, “wow!”, “a-mazing,” and “I can even see a bridge!” I forget that even though the kids have been flying since they were infants, as they get older the’ll appreciate different parts of the travel in new ways.

Like clockwork, Sammy falls asleep as we’re descending. It’s amazing how consistent he is. This flight, it was about 2 minutes before we touched down.

With a 5:45pm flight, we got to Nana and Papa’s house at a reasonable time. Before bed, Nana read to everyone.

On Wednesday morning I took the opportunity to join Nana at one of her doctor appointments. Steven was sad I was leaving so Amaya came over and said, “Steven, she’s Nana’s daughter and Nana might want her daughter to come with her, okay?” <3

While I worked at home, Nana took Steven, Sammy, Amaya, Charlie and Charlie’s friend Chloe to see Frozen II! Sammy said that it was perfect.

Dinner at the Goldbergs!

The boys loved watching Uncle Dave make a fire and also quickly acknowledged that it’s easier when you just flip a switch. (I hate the smell of gas fires, though. Our upstairs always gets stinky when we use the fireplace for any length of time.)

Uncle Dave let the boys take turns using the bellows to blow air on the fire.

Steven and Morminer. So consistent. To be fair, Sammy and Amaya love Puppy and Hoppy, too, they’re just harder to cuddle with an haven’t been anthropomorphized in quite the same way.

Charlie gave Amaya and eye mask which she took too immediately. I thought she’d be nervous to sleep with it on – I don’t like them – but she loves it.

We spent Thanksgiving morning at the Goldbergs. I like being in NY for Thanksgiving because the Macy’s parade isn’t on NBC by us. They air a Detroit parade and watching the Macy’s parade on CBS just isn’t the same as our NBC tradition – spurred by Saba Bob’s years of work on NBC’s coverage.

Charlie gave Amaya these large clip-on earrings that had previously been gifted to her by Savta. Amaya can’t get enough of them. I think they make her feel very grown up.

Playing word games and Minecraft.

Chase is so patient with his cousins.

Back at Nana’s house for dinner, Amaya wanted a tattoo to match her mama.

Nana is stocked up on legos for the kids.

Amaya did an amazing job reading Hop on Pop to Savta.

We had a small group for Thanksgiving dinner (a “feast” as Sammy called it) but it was delicious and special.

As a special treat, Auntie and Dod Shuki joined us for dessert. Auntie has a natural touch with the kids and Dod Shuki patiently and generously drew picture after picture for them.

Showing Auntie her special earrings.

Friday morning, in preparation of feast #2, the kids worked with Nana to make mini pumpkin pies. They really love to bake with Nana.

As a super, super special treat we went to Savta’s house for some pre-lunch ice cream. It’s impossible to say no to an offer like that. Everyone loves visiting Savta’s house – there’s so much to see and investigate.

Looking for secret compartments…

Chase scratched his cornea and Charlie wanted to make him a card so Amaya and Steven joined in.

As always, Nana gets a photo with all of her grandkids when we come to visit. This one is a winner.

Amaya wanted a picture just with Uncle Dave, Chase and Charlie.

Savta gave Steven a game of Go Fish so there were many, many of games of Go Fish through the weekend.

We had a bigger group for dinner on Friday, including the returns of Auntie for dessert.

Another tradition is a cousin sleepover. This time it was just Charlie so all 4 kids slept in the same room together.

And another tradition! Nana took the kids out for breakfast in the morning, this time to IHOP while I got to stay home an relax.

We had lunch out with Aunt Sara and Papa and then headed to the Nassau County Museum of Art. We went to the exhibit of children’s book art where they had a room for kids to do art. We spent about an hour there where everyone crafted, me included.

I absolutely love how the finished products show the kids’ unique styles. Steven worked studiously on a hotel with balconies while Sammy made an abstract masterpiece.

Picking out their favorites…

I think it’s time to start visiting more art museums with the kids.

Today we headed back to MI. Boo and Yay! La Guardia was an absolute nightmare. I can’t believe how crowded it was a ticketing and security. Thee were so many people worried about missing flights. I think, today, my Clear membership more than paid for itself. We did have to stand on a 20 minute line for ticketing and the kids were fantastic, even as they were bored.

Visit to the cockpit

Hoooooooooome!!!

The kids (Amaya, especially) had a very special treat today. Their beloved camp counselor, CC, came to see them while she’s home for Thanksgiving break. Wow!! She stayed for 2.5 hours and they had a blast. She’s lovely and we’ll see if she can babysit when she’s home for her winter break.

Showing CC their menorahs while I put up Hanukkah decorations.

Mutual adoration.

Just a few other highlights.

Amaay did this on the airplane. In the left column are all the numbers 1- 10 in combinations that add to 11. (Yes, many are backwards. At the boys’ conference, Ms. M said that it’s developmentally appropriate to write numbers backwards.) Plus some other math and some seemingly Seuss inspired writing.

Steven petting Sally. “I think she likes me!” He was so happy.

And a video of some of our chaos.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This year I’m grateful for the means to get to NY with the kids, the will to do it and a husband who’s so supportive of my travels to NY. <3

Have a great one!