Now that the kids are back in school, we are focused on getting back to daily reading. Which we probably should have done during the summer, too, but we just didn’t have it in us. Now the basic goal (and school driven expectation) is that each of the kids reads for 10- 15 min/day. Totally doable. An online program they use for school – Raz Kids – supports independent reading but the kids can just click on a word if they don’t know it, which they generally do without trying to sound it out, so reading to us is definitely better for SSA at this point.

Jason, Penni, Gabby and I are a collective reading support team.

Morning decaf and a book.

Mo Willems books are perfect for Sammy and Amaya right now.

Steven, reading a book about his friends Q and U. (Reminds me of when Charlie’s Kindergarten class had a wedding for Q and U.)

On Mondays the kids share about their weekends. I overheard Steven saying, “We made up two new holidays – National Sports Day and National Dads Day. You have parties and get cake.”

Amaya wrote about her weekend: “I went to the pool this weekend. Have you gone to the pool? I passed the swim test.” (They needed dry erase boards this year and it was a great idea for small writing and math assignments.)

I was off on Monday for Yom Kippur. Since we didn’t have in person services I did an online Yizkor service in the morning and the kids skipped their last zoom class of the day for the online kids service.

At lunch we did some of the activities provided by the religious school. First we did an activity where we made a felt bullseye and stuck velcro on little balls. The idea was to think about how we try to hit the bullseye with our thoughts and actions but don’t always hit the mark. Even so we can see where we missed and try again.

There was also a craft where we used balloons and cups to make whales that could spew out puff balls. This was mostly to tie the activity back to the story of Jonah which didn’t totally resonate for me but SSA loved the whales.

Lord. Steven, Sammy and Amaya (mostly Sammy) wanted me to join their online gym class. I couldn’t refuse but, wow, I’m out of shape. We spent a good 20 minutes moving around the house like various animals. I think, here, we were crocodiles. It was harder than it looks!

Each week they do motions to this cute song about Tony Chestnut (Toe Knee Chest Nut). I will admit I got into it.

Tuesday Spanish (?) class cuddles.

Another mom texted me that some of the kids from class were going to a playground after school so Gabby took SSA to meet up with them. According to Penni they really needed to burn off some energy. We try to do “recess” and their PE activities but it’s not the same as running around with friends.

Crab Leg Tuesday with my Bubs. Amaya tried some, too, but hated them. At least she gave it another shot. Bonus – more for the two of us.

For a couple of weeks the kids have been working on an assignment to write a “Small Moment” story. They did a draft and, this week, had to turn it into a final version to submit to their teacher. Amaya was so focused. They had all week to work on it but she worked into the evening on Tuesday to get it done. The extra effort paid off, too! Later in the week anyone who was already finished was able to drop off a zoom class early. I liked seeing her self-motivation.

Even though we’re not at school, everyone got new Gator Gear.

A glimpse at what Amaya’s work area looks like during the day. (Plus some laundry.)

I see pictures like this of Amaya, on Messenger Kids with a friend, and automatically flash forward 10 years.

Thursday night was Steven, Sammy and Amaya’s long awaited swim class at Aqua Tots. I’m sure Amaya would want me to remind you that she’s in Level 5 and the brothers are in Level 3. And the brothers would probably want me to remind you that they don’t care. 😉

Amaya was ready. She walked right up to her entrance door like she owned the place. Which worked out well because the boys were more nervous – about where to go, about what would happen, etc. Amaya’s independence let me focus on them. They wanted to be sure they could see me through the glass. Amaya wanted to be sure I could see her through the glass.

I was so proud of he boys. Steven and Sammy both got out of their comfort zone, tried new things, and they both loved their lesson. The teacher was fantastic, too. I could see her working with them and following their cues about what they were and weren’t ready to do. I think they have a different instructor for their Tuesday class so hopefully she’s equally in tune.

Sammy liked the pool water but he really liked the shower water when they rinsed off after the pool, so he decided to start to rate and chart the water each time he swims. 🙂

Friday Bed Hair, Don’t Care.

Morning snuggles with my best girl.

We had two perfectly soft, ripe bananas that Amaya and Penni turned into bread and muffins. Very yummy!

When the kids are getting ready to zoom on the big screen things get a little wild.

Friday night shows and snuggles.

I forgot about the class playground meet-up so we had a nice lazy Saturday morning. Steven beat me at Go Fish a few times and then he beat me at Scrabble Junior.

Jason helped the kids with some Kiwi Co projects.

We went out Saturday afternoon for Linner. Or Dunch. Downtown Northville is continuing their outdoor dining and the couple of blocks where you can get a drink to go. The Northville skeletons are out and, while we’re really going to miss trick or treating at Street of Treats this year, it was still fun to see the skeletons. (Please let us be back to normal next fall. Please, please, please.)

Tiny (strong) beer.

Before bed, Steven led the way to decorate the house for Halloween.

Today was the 2nd and last day of in-person religious school for a while. 🙁 There having another session next week but we’ll be in NY (!!) so this was it for us. Between now and the end of the year there are a handful of zoom sessions but it’s not the same. The kids legitimately have fun with the in-person programming that’s put together.

Hot chocolate on the way home.

Sammy asked Jason to watch an episode of Emily’s Wonder Lab so they could try an experiment with a tea bag. It didn’t work, but we’ll try again eventually with a tea bag more like the one in the experiment. I don’t think ours opens up tall enough.

This girl is always ready to pose. <3

Before bed tonight the SSA held a dance party in the basement. They pretended to be JoJo Siwa (Amaya), Flash (Steven) and Iron Man (Sammy). Again and again they explained to me that I wasn’t famous – just a person in the audience. But people in the audience can dance, too.

There’s a lot of artwork and writing happening around these parts and I want to capture it.

For art class (I think), the kids drew dogs.

Scruffles is Steven’s canine alter ego.

Sammy drew Love Bug the Cute

Amaya’s drew a Lil pup.

According to Amaya, these are “symmetrical fish.”

Mrs. O’Neil read one of our favorites – Knuffle Bunny Too – and the kids had to write about losing something they love.

Steven is lying on the bottom of the bunk bed, thinking of Morminer who’s lost.

“Not so long ago I lost my favorite sleeping friend Morminer. I was so sad and I couldn’t sleep with her all night and I found it in the morning. I was so happy that I found Morminer. So happy Puppy was too.”

Amaya’s pictures tell the story from left to right. First she’s happy because she has Hoppy and then she’s sad because Hoppy is lost. Amaya was very proud of the tears.

“Hoppy is lost.” Short and to the point lol.

Sammy is thinking of the good times with Puppy.

“One day I forgot my special little puppy and I could not sleep.”

These are the “Small Moment” stories the kids are submitting this week. Amaya explained that a small moment story is a story about one specific thing that happens.

The Water Park, by Amaya J. Cline

“The bucket drops on us – splash! We are at Great Wolf Lodge.”

“Next we are in the deep end. My mom came in. Me, Mom, Steven, Sammy had so much fun.”

Last we were in the deep deep end. I was happy and it was a big place.” (Note that Amaya and I are in bikinis and the boys are in their life jackets.)

Steven’s Small Moment Story – “The Corn Maze in the Farm”

A very nice drawing of the corn maze map. “I went to a corn maze. Me, Amaya, May May and Mom and Sammy got lost 1 time. We went the right way a lot.”

“Next I kept going. We were almost there. It is fun.”

“We got there. It was fun. Really fun.”

Sammy wrote, “The day I left New York”.

“One day me and mom went to NY and we were leaving NY and I was sad at first. But it ended out ok.

“Then we were on the plane was in the sky.”

“We were home. The place I live home.” But the key to Sammy’s story is that, when you see the music notes it means they’re song lyrics and you sing that part. “The plaaaaace I liiiiiiive – home.”

And that’s it! Have a great week!