almost there

On Monday, Penni got busy with the kids playing online math games. Right now they all think their math class is too “easy” so maybe these games challenge them a little bit more. They do seem to have strong number sense and, most importantly, really enjoy math.

It was gorgeous out on Monday and, when a meeting ended a few minutes early, I popped outside to say hi to the Gabby and the kids. This is what I can generally expect from Steven when he sees me unexpectedly. Sweet boy, running to his mama.

I promise Sammy wasn’t as disinterested as he seemed lol.

Monday night, Steven was explaining something to Jason. I just love this look on Jason’s face. <3

First watermelon of the season for Sammy and he was a happy happy boy.

The kids are still working on their animal reports and Sammy has been full of facts about polar bears. (Side note: He told me his favorite books to read are ones about animals that live in the arctic and animals that live in the ocean. Amaya’s favorite are comic books.)

It seems he’s been looking at pictures of polar bears because he sent me this array of polar bear pictures via Messenger Kids.

Amaya has been creating Lego inventions and loves explaining them to us. She has some very creative ideas!

I think we’re all excited that it’s getting nicer outside. I get lots of requests to watch the kids’ tricks.

I could sit for hours, just watching Sammy run.

March 12th marked the last day that the kids were in school last year. I honestly can’t believe we hit the year mark. On the 12th, I had the opportunity to join the boys’ class as the mystery reader and I honestly had no idea what was coming. That night, we got the news that the kids would not return to school until after spring break. And here we are. It’s been some year.

Steven, Sammy and Amaya have done an amazing job learning and growing in virtual 1st grade but I truly can’t wait until they day they return to school inside Thornton Creek Elementary.

Amaya, modeling some new Under Armor gear that Jason got her. This child knows who she is.

Snuggles

The kids had another CARES month delivery on Friday. This time they dropped off the care packages and cards from the Thornton Creek first graders. Steven was so excited to meet police offiers.

Checking out a police car.

Steven always, always wants his mama close by.

Big day on Saturday! I got my COVID vaccine! Freedom and normalcy, here I come!!! Honestly, cried through the whole experience. I’m so grateful to have reached this point.

After a 4 month hiatus, yesterday the 1st grade playground meet-ups resumed. There were 5 families and 10 kids who came and the kids all had so much fun. It’s nice to see them playing with peers. The adults even got to watch them problem solve. They were all on a piece of equipment that only works if someone pushes it around in circles. After standing around and discussing, they settled on Rock Paper Scissors to determine who would push first.

Based on what we’ve seen, none of us are too worried about their academic development this year but do worry a bit about what it will be like for them to return to in-school social situations having missed a whole school year of daily socialization. We’re all glad to see them figuring that out together.

I had a blood donation scheduled on Saturday afternoon and, while I was out, the kids set up all sorts of art & writing stations around the house. This was Sammy’s…

Home from my donation and pooped, I got some cuddles before I napped.

Today was a BIG day! Now that Grandma Sunshine is fully vaccinated, Jason and the kids went to her house for the first time in over a year! Whoo hoo!! (It’s also, I believe, the first time in two years that I’ve been alone in the house for a full day.)

As Jason said, “The kids are bigger now than the last time they went to Grandma’s!”