Before we get to Passover in NY, just a few highlights from the week proper.

The warmer weather is amazing. In the early part of the week we even had a day or two with a high of 70. I am definitely a warm weather person. It’s so good for my soul.

Amaya makes beds for her stuffed animals out of cardboard boxes and, here, she was celebrating Beary and Raccoony’s brithdays.

We wrapped up Reading Month this week and, on Monday, the kids’ teacher – Mrs. O’Neil – was Thornton Creek’s guest reader for Zoom Bedtime Stories. SSA were completely enthralled while she read. You could hear a pin drop.

They discovered a planet song in one of their programs and it’s become a favorite to listen to over and over again. Sometimes there’s dancing.

My turn! This was my view during a 5pm vendor-sponsored wine tasting. To be honest, I’m not all that interested in the nuances of wine but this is a great vendor and I love to drink wine so it was a nice way to wrap up a work day. Sally approved.

Daddy and Steven cuddles

Amaya really likes my colleague Sean and, Thursday evening, she had a chance to catch up with him. It was really sweet. Sean is so thoughtful and kind in how he engages with the president of his fan club.

On Friday, after lunch, the Cline 5 hit the road for our journey to New York. Sammy set the mood with shorts on his head.

Amaya, playing Super Mario Party – little arms flying all over the place.

It was relatively uneventful except for a car sickness episode for poor Steven. He rebounded quickly, though. We’ve driven back and forth to NY 2 other times and Steven got sick on one leg of each of those trips so it’s time to take some action. For the drive home, we’re going to try Sea Bands and see if they help. They’ve worked for me on cruises and helped May May when she was pregnant so it’s worth a shot.

The Cline 5 have officially outgrown a single hotel room for all of us. The kids are too big to comfortably fit with us in two queen beds so two rooms it is. For this trip, on our overnight stop in Lamar, PA, Amaya and Steven bunked with me and Sammy and Jason had a room together.

Very excited to have his own bed in a hotel room with his daddy.

Amaya and Steven had some cuddle time in the morning before we hit the road.

As we did on our two previous trips, we stopped at a scenic overlook in NJ. I’m a big fan of tradition so I loved sharing this with Jason.

Showing Steven the trash that litterers have tossed over the wall.

We’re here!!! It was a beautiful, beautiful day in so many ways.

We had a relaxing afternoon with family – lots of cousin time – before heading to Nana and Papa’s house for the first Passover Seder. It was so special to be able to have the Seder at their house after this past year of distancing.

Legos, legos and more legos.

Nana and Papa’s house! I was so happy to be there.

Steven was my Seder buddy.

Amaya and Charlie with their “wine”.

Sammy and his Savta. <3

Charlie did an amazing job reading the four questions. She brought her nana to tears.

Bitter herbs. Sammy, in particular, loves parsley in salt water.

Nana and her grandkids. Love, love, love this!!

Sammy and Papa, deep in discussion about Matzah Balls soup.

Auntie came for dessert and it was extra special because Saturday was Auntie’s birthday!

Celebrating Auntie

Sisters!!

We had a very, nice lazy morning at the AirBnb. The Cline 5 relaxed until about 10:30am when Nana, Aunt Sara, Chase and Charlie came over.

Another practice for The Four Questions.

Big lunch at Nana’s before Jason left for the airport. <3

A pre-birthday celebration for me. 🙂

I took Jason to the airport and the kids all went back to the AirBnB to relax and also play around in the jet tub. Then we went back to Nana and Papa’s for night two of Passover.

Before we got going, we ask Savta a burning question that was on our minds during our drive to MI – “What were telephones like when she was a kid.” Everyone listened, but Sammy was truly enraptured by the explanation of how phones worked in the 30’s.

These girls partnered today for The Four Questions. Charlie took the Hebrew, Amaya took the English, and Nana kvelled.

We’re going to the Bronx Zoo on Tuesday and Amaya told Savta that, if she couldn’t walk around the zoo all day, Amaya would push her in a wheelchair. Such a sweet girl.

And that’s it for this week! We’re ready for a new one in New York!

*Blog title by Steven, because we’re mostly in NY for this blog but not all of it is.