I say this often, but it’s so hard to believe that that Nana was still here a week ago, even if just for the short breakfast visit before she headed off to the airport, but here she is! <3

Due to bus driver shortages, our school district is doing rolling blackouts on bus service each wee. Route A, our route, was on the list for this week so we had the fun of driving the kids to school each morning and Sophia picked them up from school. A change of routine can be fun once in a while and, fortunately, we can make it work on our “off” weeks. Drop off is a quick process but parents start lining up for pick-up almost 30 min before school gets out so Sophia has spent a lot of time at Thornton Creek waiting in the van this week. What’s nice to see is that, since we’re the first but stop after school, parent pick-up doesn’t really get the kids home much earlier than they do on the bus. Mornings are a different story, though. They spend more than 30 min on the bus in the mornings – but don’t seem bothered by it, fortunately!

It was beautiful on Monday so, after school, Sophia and the kids headed to a playground. Honestly, they can play all winter. I’m the one who really hates the cold.

Some Tuesday after-school science… the microscope for Sammy and “archaeology” for Steven and Amaya.

Wednesday morning drop-off! Since we can’t go in the school to volunteer, drop-off is actually a nice – very short – chance to see them in their element at school. Confident 2nd graders.

I had an appointment on Wednesday afternoon that ended right around the time the kids were getting to swim. The boys’ class was canceled this week so I called Sophia to see if Sammy and Steven would like me to pick them up and bring them home. Steven was a taker! I’d have loved for Sammy join us, too, but I also love unexpected 1:1 time.

Our swimming girl

Steven had a hard time falling asleep on Wednesday night and ended up asleep on my lap on the couch. Such a sweet boy. I’m still able to get him upstairs and into the top bunk but those days – especially the top bunk assignment – are definitely fleeting.

Firefighter Steven, after school!!

Since Hanukkah starts SO early this year (11/28), the kids are already looking through toy catalogs and thinking about gifts. I generally don’t love when Hanukkah is so, but SSA will probably go right from Hanukkah into birthday mode. It’s quite the time of year for these three. 🙂

We originally had plans for Jason to take Steven and Sammy to a boy scouts meeting but that didn’t work out and, rather than disappoint the boys, we decided we’d pivot to a different kind of fun. Jason took the boys to Dave & Busters and I took Amaya to Clarie’s and Cheesecake Factory. The energy in the house after school was off the charts. The boys were busting to get to Dave & Busters and Amaya said, “I love arcades but I don’t care because we’re going to Clare’s!” We put on matching lipstick, and off we went! (Side note: I’m not sure I’ve been at the mall since prior to COVID.)

This girl. <3

Clare’s had a Buy 3 Get 3 sale so Amaya left with three headbands and 3 scrunchies plus she picked out a BFF necklace set for Milan.

Cheesecake factory! Amaya couldn’t pick between two types of cheesecake so I took one for the team and ordered a piece myself so we could share. The couple sitting next to us at the bar was completely enamored with Amaya. When they were leaving, the husband said that it would make him so happy to be able to treat Amaya to her cheesecake and handed her money to cover it. It was a wonderful cherry on top of our night out, to meet such a thoughtful stranger.

The Cline men had a fantastic time at Dave and Busters. We ended our night out with dessert and they started with dessert. Sammy got a pieces of cake called the “Big Daddy” and Steven got Strawberry Shortcake which he says was too sweet but finished, none the less.

This is a happy boy!

Lots of gaming fun! The men decided that, rather than cash in their tickets, they’d save their cards so the whole family could go back this weekend.

Just two pictures of the boys at school this week. 🙂

Jason got some quality time with Amaya and Sammy on Friday night. Amaya showed Jason the book she got from the school library and Sammy showed Jason how to make a really cool paper airplane. Paper airplanes are all the rage in our house right now.

Sleeping brothers

On Saturday morning, Amaya learned how to make the paper airplane, too. Sammy was a patient and thorough instructor.

Amaya is loosing teeth like crazy right now! One of her top teeth bit the dust in the early morning hours. Her mouth is a patchwork!

We spent the afternoon at Dave and Busters which, of course, the kids loved

Nana and I both play the daily Spelling Bee game on the New York Times app and SSA like to help out. Since they like the game so much, I got them Word Wheel books which are the same concept- find as many words as you can using 4+ letters, always including the letter in the middle of the word wheel. Though I told them it’s perfectly fine to also look for 3 letter words. It was a lot of fun to see them working on it together and collaborating on how to spell words. Their favorite yesterday was, “toot”.

Jason and Steven, watching Voltron.

Sunday means Hebrew school! They walk right in and seem to have a great time each week. So grateful for that.

Today, Sally and I are celebrating our 17th Sallyversary. Seventeen years! It is incredible to think about how our lives have changed in that time. Moved to Florida, moved to Michigan, got married, lived in 5 homes in MI, had 3 kids… she’s been a trooper and right by my side through it all. I’m so glad, all those years ago, I told my friend Tony that I wanted to get a cat. He happened to know that our mutual friends’ wife found a kitten that they couldn’t keep so I trekked off to Jersey City to pick up this little girl. She was small, and a little sickly, but was healthy and feisty in no time. She’s truly the best.

Day one!

On my screened in lanai in FL

My kitchen in FL

Daddy!

With her little sister and little brothers, as they showed her off to their first grade class

Last night, on Sallyversary eve. <3

Wishing Sally a happy Sallyversary <3

This morning, the kids surprised me with cat-insprired breakfast treats. Waffles and toast in the shape of cats. I love it!

This afternoon, the kids spent a few hours at their friend Jack & Nora’s house. Jack is in the boys’ class and both kids were on the boys’ baseball team this year. (Nora is in 1st grade.) Amaya’s classmate and former softball teammate, Alexa, lives next door and she and her brother, Asher, came over to play, too. They would have stayed hours longer if I’d let them.

We wrapped up the weekend with a delicious meal that came together with help from two very skilled sous chefs.

And that’s it for us! Have a great week!