Amaya had a Girl Scouts meeting on Monday night and, to be extra safe, it was via zoom instead of in person. Since it was at 7pm, she showed up ready to go in her PJs and Brownie vest. <3

On Tuesday, I took Amaya to her swim class – as I do. I’m going to have to figure out how to take the boys more often because they’re getting jealous but Amaya’s class is at 6:50pm and theirs is at 5:10pm which is really hard to accommodate with work. Once in a while, though, I can make it.

Steven, looking absolutely adorable IMO, in his sleep headphones.

This week the kids started an after school art program run by the Northville Art House. There are two four week sessions, with classes once/week on Tuesday’s after school. The kids were really excited to get to stay at school after the day ended just like the kids in the afterschool Kids’ Club program.

This first week, they did drawings of koi fish with charcoal.

Swim for Steven and Sammy – happy boys jumping in!

On Friday, Amaya did one of the “Jokes of the Day” for the school announcements. I wouldn’t normally get to see it but the school sent out a video of the day’s announcements because they announced the winner or the yearbook cover contest. If Steven hadn’t told me about Amaya’s participation, I would never have known to look out for her.

If you want to see Amaya, forward to 5:50 at this link: https://watch.screencastify.com/v/eJiyyPdojanEKwrKHSQr

Sally has been super affectionate lately. She loves being around the family. I don’t know if it’s her age or the kids’ age or what, but she can’t get enough of us and it makes my heart happy.

Jason and Sweet Sal

Mommy, Steven and Sally

Look how chill Sally is with all of these petting hands on her.

Amaya and I had a basement sleepover last night and, while she waited for me, she read some of the newest borrowed book in her favorite series – Dork Diaries. In fact, in the morning I found her reading by the light of her iPod. She doesn’t have tremendous stamina yet, but I love to see her choosing to read.

Early morning reading

Saturday morning! Family time!

While we waited for a pre-birthday visit from Grandma Sunshine and Aunt Annette, Steven had a long phone conversation with Charlie. No video… they were just chatting.

He looks like such a big kid here.

Amaya and I also started the process of dying her hair. We haven’t dyed it since school started and Amaya’s ready for some birthday color.

Hanging out with tinfoil in her hair.

Grandma and Aunt Annette came around 10:30am and SSA were ready to open some birthday presents. They’re turning EIGHT!?! But how???

Suuuuuuuuuper cool hat from Aunt Annette. Steven wears it well.

Classic games from Grandma! Knocked it out of the park with the choices and we all spent a great day digging into the new games.

SSA and Grandma playing Uno

Look who’s hanging out! In fact, she let me pick her up off my lap and deposit her on Jason’s.

Amaya’s new look! Love it.

Playing Mastermind. Remember that game? Steven, Sammy and Amaya are at a great age to start playing and love it, too.

Grandma and Amaya playing Mandala. I’ve never played but I’m excited to learn.

Definitely a gaming family.

And there’s Sally again!

Before Grandma headed out, Amaya displayed her reading skills with some more Dork Diaries.

Cool cat building a lego set

Sally was back with the family for shows (Wipeout!) and story books (How to Eat Fried Worms).

This morning, the sky was a beautiful blue and the frost on the trees was so pretty. Winter in MI sucks, and is often very very grey, but today was lovely – even in the frigid weather.

The boys had a make-up swim lesson today and Daddy took them! A treat for Steven and Sammy and, I think, Jason too.

It was a game afternoon – Uno, Mandala, Mastermind and Carcassonne. One of my favorite kind of days.

My friend Laura dropped off a few peanut butter alternative for us to try – four flavors of granola butter, wow butter and a sesame butter. The kids wanted to do a blind taste test so I put the spreads on crackers and gave them each a sheet to track what they thought each was. Steven won with 4 correct followed by Sammy with 3 and Amaya with 1. Amaya really liked the blueberry granola butter.

We had some cuddle time, football time, and Wipeout time and then it was ready to wrap out weekend.

That’s it for us! We have three kids who are ready to turn EIGHT on Thursday. Have a great week!

*I was going to title this blog “Winding Down Seven” but Steven said it made him sad because “once I turn eight I’ll never be seven again.” Sweet sweet boy.