I find it’a getting a little more difficult to focus on writing the blog each week. I’m not ready to stop but 8 1/2 years of weekly blogs may actually be catching up with me! I love the record of Steven, Sammy and Amaya’s childhood, though, so I’m still in it for now. But they’re getting older and I know this blog will have to evolve over time as their lives become increasingly private – or, at the very least, less at my disposal to write out each week. But not yet!

Sammy and Amaya had a great week together. They were both in Ninja camp this week at the JCC and traveled to a ninja gym together every day. Somehow that morphed into tape legged hops around the house. Goofballs.

Apparently 7/11 gives out free slurpees on 7/11 so Sophia took the kids for a treat after camp on Monday. Easy way to get some happy kids.

At the early part of the week, Jason was finishing up a COVID quarantine but the kids still found ways to engage. Here, Steven was talking to Jason through his window and pretending the wind was blowing him away.

Amaya left Jason a mailbox for notes and even created word scrambles for Jason to solve. The sweetest.

When we spend time together, it was in N95s as an extra precaution to avoid sharing covid with anyone else. (So far, it appears we were successful.) With his mask on his head, I think Steven looks like a water polo player.

Did I mention that Amaya has moved to her own room!?!? It sounds like a lot of people asked why she shares a room with her brothers which prompted her to ask the question of herself, as well. The Princess Guestroom was available and connected to the kids’ room through a Jack & Jill bathroom so, with some incentives to the boys to continue sharing, off she goes! It’s the end of an era.

We still have a little more rearranging to do before everything is shifted between the two rooms but she’s been in here for near two weeks now. Definitely more space in the bed for her babies. 🙂

At camp the kids saw a chihuahua which immediately prompted a barrage of texts about getting a dog. “Will you consider it?” “We’ll do all the work.” “We’ll pay for everything but the dog.” Our life is 0% conducive to having a dog. I don’t want a dog. Even if I wanted a dog (which I don’t), I’m not ready for another pet. Fortunately, they seemed to have moved past the desperate begging.

This was my response in our group text after the barrage of texts I got from each of the kids.

Amaya, working on her pitch. (And, by the way, until this week she was scared of all dogs. But apparently if the dog can fit in your purse it’s not so scary.)

SSA are still reading on Epic a few times a week through the summer to help keep up their reading skills during break. Epic is great because they can read or do read-to-me books – whatever they prefer. Here, Chelsea is reading with Amaya and her baby, Rose, is reading with Sammy. (Earlier in the week I found Sammy giving Rose a bath. My heart could truly burst.)

Steven had been complaining of eye pain (he’s fine) so we had some together time for a doctor’s appointment. I could spend forever with these kids. They’re so much fun – together, for sure, but 1:1 time is always special even if it’s a dr appt.

I spotted Steven and Amaya in some camp photos on the camp app this week.

Steven did Lego camp and loooooooved it. One of his word scrambles for Jason was “Lego camp is amazing.” It was all legos, in all forms, all week long. The kids had to wear masks bc of their at-home exposure and he even chose to wear his lego mask.

Amaya at the Ninja gym, Grit.

The kids still have time to unwind outside in the afternoons.

And at home, with us for pre-bedtime shows.

Saturday morning the boys had a birthday party at a friend’s house. The birthday boy, Simon, is the younger brother of Sammy’s friend Nolan. Apparently Steven sat with Simon on the bus in May and June and they became friendly. Since Simon wanted to invite Steven, his mom let Nolan include Sammy at the party. Honestly, I love that Steven is a good friend to everyone to the point that rising first graders want him at their birthday party.

Hoarding his chips lol

Late afternoon, Sammy, Amaya and I headed to the pool. Steven stayed back with Jason so he could watch the Tigers game.

Pizza at the pool <3

Saturday evening wrapped up with some Mastermind games for the Cline mans.

Steven woke up with a runny nose and, since we have to covid test for camp on Monday due to exposure, we decided to test this morning to get the intel. Unfortunately, he’s positive. He feels pretty good, to be honest, but obviously he can’t go to camp until his 5 day quarantine is over.

Amaya and Sammy asked to learn how to make scrambled eggs by themselves. They did a great job!

We had an expectedly lazy afternoon. The kids and Jason played a board game while I got some work done and then Team No-Covid-For-Now went out to eat while Team-Current-And-Recent-Covid stayed at home. <3

That’s it for us! Have a great week!