Father's Day 2023

Poor Billy didn't get much in the way of gifts, but he did get lots of homemade cards and lots and lots of love!  The rather large bag has one more of his Halloween Town Buildings in it. = )

Happy Father's Day to our favorite!!! 

 later days

Other Fun

So, what else did we do?  Just lived as much as we could in the moment.

They built "giant lego blocks and stood in the same position as their lego avatars.

Before cousin summer, we went to a new park, which just happened to have a library event going on, and a book sale too!

Emily and Grace were "melting."

We blew up the pool for one week, then found out about the "pool party" schedule at the Charlotte Aquatic Center and haven't used it since.  It's still out, and on the porch, but empty.

We got to check out the Oldsmobile car show in downtown Dimondale.  I think it was back a two-year hiatus.

Father's Day was pretty quiet, but everyone was around to wish Daddy a happy one!

We read the "story walk" posted at the basketball court.

Grace and Molly got ready for camping.

I took in our bikes (3 at a time) to be serviced at the bike shop. Grace's had to be totally replaced with a new one.  

Grace set two summer goals for herself: 1) ride a bike without training wheels.  2) swim without a floaty/pass the swimming test at the pool.  She's making great strides with both and is close to mastering #1!

During Grace's trip, we left Alice and William home, since they didn't want to come, and hit a really pretty bike trail we found one day.  Then, we went to a second bike trail, but the girls were tired, so we went home.  The next day, Billy and I went out and did 10 miles on the trail in Lansing.  The direct sunlight was pretty brutal, but there were several pretty parks on the way.  Next time, we go downtown!

Grace has been feeling a little sad without Juliet, so she's been my go buddy, since Emily is also at camp this week.  She got a cookie the size of her face at BJ's!

She also went with me to snag some on sale school supplies.  Staples had a $10 off any $20+ purchase coupon, so we picked up the 3 things that they had on sale that I had on my list. We also scored some fresh headphones for the big girls for their school supply list.  Spent $12, which was not bad considering I was able to get everything on my list and two pairs of headphones!

Avia was in Texas this year for her birthday, but we didn't waste a chance to celebrate!  The cake was good, sadly, I was trying to schedule a package pick up when the kids got everything ready, so this was the only picture I took.

Emily didn't have time to grab some and eat it before camp, but she got some when she came home. = )

We met up with the Cornishes at the Magical Realm Festival in Charlotte.  Despite the warmer weather we'd been having, it was cold and rainy.  

They had a scavenger hunt that everyone, except for Alice, thought was delightful and fun.  And Grace has now tamed her fair share of rocks! ; )

Billy paid for the kids to be jailed.  I think they might have liked it! = 0

Their "warrant!"

I feel like I must include an Alice interaction here as well, so that she can read it later.

Bought this sweatshirt for Alice (even though it was like 90F.)  

When we came home:
M: I bought you a new shirt!
A: <eyeroll>
<But reads shirt and works hard to conceal smile>
M: well, what do you think?
A: <reaches for it, and feels edge> at least it's soft...

It has been such a great, but busy summer.  And somehow, we've managed to fit in doctor visits, grocery pickups, new glasses, karate, and even some Latin, math, German, and reading!  

Maybe we'll get some rest once school starts.

later days

Father's Day 2021

To celebrate Father's day, the kids made Billy breakfast (eggs, bacon, toast, etc.) and he read the cards that they made him.  We also bought him a new magnetic flashlight for the basement.

When we went to mooville, we picked out an ice cream cake to celebrate.  Everyone thought it was pretty good.

 We sure are thankful to have Daddy around!

later days

4th Week of June

106th day of Quarantine

The high today was a warm and pleasant 85F.

Emily and Grace and Juliet wanted to go out for more pool time.  It didn't take too long before they were all outside splashing around, and Billy came out and sat with me too!

Emily and I spent some time packing "souvenir packs" to stick in the mail for some of our friends, with the plentiful extras we had left on the prize table.

For dinner Billy picked up pizza from our local shop.

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105th day of Quarantine

The high today was a cloudy 83F.

Today, on what would have been the return trip from our Great Wolf Lodge trip, we instead had an adventure in the backyard: Not Wolf Lodge!

For dinner we had a combination of leftovers and snacks leftover from our backyard adventure.

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104th day of Quarantine

The high today was a cool 77F.

After Summer Schedule, William, Grace, Juliet and I went to pick up their new glasses!  It was a much shorter trip than we ordered them.

This week's art was sunpaper creation.  They were all so creative!  Alice (top left) made hers with scissors and cut paper, Emily (top right) made hers with fruit and vegetables, William (bottom left) use the newly 3D printed cat and dog, Grace (bottom middle) used a giant slinky, and Juliet (bottom right) used a small dictionary and two cards!

For dinner we had empanadas

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103rd Day of Quarantine

The high today was a measly 75F.  Billy tried to work out on the porch (in jeans) but eventually moved inside because it was just too cool.

We celebrated our second annual family Scooby Doo Day!  I didn't know exactly when it was, so I forgot to order the scooby snacks! = 0  Emily and I made it work though, by cutting the sandwiches and cheese like bats and dog bones. = )  We rewatched "Scoob."

Grace loves to try out new hairstyles, and she loves to show them off!

I was able to harvest enough from our porch and patio gardens for a mini Tomato/spinach salad! 

Billy set up his 3D printer, and printed the cat sample first.  Grace was quick to claim it.

Since it takes 3-4 hours, we left it running as we went to bed.

For dinner we had PB&J and other snacky foods, since we were watching Scoob pretty late in the day.

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102nd Day of Quarantine

The high today was 70F.  It was not that "hot" for most of the day.  I had to go put on pants and a hoody.

The twins are working hard in their reading binders.  I've started  them on what we will do next year, to get us all accustomed to the activity.  William is also cruising right along.  

Grace and Juliet seem to have 12 and 20 less solidified in their minds than the other numbers. So, today the big girls helped me make and hide 12s and 20s all over their room and they found them (then put them in the number order at the bottom.)  It was a fun activity, and we might repeat it tomorrow, but switch the number for which each one was searching.

For second recess, at 1:15, we walked our sewer bill down to the village office and went to the ice cream shop for some treats.  It was a chilly walk, but there was no wait.  The twins were excited to redeem their ice cream coupons from their kindergarten teacher. = )  Billy's milkshake was cold in my hands on the way home though!

I curled up under a blanket to read for most of the afternoon, since it was soooooo cold. 

For dinner we had gnocci pesto with sausage and spinach salad.  We probably will not have it again.

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101st Day of Quarantine

The high today was 87F.

My grocery appointment was earlier this morning (from 8-9, instead of my usual 9-10.)  I prefer it actually.

The kids (EWG) did get in the pool today, for a little while, and I cut Billy's hair a second time.  The salons are open by appointment only now, but since he's working from home, and doesn't care that much, he had me do it a second time.

I finished the first of the Cormoran Strike books by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling.)  I also started the second, because it is sweet summertime!

For dinner we had leftovers.

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Today is our 100th day of Quarantine

The high today was 84F.

I guess it's fitting that it's father's day and Haley's birthday, so we will be having some cake to celebrate all three. = )

Sarah was already out back chopping the fallen tree by the time I came down to turn my computer on for church.

After service, I helped bring some of the dead evergreen branches over to the firepit to expedite the burning of the green wood Sarah was attempting to burn.

At noon I ordered Charlie's for lunch, since that is what Billy requested.  I also ran into Carl's to pick up some 2 liters, so that I didn't have to carry 7 drinks back to the car from Charlie's.

Billy spent the afternoon assembling his 3D printer.  He enjoyed the surveys that the kids filled out.  Next year I will have them fill them out at separate times, so their answers are more unique.

The kids were back in the pool this afternoon, but it was cut short by passing thunder.  I think it might have rained a bit, but we didn't see much of a storm.  It did cool things off significantly though. 

For dinner we had noodles and sausage, followed by the Father's Day-Birthday-Quarantine cake.

later days

Father's Day 2019

I had the piano tuned for his special day.  The kids each made Billy some special father's day gifts at school.  But the only gift that made me tear up was William's.

later days