February 15th

The expected high today is 29F.  We're definitely to the part of winter where I'm not sure I'll ever be warm again. = (

We were anticipating saying goodbye today to the Kearneys, who are moving back to Florida, next weekend, but moving woes kept them from coming. = (

I had a simple appetizer layout, but we ended up eating without them. = (

It's sad that we didn't get to say goodbye.  For lunch we had Tiki Masala, and for dinner we just snacked.

later days

Witcher Watching Party

Billy really enjoyed playing the Witcher 3 video game.  He'd tell me about it, and spent ample time researching stats when he'd play it.  So, when Netflix announced that they were creating a video version, he was excited.  He tried hard not to be, in case it failed to meet his expectations, but the closer it got, the more he talked about it.

So, I decided to throw him a Witcher watching party.  I invited Amber and Will (and their crew) and set to work on making it as close to that world as I could.

I think I went to a record number of thrift shops collecting steins and dishes.  One of my favorite finds were some aged wooden trays and some ceramic goblets.  I also snagged an ice bucket that was meant to mimic wood, and I put our "water from the well" in it.

My favorite project was the potions.  I stopped at a liquor store (at like 9 in the morning because they don't have blue laws in Michigan) and asked for the prettiest little bottles they had.  This is what the cashier and I came up with. = )

I took a before picture, in case someone actually wanted to drink one.

It took me about an hour to get off the labels, and once they were off I made my own.  Thankfully there are databases dedicated to the video games, so finding the names of potions was not too tough.  Fisstech will 'knock the user out immediately' so that label went on the tequila. = )

I also made some plum jam from plums!

Sadly, the pancakes that were supposed to have the jam needed to be cooked in my oven, which went out the day before I needed it.  = (  I was so sad.  So, I didn't make the pancakes, and I think I was the only one who tried the jam.  It was very flavorful, but not very sweet.  According to one recipe that I read (when I was trying to decide whether or not to skin them) I needed to pick ones that were a little riper than what I chose.

On the day of I dropped by Panera for some full loaves of bread, and then headed to our favorite BBQ place for a growler of ale.  Billy usually likes the Brown Ales, so that's what I picked.

One of the recipes was "Elf and Onion" soup.  They recommended beef in the absence of elf meat, so that's what I threw in.  But to help with aesthetics bought some decorative ears to toss in.

At our MOPS meeting last week, we made some signs out of stained wood and paint.  Mine reads "Bill of Fare" in Lithuanian.

Billy was very surprised, and I loved having Amber and Will over while we watched a brand new show the night it came out!

later days

In Between

In the midst of all the events of the last 3 weeks, this is what we were up to. = )

After attending the twins' picnic, we enjoyed seeing Alice and Emily in their singing performances.  

Luckily, they were back to back, and the twins had a little something to entertain themselves.

Since we no longer had to race home to meet the bus,  we headed to the playground right after school.

Avia, Grace, Juliet and I also spent another morning (or two) at Impressions 5.  They were collecting an assortment of recycled items until May 31st, so we were making one last delivery.

The weather is still much too cold for me to want to get in the water, but my children are still drawn to the idea of all water play on the prettier days.

We've had the Kearneys over a couple of times now for dinner and conversation, but this is literally the only picture I've taken of our evenings.

Emily's presentation was great!  She talked about Foxes and made a really lovely keepsake book.  As we were leaving we saw that the superintendent was in attendance again this year. = )

Playing around after school:

On a day too cold for a skirt (in June) I wore jeans.  Emily wanted to match me.  = )

One Friday we went out garage saleing, without Avia, for some reason.  On this day, Grace's boot came apart.  I ended up carrying her and buying the first pair of shoes that we came across that would fit her.  

She was very upset that her boots broke, because she wanted to take her picture on a horse!  I told her that we rarely see horses that we can ride, and she informed me that she wanted a picture on the Meijer horse.

So, on the next to last day of school, in the rain, we headed to Meijer, so that she could wear her (very temporarily) repaired boots on the horse. = )

While we were there, we also picked up Abby's birthday gift, since we were seeing her the next day.  While we were in Mason, we stopped by the library so that Avia could sift through their for sale books.  The twins enjoy all the toys they have available.

Grace looked so much like Alice to me, that I had Alice come wear the same thing.

At the volunteer breakfast, Avia challenged Emily and William to make the shape of Michigan.  We decided it would take four people to make Texas, but we were out of time. = (

Emily ordered a new toy, and waited patiently while it shipped.  She played with it for days after it arrived.

At William's picnic, they had chalk and bubbles and crafts and hula hoops.  I think he felt pretty special with the 4 of us there just for him!  Alice and Emily both came over to say hi when they were out at recess.

Our Village's farmer's market opened the first week of June, so we bought a tomato plant and named him Tommy Tomato. = )

We've been so many places with the BATYOT stamp collecting that I don't even remember where this was.  They do love to pose with the big rocks that are everywhere up here though.

On the final day of school, my little ones find out who their new teacher will be, as well as which of their friends will be with them.  William has Emily's teacher from last year, and we are all very excited about it. = ) Emily will not have Alice's teacher, and Alice will be in a class with her BFF.

Grace and Juliet played in the kitchen area of William's classroom while we waited for the move up day.  They are excited to start in the fall!

We had Abby, Aubrey and Willow over after school on Friday for peanut butter and jelly, and despite the chill, they all still wanted to go play on the slip and slide.  Brrr.

I personally am ready for a nice break from school, but I know it will fly by.  We already have one Doctor's visit under our belts, and it's only day one.  Hopefully we can do something (or nothing) more fun tomorrow.

later days