Day 48

Even my early riser, Justin couldn’t get up this morning for a 9am start!  I used to wake them up at 7am. Now it is 8:30am. What a change!

What a great experience watching Seth read Torah this morning and then lead a prayer themed Jeopardy game. So impressed!

Something outside scared Missy - or interested her outside the window. Not sure - either way, she jumped on my morning coffee chair. Too cute!

Afternoon snack was three ingredient oatmeal cookies (white choc chips, banana and oats). 

Day 47

A sunny day!!!  Boys were busy with school, Jerald worked hard all day. I did some work and a lot of sewing!

Ezra wasn’t interested in his Israeli dance class, so we took a mancala game break. He beat me twice!

Andrea came to pick up some groceries I got for her. Nora stopped by. So we have a social distance moms play date!

Justin and ezra spent most of the afternoon playing some make believe game. It kept them entertained and running around!

Day 46

I think it is a great sign that we are all still snuggling!  

There were a lot of trucks outside so missy jumped on the couch and the boys jumped right next to her!  Missy kept looking at me like “am I in trouble?”  I let it go this time. Too cute to stop. 

I have carved my own working space out in the basement guest room. I have a lot of visitors during the day. Ezra made many guest appearances at my work yesterday. 

After school, it took some work but I got the boys outside and they played a game of clue. After that, tv time and chores. That is all I can do in a day!

Happy 14th Birthday Seth!!!!

Happy 14th Birthday Seth!  This was not the birthday we thought you would have.  I am so sad that you cannot be in Israel today with your friends.  I know you will make the best of it!  What a year you have had!  I have seen you grow and mature into the amazing 8th grader you are.  You have become a leader in the school and a deep thinker.  Your love for life still shine strong.  Even though you "should" be a mostly grumpy teenager - more often than not you are smiling, making silly jokes, and loving life.  You are still my puppy, giving me hugs and kisses every morning and night.  You love tv and movies, and are so creative writing short stories and playing creative games with your brothers.  You love spending time with your family and have been making the best of the quarantine learning magic tricks!  We look forward to all that comes next for you as you enter high school.  We love you so much!

Day 45

Obviously, Day 45 was dedicated to Seth's 14th Birthday!!!!  I think Seth is the one that loves our family b irthday traditions the most.  He is always the one to remind me of one of them.  We started with pancakes in bed, streamers on the door and balloons in the room.  We were greated with this big smile on Seth's face that just got bigger as the day went on.  

When I started the birthday collages, I intended to stop at 13, Bar-Mitzvah year.  Seth insisted that I needed to keep going....  here they all are displayed in the kitchen.  Time really flies...

I surprised Seth was lunch from his favorite burrito place, Anna's Taqueira!

We spent the rest of lunch giving gifts and cards and watching the video hug with videos submitted from friends and family.  

After school we had an 8th grade car parade!  It was so amazing to see Seth's friends and their moms drive by, honk, and sing.  You could see how much it meant to Seth - and us!

We ended the day with an ice cream cake and a family singing zoom call.  So amazing!

We had sushi for dinner - how could we not!

Seth really enjoyed his big birthday present - virtual reality goggles.  Watching him was funny!  

The end of a busy and amazing day.  My boy felt loved and happy, what more could I ask for.  Seth I love you with all my heart - Happy 14th Birthday!!!!

Day 44

The day started with me finding a tick on my belly.  It was so gross!  It was half hanging out and moving!!!!  I ran into my room and woke Jerald up.  He remembered that I had recently bought tick tweezers.  I found them and Jerald was able to pull it out whole and alive!  Once the boys woke up, we checked them and found a live tick on Seth's leg.  Jerald once again pulled it out whole and alive.  YUCK!!!!!  No one else had any ticks.  We are thinking we either got them from the hike, or Missy had them on her from the hike and they jumped to us while we were grooming her.  I was grossed out all day! 

We spent the rest of the day playing codenames, Justin and Ezra working on birthday cards for Seth, I figured out the new sewing machine, picked up Seth's birthday cake, and cleaning. 

We also ate this sourdough focaccia I made all day - it was delicious!  Parts of it were eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Nana got out of the hospital today - and stopped by for a few minutes to say an early Happy Birthday to Seth and give him a present.  We love you Nana!!!!

I had my regular sunday night Mahjong game.  What a relief to see friends and do something different.  I won 2 out of 3 games :-)

Day 43

For a day in quarantine, we had a crazy busy day!  My day started with my early riser joining Missy and I for a walk.  These walks with one of the boys has been one of the best unexpected benefits of having a dog.  Quiet time just chatting is just lovely!

Back at home I am experimenting with the Sourdough starter that Seth named Dwight after one of his favorite characters on the TV Show the Office.  With the discard I made the now family favorite sourdough pancakes.  

We had plans at 2pm so we decided to get out for an early hike.  

The first half of the hike was lovely!   Blue skies and smiles.  

Right after this, the path turned muddy.  For reasons we cannot understand, we did not consider turning back.  We tried to go off the path around the mud, but we got caught in other mud and thorns.  After 20 minutes we were back on the path, basically where we started.  We still did not consider turning back.  We ended up trudging through ankle high mud for about a half a mile.  I had to carry Missy part of the way.  All of our shoes were caked in mud.  Jerald was a complete rockstar using his arms to pull his prosthetic leg out of the mud each time as it got stuck.  I don't know how long it took us to get out - but we did it with a pretty good attitude.  A friend of Jerald's theory of life is "if we will laugh at this one month from now, try to laugh at it now."  

We rushed home and ran to the backyard and hosed off before throwing clean clothes on, grabbing some lunch and getting ready for our 2pm paint party.  

Seth had been asking to do a Paint Bar night for a long time.  Now that they are all happening on zoom I figured this was a perfect time.  I bought the supplies separately, and we logged in for 2 hours of painting.  It was super fun!  

Our final big activity of the day, was to try to groom Missy.  All the groomers are closed and she is getting very matted.  Seth was amazing.  So gentle and patient.  When I took the clippers for a few minutes, he said "you are not being gentle enough."  She looks a bit better!

Showers all around - here is Justin's shower bag for his cast.  Half way there!

Saturday night movie night - Oceans 11.  It was a big hit.  We might do the sequels next.  When the movie was over, the boys practiced pickpocketing each other using a fake diamond.