Two Hundred Eighty Seven

 On February 1st, 2020 my daughter Katie and her kids, Sunny and Thunder moved in. We knew it would be for an extended visit because she was having a new house built and that takes six - eight months. 

At least it did at that time.

Then the Coronovirus happened. All of a sudden, our world was very different. The kids' last day of school was March 13, 2020. We had no idea that they would not return for a hybrid schedule until October.

Katie works for a company that contract with AZ DCS which runs group homes for 150+ kids. All of a sudden she was working 12 hour days. I'm thankful that I was available to help with the distance learning, but to say March - May was stressful is an understatement.

In spite of the ups and downs of life during a pandemic, having them live with us has been a huge blessing. It's been fun. I've loved having so much day-to-day life with the Grands (and the grand-dogs!).

Now they're moving out. Into their new home. They're excited. We're excited. I also know that this will be a big transition for me. It's the quiet that will do me in. 

When we moved into our home in 2013, I prayed that God would use it as a place of refuge, as a shelter, as a place for our family to be together and thrive. I'm so thankful that we were able to "host" them for the past 287 days. 

As for me... I'm going to start re-claiming rooms in my house, decorating for Christmas and, oh I forgot to tell you... the kids' school announced that next week they're returning to distance learning, so I'll be having school four days a week... again.

In April we colored pictures of flowers and displayed them on light posts

 and at the community mailboxes in our neighborhood.

School Days 2020

 

School has begun. It is without fanfare. Without grocery sacks filled with new supplies. Without actually going to a classroom.

As I've noted before, every adult in my immediate family (except the educator) has continued to go to work each and every day since the shutdown began last March. The grands and I struggled through the end of the 2019/2020 school year together. It was a mess. Disorganized, no new material taught. bad tech issues. Yuck. We were so glad when it was over.

We began the summer with anticipation of them going back to the classroom for the 2020/2021 start. Almost every day this summer one or the other or both of them would sigh "I wish I could go back to school". This from kids that normally whine "I don't like school". 

As the middle of July arrived it became pretty obvious that the classroom was not going to be an option. We got emails literally a couple of times a week outlining what school would look like, only to change completely with the next email. To say it was stressful doesn't begin to cover it.

Finally the school decided on distance learning for the first weeks. How long this will last we don't know.

We set up desks for each kid, one in their bedroom, one in my bedroom. The school provided devices. We sharpened pencils, laid out scratch paper and spiral notebooks, hooked up headphones and declared ourselves ready for class.

They are required to wear their school uniforms (at least the shirts). They are live, on-line in class from 7:45 am until 4:00 pm Tuesday-Friday with a 30 minute lunch break. I roam back and forth every half hour or so peeking in to make sure there's nothing inappropriate on their screens and that they're actually in class. (You wouldn't believe the stories coming out of some of the middle/high schools about what's being hacked onto devices) They both tell me that most kids have a mom/grandma/caregiver hovering in the background from time to time.

They make their lunches the night before. They have backpacks (empty) next to their desks. (just in case, I guess!) They adhere to a bedtime and a wake up time. Sunny has yoga as her first class and it's fun to peek in to see her learning the poses. Thunder has PE on Friday afternoons. It's a good thing he's set up in my room. It's bigger and he definitely used the space for PE!

All in all it's going well after one week. It's good that they have the structure of the classroom and that they can see their friends.

I'm glad to do this. My heart goes out to working parents that don't have anyone to monitor their kids through this. I have a friend who works, her 11 year old daughter is in charge of monitoring her younger siblings as well as attending her own classes every day. 

That's too much.

Grandkids

When you have grandkids, especially a lot of them, you learn to lower your expectations when it comes to taking photos. There's always someone not looking at the camera or on the verge of crying or caught with their eyes closed or half open. I have come to accept these conditions and cherish the photos anyway. After all, these are the faces of my most cherished treasure!

The Grands

Life is so fun, joyful, exciting, and adventurous with the Grands!

Here's some of what's been going on lately...

Snow fell off the bed over the weekend... Twice!

Jessica said after the 2nd time she got her sleeping bag and took it into the loft to sleep. Good plan.

It's raining this morning. Phoenix area kids rarely have the opportunity to use umbrellas so Snow and Storm deployed theirs for the walk from the car to the school!

Sunny is in 4th grade and you know what that means: Science Fair!

It's hard to believe the school year is almost over. I'm looking forward to Grammy Summer Camp in a few weeks. More time with these lovable kiddos!

January 1st

Last night we hosted the grands for a "Cousin's New Year's Eve Party". We went to Peter Piper Pizza for pizza and wings and games. We came back home, put on jammies, and attempted to stay up until midnight eating snacks and watching "Ferdinand" and "Sing". Unfortunately, at 10 pm, they gave up, watched the ball drop in NYC on TV and went off to bed. Fortunately, they did not wake up when the neighbors shot off fireworks at midnight.

This morning we had donuts and pancakes for breakfast, played, and then their parents picked them up at 10 am. 

What a great way to start the New Year!

Group hug at Peter Piper Pizza!

Grammy's Summer Camp

Well, I HAD intentions to post regularly about Grammy's Summer Camp this year, but it's been a whirlwind of activity and I'm just now getting around to it.

We are halfway through this year's camp and we've had such fun! It's been a little chaotic in that I never know on any given day just how many grands will be attending, but that just adds to the excitement.

My schedule is to have Sunny and Thunder on T-W-Th. Skye drops in as needed. Storm and Snow are here on T-W for the Bible Study I host that Jessica attends and for Movie Day.

This year our overall theme is "Down on the Farm". My DIL Janel and her mom have graciously supplied us with activities related to farming. Our daily schedule includes Time with God, chores, reading time, worksheets, board games, art, science, cooking, Brain Quest, Flash Cards, and of course, swimming.

I made a reading bingo chart for each of them and a chore chart. They also have a daily reading chart to record the minutes read on. At the end of each week they get to choose from the treasure chest if they've completed their reading minutes. They will get money for their piggy banks at the end of the summer for the chores they've completed.

As a side note I just want to say that they're old enough now to do some chores that are really helpful! I told my daughters that having them do chores three days a week is almost like having a maid, hahaha!

Here's a glimpse into our camp so far...

Storm and Snow playing Candyland and 

goofing off the first week of summer camp

At the movies: Storm, Thunder, Snow, Sunny, Skye

Lunch, then worksheets while the littles napped.

Tio Zach dropped in one day and had fun with Snow 

Thunder completing one of the Reading Bingo options - reading in the bathtub

A field trip to Barnes and Noble, learning about Job at Bible Study,

completing a "Down on the Farm" activity sheet

Playing after the Wednesday morning movie

Official Nine Year Old Photo

Nine years old? How is that even possible? It seems like yesterday this little girl was born giving me the name I cherish the most - Grammy. She is so excited that this is her last year in single digits!

Sunny had a birthday party on the weekend after her actual birthday, but she also has an official birthday dinner on her birthday and she graciously includes Gramps and me.

She had a great time at both of her celebrations. Her birthday party was a Donut theme. Everyone came over at 9 am and consumed lots of donuts. We opened presents and then the pool party began. When it's in the high 90s at 10 am, what better way to celebrate than in the pool?!

It's such fun to watch her grow up before our eyes... she's growing into a lovely young woman (but not too fast!)

Happy Birthday Sunny! We love you and are so proud of you...

A Stitching Post

Finally! I can share a couple of finishes for 2018 with you. 

This was the month of the Tooth Fairy Pillows. Both Thunder and Skye are at the age of departing baby teeth and arriving "big" teeth. This is Thunder's pillow. I still need to assemble Skye's and will show it later this week. 

I made a Tooth Fairy Pillow a few years ago for Sunny and followed the pattern exactly. This is the same pattern I used for the pillow my kids had when they were little.

To personalize them (and to keep from being bored out of my mind by stitching the exact same pattern twice in one week) I changed up the borders a little. I have four more pillows to make in the coming years. I am desperately looking for a new pattern, but haven't found any yet that I like. Help! If you know of a tooth fairy pillow pattern PLEASE let me know!

As part of my "Year of the Purge" I've been going through my cross stitch patterns. I had a book of patterns that I was ready to let to go except for one project. I decided that instead of holding on to the book until I got around to stitching the pattern, I would stitch it now. Here's the result...

Please excuse the shadows and reflections. As you can see it was a quick and easy stitch and the book it came from is on it's way to a new home.

I finally finished the last Christmas Stocking I was stitching for a friend's kids. I'm in the processing of assembling them (I sew them by hand so it takes some time). I also started the first of four baby samplers I need to make. Then it's on to stockings again for two of my grands. 

Whew! Good thing I took the time to stitch the America pattern. It may be the only thing I get to make for myself this year.

HO...HO...HO

I was so excited about the grandkids' visit to Santa this year. I literally spent weeks anticipating it. You see in October it occurred to me that since JD, Janel, and Blizzard would be here for Thanksgiving it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have all six grandkids in a photo with Santa! Yippee! I plotted and planned... Katie bought matching "Cousin Crew" pj's for them all to wear. I made a reservation to see Santa so we wouldn't have to wait in line.

The big day finally arrived. We drove to the mall in anticipation of the awesome Santa photos we would be getting.

Alas, it was not to be. For some reason as we approached the first photo station, Thunder decided that he did NOT want his photo with Santa. He started throwing a fit like a toddler (most unattractive in a six year old). We managed to get a shot of him in the first photo, but when we reached Santa he completed revolted.

I am bummed. But, on the bright side, I got a photo of five of the grandkids with Santa. I am focusing on the bright side. Really, I am. Yep, one of these days I'll be able to focus on the bright side.

So, here are the Santa photos, the much anticipated Santa photos...

Skye (6), Snow (1), Grammy, Blizzard (10 mos), 

Sunny (8), Storm (3), Gramps, Thunder (6)

Hmmm, wonder if I could insert a photo of Thunder in here?!

Storm is very into Christmas this year and was thrilled 

beyond words to see Santa!

Skye asked for an Appaloosa, but Santa explained that he 

doesn't bring live animals...

Blizzard's first meeting with Santa went very well!

The last time I had a photo of Sunny alone with Santa was in 2010, 

before Thunder was born

After we left the mall, Katie called me and said that Thunder had a change of heart and went back in to take a picture with Santa and Sunny. {{sigh}}

Baking With the Grands

Sunny and Thunder had a half day last week so we decided it was the perfect time to bake cookies...

Thunder is going through some sort of an odd smile phase... 

... and they wanted a silly photo!

We made delicious Christmas M&M cookies - yummy!

Candy Sleds

Of course, I found this idea on Pinterest. It is a sled made out of candy! The grandkids were thrilled and wanted to make them for their parents.

The day before Thanksgiving we gathered our supplies and set to work. They did a great job! I used glue dots instead of the hot glue gun that is called for in most of the instructions I found (how can you use hot glue with chocolate?!) They were able to handle the dots by themselves. I found the chocolate Santa at IKEA and he looked very cute "driving" the sled.

This was a fun activity that I will definitely keep in mind for future holidays.

Thunder 

Skye

Sunny 

(My son, JD is making pies in the background)

Back to School!

Four of the grands are back to school earlier this month. One third grader, two first graders, and a pre-schooler. I have three school calendars to transfer to my calendar and am keeping my fingers crossed that there is no conflicts of more than one activity on the same day at different schools. I can see that the days of Dan and I having to possibly split school functions is fast approaching!

And as if that weren't exciting enough, my surrogate grandchild, Kyler, moved into ASU this weekend. We are so proud of him!!

Storm ready for Pre-school

Skye standing at her first grade desk

Thunder and Sunny on their first day back

(I love how Thunder wore a tie with his school polo to mark the occasion!)

Kyler with his mom, Marti moving in at ASU

Grammy Summer Camp Week One

We successfully completed our first week of Grammy Summer Camp.

Whew... only seven weeks to go.

The first week was filled with swimming, reading, movies, swimming, cooking, Legos, swimming, Flash Cards, Color pages, swimming. You get the idea.

Here are a few photos to show you our fun. Now we're on to Week Two!

For our first cooking project we made Reindeer Cookies.

Not because we were celebrating Christmas in July, but

because it was an easy recipe I thought we could handle! 

I handled the delicate job of dipping the Nutter Butters

into melted chocolate, but they added the legs, antlers,

red nose and eyes by themselves.

Now I have photographic proof that they are capable of

working together and sharing... sometimes!  

Ta-da! I didn't taste them, but the kids did and 

pronounced them "delicious"

Tuesday mornings we're going to the movies

As you can see these are true Arizona kids.

The theater is freezing and we took extra

jackets and sweaters to bundle up in

before stepping out into 105 degree temps

when the movie ended.