After a weekend of sunshine and spring-like temperatures, more snow arrived today. Based on the forecast, the snow will be short-lived so I’m handling it ok. The boys even played outside for over an hour. The first and [hopefully] last snows always make for the best playing.
The boys have been working overtime on learning piano pieces for the WMTA State Piano Competition. I think it’s safe to say that if we knew how many [unintentional] curveballs this competition would throw at us, we probably wouldn’t have signed up. It was a lot (A LOT) of work for them (and me). But they did it. They each performed three memorized pieces and took a written theory test (proctored by me, of course). In a normal year, the boys would play these pieces and take the test in person at the local university, but this year is no normal year (obviously). Instead, we recorded the six pieces and had to upload everything to a website for judging.
Their hard work absolutely paid off. I’m proud of these tiny humans and all that they’ve gone through to put these pieces together. We’ll hear how they did officially in a couple of weeks, but, you know what? I could honestly care less. I’m just so happy to be done with this whole thing.
As an upside, because the competition was virtual, you can listen to the video recordings. Settle in…this can be your culture for the day.
If the embedded videos aren’t working, you can use these links:
We found out last week that Chase will be going back to school four days a week starting in April. I’m happy he’ll get back to a more “normal” existence, but I am going to miss our solo time. I think he’d tell you the same thing, actually.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: one of the best unexpected side effects of Covid is the quality, solo time with this guy.
Somehow these two have turned into big kids without me even realizing it.
After talking about it for months, we finally did it. We rented out a movie theater downtown so that the boys could play video games on the big screen. Awesome, right? It’s Covid, what else can you do to spark birthday joy? Thankfully, we’ve got family who enjoys video game outings as much as us. Eight people in an entire theater is pretty fantastic—only during Covid. This will definitely be a birthday to remember.
That’s the big one helping the little one tie his shoe (apparently we need a refresher course after living in boots the last five months). I didn’t even have to ask him to do it. All together now: “awwww.”
Just working on our sweet skateboarding skills over here. They’re getting pretty good. I hope the interest lasts. We definitely need more reasons to be outside as the weather warms up.
It was *kind of* a big day around here. The little one is already 7. And somehow, even though we’ve had practically zero days off of school this year that weren’t holidays or virtual learning, today was a legit day off. We made the most of it, as you might imagine.
Here’s what a day of celebrating looks like for our new 7 year old:
A morning tv show (that never happens!)
Poppyseed pancakes for breakfast
Mid-morning present-opening involving a sweet new Lego set and a skateboard
Lego building (no time to waste)
French toast and berries for lunch
Video game virtual hangout with one of his friends from school
A walk in the sunshine to give the new skateboard a whirl (both boys did great!)
A trip to a thrift store for some treasure-hunting. I think it’s been exactly a year since Robbe was last there. And it was a good hunt with the bonus of grandma coming along!
Another quick gift opening to reveal marshmallow shooters. That kept everyone occupied until dinner, obviously.
Mini pizzas for dinner
A final gift opening with a few family FaceTime calls
Brownie sundaes for dessert
A family marshmallow shooter bedtime battle (mom + dad vs. Chase + Robbe). Epic.
It was a really good day. Probably the best it could have been under the circumstances. Our little guy felt very loved and spoiled all day long. What more could a mom ask for?
This is what all parents do on birthday eves, right? Right?!? Just remember…the things you do one year turn into a tradition. Haha.
The boys love coming down on their birthday morning to see doorway streamers and their photo collage and their birthday mantle. Also, a stack of presents.
I’ll let you in on a secret: I love it, too. My babies!
Great news! Potato and Gravy got adopted today. It was another sad set of goodbyes, but now we know that we’ve had two great experiences in a row and are just excited about the next friend (or friends) that will come along. Potato and Gravy were really so much fun to have around—playful, snuggly, curious, crazy. It’s going to be much calmer around here now. I hope the new family is ready for all the excitement.
After a week of exhausting back and forths with two different car service shops (I’m talking 20 phone calls, no joke), we finally have the van back. Long story short, we’re hoping Honda is going to cover a big fix that’s going to need to be done in the next year so we’re trying to get everything together to make a solid case for the fix.
Talk about a lesson in appreciating your privilege. Turns out life is much harder with just one car. Not to mention, this little van hiccup has consumed SO MUCH TIME over the last week. I’m thankful to have the flexibility to be able to manage all the running and phone calls and emails, but what about folks that can’t?
I’ve just never appreciated this minivan more.
Robbe decided he’d rather write about me than his actual writing assignment for remote learning today. I don’t think it had anything to do with him trying to make up for the fact that he fought me on every assignment and was feeling a little guilty. Either way, I’ll take it.
You read the subject right. Chris and I managed a kid-free weekend thanks to my parents (and the Covid vaccine). Man, it’s been awhile. We tried to come up with something really epic to do, but it turns out it’s still Covid and none of the options we brainstormed were quite right. We stayed home instead and did a day trip to La Crosse. It wasn’t terribly fancy (the city or the outing as a whole), but it was lovely. And quiet. It turns out the boys fill a lot of the silence in our house.
We really appreciated the solo time and I know the boys were thrilled to be at grandma’s and grandpa’s for their first sleepover in over year. Thanks again, mom and dad!
How beautiful is this? For 4-H, we hosted a Covid-friendly community service event where we split up into family units and cleared sticks from the hiking trails at Beaver Creek Reserve. We didn’t find many sticks, but it was a lovely walk with falling snow and some pretty amazing scenery.
Is there anything better than this?
Chase and I were working together this morning (him: virtual school, me: book festival). At one point I was out of coffee but couldn’t go for a refill because I had the cutest sleeping cat on my lap. Time for Chase to learn how to pour coffee, obviously. Home schooling is a time for practical life lessons, too, after all. And he did great! No spills or anything. Having kids is totally worth it.
Robbe asked to stop and take a photo on the way home from my parents’ house on my birthday. Of course, I had to take one, too. It might be [way too] cold, but it sure is beautiful.
The work/school day made a big bday celebration for Chris a bit difficult, but we tried our best to have some fun tonight and celebrate our favorite person in the world. He really is the best, you know?
It was a different day than I expected due to school closing because of a -35 degree windchill. So instead of Chris and I having a kid-free day (he was off for President’s Day), we spent our morning doing virtual learning. Then the party started with a game of Pandemic and a frigid hot tub dip. My boys (mostly Chris) worked so hard to make today special and I fully appreciate it and acknowledge how they had an up-hill challenge this year. Covid birthdays…you get it.
A heartfelt thank you to all of you who sent me messages today. Texts, cards, videos, gifts, calls, Facebook posts…I enjoyed every single one. I’m feeling very lucky and very loved.
It was a bitterly cold but love-filled day. I guess that’s all you need.
small city | BIG DAYS
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