February 2020

February began with more basketabll

...and the 49ers in the Super Bowl!

Annual Daddy-daughter Super Bowl picture:

Brooklyn loves her baby doll feeding/sleeping/laundering center!

 

 

Thea Toula came to visit, and we were able to spend some time with her.

Landon was tasked to create a Valentine mailbox for his class' Valentine exchange. He spent 5 hours drawing animals, superhero symbols, etc (on Art for Kids Hub & on his own) for his mailbox.

Brooklyn requested a fire

Nighttime reading

Lunch With a Loved One

 

Class Valentine exchange

Landon & buddy, Aiden

Jacqueline Sandoval, Juliana Conklin and Landon

Kennady, Landon & Aven Keller, Kate Gibson and Emma Nava

 

Dog pile on Jacob!

Brooklyn's birthday dinner at Grammie's

 

Handel's ice cream with Daddy

 

Chess with Papa

Daddy and Landon helping Grammie

Brian tried to get us to surprise Melis for her birthday (by hiding in the pantry).

Back home

Landon complained so much about his least favorite chore, unloading the dishwasher, and begged and begged to trade for another chore, specifically laundry. After attempting to talk sense into him multiple times, he still wouldn't let up. So I unloaded the dishwasher (in 6 minutes), and he spent the day, ALL DAY (from 10am to 8pm, breaking only for lunch, dinner and a quick trip to CVS), doing all loads of laundry. At bedtime I allowed him to surrender without putting the laundry he had folded and hung away. He promised he wouldn't ever complain about doing the dishwasher ever again (although he enjoys pushing the buttons, adding the detergent and cleaning out the lint trap)!

 

Cousin night - Daddy attempted (and failed more than once) a science experiment (getting a hard boiled egg into a bottle)...

...then all the kids did Art for Kids Hub.

The caterpillars from Auntie Gail and Unlce Fred emerged from their chrystalides!

Brooklyn took them outside to show them our backyard and let them watch her water the plants & ride her bike.

 

The 7th day was Release Day, and we thought she would want to release them in our backyard in hopes that they would stick around and we could see them for a while after. She was adamant that we release them at the park so the butterflies could see other butterflies in their natural habitat

 

 

 

One day Landon decided to make cards for his current teacher, Ms. Rentner, and last year's teacher, Mrs. Eventov.

Brooklyn found some hand-me-down leg warmers in her drawer and wore them for 3 days straight (took them off for showers, put them back on with jammies).

 

Daniel and the kids were outside one day, and he mentioned to Landon and Brooklyn that one day we want them to jump in the pool with their clothes and shoes on to make sure they're comfortable swimming to the edge of the pool in case of an accidental fall-in. Landon asked, "now?" and Daniel said, "sure" not thinking he would. Landon jumped in RIGHT away! (This was also Decade Day at school, and he was dressed as a 50's guy.)

 

Landon and Brooklyn got to read to a therapy dog, "Mimi" at the library.

 

 

We met cousins at the park for a few rounds of laser tag one night.

Our little crazies

We celebrated Brooklyn's birthday 2 weeks after her actual birthday at Great Wolf Lodge (as she chose to do rather than having a big party). Landon played hookie for a day so we could get there as early as possible. We spent Wednesday night at Grammie and Papa's (with a yummy bday dinner for B), then took off for GWL in the morning.

The kids were SO excited when we checked into our "Wolf Den Suite" and they saw their wolf den with bunk beds and TV in a muraled room with magical animals that sang and moved when the kids pointed their magic wands at them.

 

Brooklyn had a Wolf Pass, where she got to build a dog, "Cookies 'n' Cream,"

 

...play with a new magic wand & belt,

...get a personalized bracelet made,

 

...have a special cupcake,

...watch a show,

...go mini bowling,

 

...play a round of glow in the dark mini golf,

 

 

...join a dance party (but only danced during the non-freestyle dance parts!),

 

 

...play in the arcade,

 

 

THEN we got to spend time in the water park!!

 

 

 

 

Day 2 was Valentine's Day.

 

 

The kids loved the wave pool and the lazy river the most! Both were hesitant to go on the BIG slides, and once forced Landon enjoyed them (Brooklyn remained firm on her stance).

 

It was a very much needed family vacation, where we had the best and silliest time together. One last wolf howl before we took off!

The following weekend we headed back up to Orange County to spend time with Grammie and Papa, and that Sunday we attended The Bug Bounce America, an open field with a ton of inflatable bouncers.

 

'The Giant' was the family favorite. It was the longest bounce house in the US (world?), snaking back and forth with all kinds of obstacles along the way before the ending slide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brooklyn did about 5,000 forward rolls that day!

 

 

  

 

It was a great morning! We can't wait to go again next year!!