January 2021

We kicked off the new year visiting with friends at their property in Aguanga. We social distance hung out, played in nature and tried riding ATVs (Landon tried one on his own, but he didn't like the torque and got off right away, Brooklyn couldn't wait to ride on the back of mine and the dads did a tour around the area). We had a great time! 

Later that evening we spent New Year's Day dinner at Pappou and Babcia's house with the traditional New Year's cake with the lucky penny in it. 

 

The kids had their annual winter break cousin sleepover at our house. We played Throw Throw Burrito, jumped on the trampoline, played on the rings, watched a movie and played glow hide and seek before they split up to boys' and girls' rooms for bedtime. Zoe had a really difficult time being away from Amber with many phone calls home and almost 2 hours of tears before falling asleep. In the morning, however, (after donuts and girls' pedicures) she said she had a great time and won't be sad next time. 

Later we played a bunch of board games and jumped on the trampoline. On our last day before going back to (virtual) school, the kids slept in, Brooklyn came in and snuggled with me before we got our lazy bones up for the day, then we made a fort and the kids earned screen time with chores and exercising. (Landon was really into earning as much screen time as he could, but Brooklyn didn't seem to think it was worth too much and was fine playing stuffies instead.) Landon asked if they could PLEASSE have a day where they get to use their lunch boxes & lunch bags like they would if they were AT school. Pleasing the kids is (sometimes) so simple. They both LOVED it!

In addition to playing "family" or "stuffies", Brooklyn's been really into making obstacle courses and playing in the garage while Daddy exercises. 

 

Landon prefers to jump on the trampoline, complete Lego sets and play make-shift pickleball on the side yard. 

One night the kids decided they wanted to stay up late and the way to convince us to let them was to give us back and arm massages. Landon said, "You're going to have to get used to laying down so we can massage you every night." Of course, it only lasted a couple of nights and their techniques have some room for improvement, but  it was nice while it lasted. Taking care of Alpha the Beta and the 4 Tetras, Tiny Diamond, Diamond Tiny, Little Crystal and Crystal Little:

We are all loving our new couch...

...and the boxes it came in!

We began a (hopefully long-standing) tradition of Park Sundays at our local park, playing football, soccer, etc. 

Playing "stuffies" and "family" are Brooklyn's 2 favorite games. They both crack up when I mimic what her stuffed animals do (dance, headstands, falling down, curtsying.

Legos and more Legos are Landon's favorites. He put together all of the Lego Ninjago sets (including one that had 1,171 pieces) he got for Christmas VERY quickly! The kids got ready for bed an hour easly as a surprise "so we can play with the Ninjago Lego set I finished today. We can all be the characters!!"

We had a big day in the Kelepouris house - Brooklyn lost her FIRST tooth! It was BARELY wiggly the day before, and the next day she just pulled it out. 

 

Shortly after, somehow I contracted COVID-19 and had to self-isolate away from the family. Luckily, my only symptom was a phantom cigarette smoke smell (constantly for 9 days), but it was a rough 9 day isolation for all of us. Daddy did an AMAZING job of playing both Daddy & Mommy & cook & cleaner & server & everybody's EVERYTHING!! Luckily, I had full reign of the master bedroom, which included the balcony, my saving grace. I was able to get some sunshine and watch the kids play outside, which was a life-saver. 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful cards from my babies:

Flowers from Grammie & Papa:

 

Family movie night

 

There were lots of calls beween the Amazon Echo and Dot (which Daniel named, "Mommy's Corona Phone") so I could read "Descendents: Isle of the Lost" to them (which worked out better than reading to them through the door the first couple of days) and video chat with them. Brooklyn and I played "Guess What I'm Thinking through the door as well. 

 

One day we opened the door and played stuffed animals from across the hall. This was SO needed (at least by me)!

Daniel and the kids got several COVID-19 tests and never tested positive, so it was all worth it! We celebrated Zero Day when I busted out of "Corona-Jail." Daniel and the kids decorated and gave me a crown, we got donuts, breakfast burritos & hot chocolate, played War, Disney Family Feud and Catan Jr. and enjoyed lots of snuggles and kisses! The balloons came in handy for the whole week, as we played balloon volleyball, "don't let the balloon touch the ground," and the kids tried popping them on the grass.  

Once we all had final negative tests, we visited Pappou and Babcia, and they had a new fun game that we played. 

 

We enjoyed playing in the hail, especially bouncing it on the trampoline, one day!

After we were separated for so long, we needed some good family time. Luckily, the weather cooperated and provided Idyllwild with a couple feet of snow. We found a little cabin near town and stayed one night. Daddy had to take a work call as soon as we arrived, so the kids and I collected several stashes of snowballs to ambush Daddy as soon as he finished his call.  

 

 

When Daniel found one of our stashes, Brooklyn grabbed the whole basket of snowballs and ran away from him with it. 

We also knocked down a bunch of icicles from the house and played a bit of snow basketball!

 

 

Once it got dark we watched a movie, tried Milk Dud popcorn, plyed games and read. In the morning Uncle Peter, Auntie Amber and the cousins joined us for breakfast then we all went to a snow park to sled, make snow angels, build (and disassemble, then sled the body / carry the head down the hill to the rest of the group) snowmen, throw snowballs, and just play and have fun in the snow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kindergarten celebrated the 100th day of school with lots of fun activities! Brooklyn chose not to dress up as a 100 year old, but she was very proud of her 100 Collection. She decided to share 100 faces/emojis.

Landon had a great time putting together another Lego-like contraption!

For Jacob's COVID Birthday Date, we picked up BJs for dinner, played a new (to us) game and enjoyed pizzookies. 

The night before Brooklyn's birthday she was upstairs and kept telling Daniel, "I think I smell brownies. Maybe it's for my birthday." She requested brownies with mint chip ice cream, whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles and mini Oreos (added later). She also noted that she would like me to make a second mud pie for Uncle Peter, since he doesn't like mint chocolate...what a thoughtful girl. 

On the 30th we celebrated Brooklyn's 6th birthday, COVID-style!

Landon and Daddy created a balloon wall for Brooklyn to wake up to. 

After running STRAIGHT to scale and height chart, she had breakfast on the chaise lounge while watching "Tweety Bird" with Landon, all per her request. She couldn't decide between donuts and cinnamon rolls for breakfast, so we had a few of each!

 

Brooklyn calls a thermometer a "fever." 😄 

 

Brooklyn opened (mostly rainbow themed) presents, watched her birthday video, got a pedicure, went for a bike ride with cousins, Lunchables & a whole bunch of rainbow sprinkles, video calls with some of her favorite people, watched a movie, opened more presents, then the Kelepouris' all came over to play, hit her rainbow pinata and enjoy In N Out & (rainbow) grasshopper brownie pie! (She loves rainbows!! 😄)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At bedtime the kids play a game where they pretend not to want Daniel to kiss them. They taunt him to try but then try to push him away and scream for each other to save them. Landon uses the code "salamander sushi" and Brooklyn's is "pterodactyl taquitos" to summon the other for assistance. When Brooklyn hears she brother shout Salamander Sushi she immediately books it to his defense, and you can see how hard she is pushing Daddy away by the very strained and focused expression on her face. She's such a fierce protector of him!!

Happy birthday, sweet girl! We love you!!