One of Dave’s favorite games is hiding Annie’s bunnies. She has a couple of stuffed rabbits that she sleeps with and carries all over the house. Normally it’s her favorite pink bunny that gets this special treatment, but yesterday Honey Bunny ended up in costume and on top of our grandfather clock.

Luke is pretty proud of this “empty” wordplay.

Annie wanted to be a ballerina today, but could only find one ballet shoe. So she took a nap instead.

Yesterday she pointed to some pictures in a magazine and asked me what was happening. I told her they were showing how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. She was adamant that it didn’t happen that way and caterpillars did NOT turn into butterflies. It was so funny. When we insisted that yes, that’s how it goes – she covered her ears and wouldn’t look at us. We were able to get her to agree after showing her three YouTube videos (if it’s on YouTube it has to be true, right?).

She cracks me up.

Last November I made the boys hooded bath towels. They had outgrown their old ones (a couple of years ago if I’m being honest). So I suggested making new ones and let them each pick their own animal. Luke asked for an otter and Adam wanted a baby duck (thankfully they picked easy ones).

I mentioned that I’d seen people make hooded blankets and the boys jumped on that as well. Luke didn’t want an animal this time – just something blue and cozy. Adam requested another baby duck (sixth grade boys are strange).

So there you go, proof that I do sew for the boys too.

Friday was a remote learning day for the boys and after lunch Adam, Luke, Annie, and I went over to my mom’s house. Adam and Luke finished up their schoolwork and Annie even joined in.

An added benefit of being at my mom’s meant that she helped Adam with his English homework. That’s a big win for all of us – even if Adam didn’t feel like smiling for the camera.

After I made Maggie’s Bills top, Annie demanded asked for one too. Luke also pointed out that I hadn’t made him anything in a while (not true – by the way) and mentioned that he’d like a pair of Bills pants.

I spent my morning correcting the injustices my poor neglected children had been experiencing.

So they were all ready for tonight’s game – and nice and cozy too.

These three love playing outside in the snow.

“The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”

– National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman –

The older three kids are back to school today after a three day weekend. So how about another flashback from Maggie’s first day of school? Maggie goes to school every day while the boys alternate between in person and at home learning.

What else would I make for her first day of 2nd grade but a #2 pencil dress?

She wanted to be sure I got a picture of her pink nails.

“Let’s pretend I missed the bus and I hafta run to school.”

Of course a dress this special had to have pockets.

I love how she dotted the “i” of her name with a heart.

Thankfully, her teacher is super nice because I learned later that this dress shed glitter everywhere. Oops.

Also – I really need to work on my bow tying skills.

Mags was super excited about her new leopard print backpack with its matching lunchbox.

And it wouldn’t be the first day of school during a global pandemic without the obligatory mask photo.

She loves her new school and her teacher and has been having a fantastic year.

Dave commented that I should have included some pictures of our leaf piles with the pics of the kids. Children included for size comparison.

We get a lot of leaves here.