It was a low-key birthday for Mari this year because there is a lot going on. The Reagens are out of town and soccer is still in full swing as Mari’s team preps for a tournament this weekend.
For dinner we went to P.F. Chang’s. Andrew was working, so he couldn’t make it. Cake
Mari turned 16 this year and is already driving herself to school and some other school-related places. She gets up around 6:30 and school days and we wake her up around noon on off-days. She likes to play soccer, read, and spend time on her phone. Her favorite app is TikTok. She watches some shows including Grey’s Anatomy and Outer Banks. For Friday night pizza she insists on Papa John’s. I think she goes to bed around 2 when there is not school.
Today we celebrated Rose’s 6th birthday. Attendees included Mimi & Papa, Mar-Mar & Be-Bob, the Reagens, and Elsie and Abbot. Rose had a piñata, pin the tail on the something, cake, and plenty of presents.
RosePiñataPin the tail on somethingRoseSinging Happy Birthday
Rose is a real sweetie. She loves hugs, kisses, and snuggling. She and Lucia still share a bed and spend 99% of their day together. She is inquisitive and good at putting 2 and 2 together. She loves to swim, play sports, dance, play with her toys, and play outside.
Her day usually starts around 7:30 or 8 when she and Lucia wake up. She likes to eat 1/2 a bagel for breakfast, either with cream cheese or butter. Then it is time to play. She was homeschooled this past year and mostly focused on number and letter facts and some light reading. For lunch she likes chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and grilled cheese. She is getting better at swimming, but still uses her puddle jumper much of the time when she is in the pool. She can’t touch yet – but she is close. She likes to join us on walks, sometimes walking and sometimes on her scooter. She and Lucia usually go to bed at around 9:30.
Today we celebrated Elliot’s 14th birthday, with the Reagens in attendance. It is the first time they have been in our house since they spent the night on New Year’s.
Elliot is in 8th grade now and is back in school this semester after learning online last semester. He wakes up for school at 6:55 and we leave at 7:20. After school he has track until about 4:30 and then he has soccer 3 nights a week around dinner time. During the little freetime he has, he likes to play Rocket League, Forza and watch videos on his phone and computer.
One fun thing Elliot started in the past year is “Elliot’s Fun Facts.” He makes up random facts that are fun.
Today is Lucia’s 8th birthday! We had the party earlier this week so today was fairly low-key. Lucia did wake up to some lovely yard decorations, which was fun. She also went to the zoo with Erin yesterday, as part of her birthday present.
Lucia at 8 is a lovely, smiley girl who loves to spend time with just about anyone. She is very social and gets along well and can carry on a conversation with anyone in our family and neighborhood. She and Rose are the best of friends and spend nearly 24 hours together every day – and have a blast. Also of note is that Lucia loves to spend time with our neighbor, Elsie. She is Lucia’s best friend outside of our house. Their relationship has been curtailed of late, because of the coronavirus, but they still like to spend time together when and as possible.
Lucia’s day usually begins around 8, I think when Rose wakes her up. They share a bedroom and stay on the same schedule. Lucia likes to eat waffles or a bagel for breakfast before doing a little school work. She is in second grade this year and was going to go to school, but because of the pandemic she and Rose are homeschooling another year. This year in school we are basically just covering language arts and math, with some other lessons added more recreationally. Lucia is making good progress and reading and does well at math, though she doesn’t always like it.
For lunch she likes mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, and pizza rolls (smart girl). She still prefers the basic foods but is starting to he more adventurous. She also has a milk allergy and rarely consumes straight cows milk or large amounts of ice cream.
She loves activities, including dance, tumbling, and soccer (probably in that order). She has been doing dance online this year and is taking a break from soccer, but has already made us promise she can play next year.
Every day for Lucia ends with reading, playing with Rose, and lights out between 9 and 10.
Favorite song: Moral of the Story Favorite color: Teal Favorite food: Walking tacos Favorite band: Justin Bieber Favorite book: Kaya Favorite activity: Dance Favorite movie: Moana Favorite subject: Science
Today we celebrated Andrew and Lucia’s birthdays! Mimi, Papa, and the Reagens came over for walking tacos, with optional skyline taco meat, presents, and cake. With the nice weather we are still hosting outside when possible.
Birthday cakes, which were delicious. It was a bit windy outside so Andrew and Lucia were stationed just inside the house. Andrew and Lucia’s viewThe guests of honor
The party is planned for tomorrow, but today we had a simple celebration for Andrew’s birthday. Susan bought some cupcakes for us to enjoy for a light dessert before heading to Pumpkinville.
Let’s see. . . Andrew at 17. . .
Sleeps as late as possible, which is not usually very late because he usually has to get up for school or cross country. On Sundays he will sleep until 11.
Eats normal things.
Runs cross country.
Wants to work at Target when the cross country season is over.
Refs soccer.
Is doing online school this semester, which has him in front of the computer most of the day.
Has more homework than ever.
Is starting to think about where to go to college.
Usually goes to bed between 11 and midnight, unless he can sleep in the next day, in which case he will stay up until 1 or 2.
It is not very often that I post without pictures, but tonight we went to a pumpkin patch and corn maze in Mitchellville, just outside of Des Moines, and had a great time. We are celebrating Andrew’s birthday tomorrow night and we were looking for something to do on his actual birthday. The Reagens recommended the corn maze and we all met up just before the entrance closed at 8. We spent a little over an hour in the maze before sitting around a fire until a little after 10. When our cars were the last ones in the lot we felt it was probably time to leave. The funniest thing is that the boys group, Andrew, Ian, Cameron, and Elliot, spent a long time doing the corn maze blindfolded. It was a challenge under normal conditions and I am not sure how they did it.
Oh, and Happy Birthday, Andrew! More to come on that. . .
Erin and I both picked up treats from La Mie. There was no shortage.In the evening we had the Liesses and the Reagens over for dinner, cake, and presents.
About 10 years ago I started playing guitar. I wasn’t ready to invest in a new guitar when I was just getting started, so I had to choose between my mom’s old guitar and Kathie’s old guitar. I took them both into a shop and they said that Kathie’s guitar was in better shape, so I went with that one. I have been playing that same guitar for the past 10 years.
This year for my birthday a few families chipped in to help me buy a new guitar and this weekend I came home with Dean. Dean is actually the company that made the guitar, but it says Dean right on top so that is what we are calling it. I actually wasn’t planning on getting something so fancy or flashy, but of all the guitars I looked at it just felt like the right choice.
Dean. I think I just couldn’t get past that bridge.
We celebrated my birthday on Wednesday, with Mari’s. For dinner tonight we had we had sandwich bar, which I love, and then we had something for dessert. I think we made brownie sundaes, which is great.
For my gift this year several families chipped in to help my buy a new guitar. I started looking this afternoon and hope to make a purchase soon.
Today we celebrated Mari’s 15th birthday. The Reagens and Mimi and Papa came over. We enjoyed tie-dye, swimming, pizza, cake, and presents.
Mari at 15 is a industrious, creative young lady. During the pandemic she has found many creative ways to keep herself busy, including artwork and baking. She still loves to be outside in the water. She also has been spending a lot of time in her room, partially because she does not like hanging out with the cat.
She wakes up on non-school days at around 10, because we make her. She promptly kicks us out of her room and usually makes it down within the next hour for breakfast. She then spends most of the day doing things around the house and in her room. She enjoys watching a show or two in the evening, but not going on family walks. I think she goes to bed around midnight.
She is still into soccer and is trying to run, but has been having some foot pain. She has also been working on driving lately and will take Drivers Ed in July.
Favorite song: None Favorite color: Blue Favorite food: Pizza Favorite band: None Favorite book: The Hunger Games Favorite sport: Soccer Favorite movie: Spiderman Homecoming (Tom Holland)
