Weekend activities

The kids had a busy weekend. 

We ran into several of their friends at the local farmers' market. I made the kids wait in the shade while I waited in line for freshly-baked pastries.

Cuddling Finn the dog is always a daily activity!

The kids also made a large and extensive blanket fort last week, which I let them leave up until Sunday evening. It's a good thing all the blankets that Grandma Pauline crocheted for them over the years are strong enough to stand up to the challenge!

Tamar and I started organizing our craft supplies so they are easier to use.

We painted on shells, inspired by Tamar's favorite YouTube artist.

Last week, Benji started teaching himself some songs on the piano (by watching YouTube videos).  He's been practicing a lot!  (sometimes even before breakfast, or putting on his shirt, or brushing his hair...)

I finally put up some art in the kids' areas upstairs.  These are (2) a beautiful print called "Rainbow Dogs" that Grandma Susan bought for Benji years ago, that the kids love, (2) two prints of "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" from the classic British "Bunnykins" series that my parents had framed for the kids, and (3) a sweet embroidered picture that one of Aaron's aunts made for him when he was a child (I think I'm getting that right). They are all treasured and now they're all on the walls for the kids to see every day.

Photo-bombing is another daily activity!

And a bonus picture of the twins on the way to camp last week because I don't know why Daniel wasn't in more weekend photos. This was from last Wednesday, which was "Wacky Hair Day" -- Daniel didn't want wacky hair but Tamar asked me to spray temporary hair color on her hair; pink on the left side and purple on the right.

[end]

January 2021 (French toast, board games, buddies, piano lessons, Lego "welcome" sign, view from my office/the guest room, virtual school room at home, new dishes),

 

from March 2020 (swim lessons, helping at home, hanging out at home and in the neighborhood)

From March 2020 -- so much was happening!  The twins started swim lessons just before the pandemic began and everything shut down.

Below, Daniel fills separate cups with snacks for his class at school (we were on "snack duty" that week). 

Making his own PBJ...

After the pandemic shut everything down, we still stayed in touch with friends by using video chat visits.

Someone loves everything his big brother does.

March 9, 2020 (Purim)

The Jewish festival of Purim, when kids dress up in costumes and celebrate the historic events described in the biblical Book of Esther.  Aaron says all Jewish celebrations are essentially the same:  "They tried to kill us, we survived, LET'S EAT!"

Tamar was Elsa from the movie Frozen. Daniel was the pokemon Bulbasaur, and Benji repurposed his Black history month costume and was Henry Johnson, the heroic and decorated Black American veteran of WWI.

I took a photo of Aaron standing by the sign that read "quiet area for little ones" because he's neither quiet nor little!

--Victoria

from March 2020 (visiting a big play gym)

There's one of these places near our new house. When the pandemic is over, we'll be going there a lot, I think! --Victoria