January 2021

 Instead of our usual tradition where we go out to breakfast on New Years Day, we decided to make a huge, special breakfast at home instead. I attempted to make stuffed French toast but it was just ok, plus a bunch of other yummy foods. I think I might like this tradition more because it means I don't have to get up and get ready super early!  Ha ha

Kaylee got a chess set for Christmas but I think Brooklyn has actually played it the most. She has really surprised us with how fast she picked up on it and how well she can actually play! She has even won against both Richard and me (with a little bit of help). What a smartie!

We finally finished our Riverboxes scavenger hunt.  It was very bittersweet finding the last one, it has been so much fun for us over the last few months! It was especially perfect for us this year to force us to get out even if the weather wasn't ideal. 

We found a tiny park near our library that had an interesting (and perhaps dangerous?) take on a swing set. Brooklyn wasn't a fan but the other two girls wanted to stay on it forever! Kaylee especially loved it when Richard would send them flying as fast as he possibly could and kept cheering and saying more, more! I didn't know she was such a daredevil!

The school finally figured out a way to have picture day. They won't have a class picture this year but at least we'll get some of these cuties. I couldn't believe how grown up and beautiful they all looked!

Richard got a woodburning set for his birthday and wanted to try it out.  He asked me to draw something for him and then he filled it in with patterns from all the of tools he got to see what they could do. I thought it turned out really cool and hope this turns out to be a fun hobby for him.  I already have a few things I want him to make for us!

The same place we got our Riverbox passport (Dublin Arts Council) has their gardens littered with tons of rocks people have painted with uplifting sayings or just beautiful art. They have a big pile of rocks that you can take and paint to bring back to add to their collection. The girls and I all painted rocks to take. It felt good to think that maybe we could cheer up someone's day with something we created!

The girl's piano teacher has always been so good to us. She knows that we haven't been going many places and haven't let the girls play with friends at all. So one day when her kids were all at school, she invited us over to skate on the ice rink they built in their backyard. Kaylee and McKenna are actually getting pretty good!  It was a very fun afternoon.