Spaghetti and Meatball Challenge

It was hot yesterday, with the humidity we were bordering on miserable. Timmy enjoyed playing on his Slip 'n Slide for about an hour, but even he was content to stay inside for most of the day. While he was watching Spongebob and Robby was busy with his cousins, I took the opportunity to get a lot of work done.

By dinnertime I had revealed the next challenge in our book. The challenge, eating your dinner without your hands, sounded perfect for a spaghetti and meatball meal. Luckily my Mom was game and helped me put the plan into motion.  The Crew knew that we were up to something but their guesses weren't even close.

Wearing old shirts and standing next to the table covered with plastic tablecloths, the kids were immediately both intrigued and perplexed.  I took the big wok of spaghetti and meatballs and dumped it into the center of the table.  I spread it out so that everybody had a portion within reach before we explained the challenge.  After that, it was game on.  

I wasn't surprised that Timmy was a natural at this challenge. He loved sticking his head right into the mound of spaghetti and had no inhibitions about being dirty. He happily slurped noodles and munched meatballs, giggling and laughing throughout the dinner.  My mom even got into the action!

Because of the contamination, I knew that nobody would want to eat the leftovers. Instead, I balled up the disposable tablecloths and called the kids into the backyard. I opened up the pile of leftovers and invited them to a food fight.  As soon as they heard those words, it was game on!

Today we are heading home. I'm sad to be leaving, but so happy that we were finally able to visit. I'm hoping that the pandemic continues to weaken so that we can return again soon.  

 

Birds and a Battle

Yesterday morning, while I was quietly drinking my coffee and trying to get some work done, Timmy was playing under the deck on his "gym" equipment. Suddenly he came bounding up the stairs, excitedly screaming me to follow him. He grabbed my hand and pulled so hard he nearly lifted me from my chair. 

At his urging (and insistence) I quickly followed him down the stairs. He led me to the corner of his gym (playground) and pointed to the rafters. There I saw a next with two tiny little baby bird heads peeking over the top. Their eyes were still closed and their covers were matted. Timmy then told me how he watched them hatch.  He was ecstatic by the experience!  

He spent the majority of the day playing in his gym and watching the newborn birds. In order to escape the heat, the big kids played inside for the most of the day. By mid afternoon the kids were becoming bored so we scratched another square in our Family Adventure Book. This time they were directed to open up a pinata using only their best martial arts moves. We ordered the supplies and they had a great time beating up a taco pinata.

After Timmy went to bed, the cousins engaged in another round of Bomb!. When the temperatures began to cool in the evening, the Crew headed outside with their Glow Battle swords for an epic battle.  I love the sounds of summertime giggles in the night!

 

School Work

Robby's school year is winding down. It is now time for him to finish all of the assignments he skipped and to tie 8th grade into a neat little bow. He had been doing a great job of self-pacing until the pandemic. With Scott home everyday, Robby's motivation to keep working dwindled. Thankfully he doesn't have too many delinquent assignments, but he cannot take his finals until everything has been submitted. 

Math continues to be his weakness, especially since his tutoring suddenly stopped due to Covid-19. We did our best to keep up, but it was a struggle. I know the assignments he skipped were multi-stepped and laborious. Thankfully we have some friends and family members who are gifted in math and have been willing to help him through the assignments.

Yesterday he was feeling the pressure to finish and managed to submit all but two assignments.  Those will be completed today, so hopefully we will be ready to to take finals by Friday. This has been such a wonky year. It will be nice to finally put all of 8th grade behind us!

Drive-In

This weekend was fun, albeit laid back and way too short. Unlike other days of quarantine, cousintine days seem to fly by. With the house filled with giggling, games and water fun, it is impossible to not feel happy and at peace. 

Sticking with our protocols, we are continuing to self-quarantine. We didn't go out, and all of our adventures were conducted at Nana's house. We engaged in an epic lip sync battle and water gun fights. We also had a great time (especially Timmy) on the Slip 'n Slide. This was his first experience on the slide and he is hooked! For my little adventurer, the Slip 'n Slide reigns supreme right now.

On Sunday the Cousin Crew designed their own flag, which they plan to fly proudly whenever they are all together. Tie-Dyed and filled with memories of adventures, I hope that the pandemic continues to ease so that they can fly it a lot this summer!  

Last night we ventured beyond my Mom's yard for an adventure. I packed up the kids (minus Timmy, who was asleep) and we went to the drive-in movie. The kids had never been to a drive-in and, since we never left the confines of our car, I thought it was the perfect socially distanced activity. 

We saw the movie Goonies, which the kids loved. My niece was surprised that it was in color (she thought 80's movies were considered old) and Robby was impressed that the humor was still relevant. There is nothing like showing your kids a movie from your own childhood to feel old!  We had a great time at the drive-in, and we will definitely be returning this summer.

Cousintine

Happy Friday!

The Cousin Crew had a fantastic day of what they have dubbed "The Cousintine Summer."  They dyed t-shirts, engaged in the first water balloon fight, raged a war with water guns and finished the night with an epic glow battle.  Timmy was delighted to be fully included this year. He is very quick to remind everybody, at any opportunity, that he is in the Cousin Crew. 

The world feels like it is imploding, but these kids make me smile.

Hope

Our first full day the Cousin Crew, Quarantine Edition was a rousing success.  All of the kids know that we can't travel beyond Nana's neighborhood, and that we cannot invite neighbors and friends into the social circle right now. Instead of complaining about being "stuck" at home, they filled the time with games and sharing stories.  

Listening to teenage laughter and Timmy's giggling makes my heart feel better. In a world full of extreme chaos, listening to the Cousin Crew talk and play gives me increased hope for the future. These kids have zero tolerance for racism and racial exclusion. They make me so proud!

Happy Visit

My Mom, niece and nephews have been dutifully quarantining for the past month in the hopes of sparking a reunion. Yesterday, after consulting with Timmy's doctors, we were finally granted permission to visit. I wish I had videoed Timmy's reaction when I asked him if he was ready to go visit his Nana. His squeals and giggles of joys are something I hope to never forget.

We packed up and headed North in what felt like record time. Both boys were so excited about our trip that they chatted and planned adventures the entire drive. I kept reminding Robby and Timmy, and finally the entire Cousin Crew, that while we were cleared to be together the quarantine is still in effect. 

We are not going anywhere. There are no getaway adventures. There will be no trips to the mall or for ice cream. We are able to be together which, right now, is more than enough. 

This morning I am waking up at my Mom's house. Timmy is happily eating a blueberry muffin in my Nana's bed, grinning from ear-to-ear. Although I went to bed at 10, I know that the Cousin Crew was up for most of the night because I heard them laughing into the wee hours of the morning.  Somehow, waking up to sounds of laughter doesn't bother me right now.