Lisa's Birthday

The little one turned SEVEN!! She had a day full of love, presents, yummy food, and surprises!

She started the day with a breakfast request of french toast. Then she opened her presents. So many friends and family sent gifts to remind her that people love her from places all around the country. She got lots of panda toys, crafts, art supplies, pokemon cards, Legos, and more!

She received a birthday delivery of balloons, birthday panda shirt, birthday crown, and lots of party supplies. She also got a beautiful panda cake brought straight to our front door!

For lunch, she wanted a creation she has been dreaming about that she saw in a book. It appears to be a pile of mashed potatoes with hot dogs in it. So, I figured out a way to make it come to life, and she LOVED it!

The afternoon was spent playing Legos and toys. We had take out cheeseburgers and cake for dinner. We watched the new Sonic movie to end the day. It was a great way to celebrate our special little girl!

Playing with new panda toys

Opening presents

Birthday delivery

Panda birthday girl

Lunch inspiration

Hot Dog Casserole

Birthday dinner

Cake!

Panda cake

Birthday girl

Loving her birthday!

Mother's Day

I had a lovely Mother's Day this year, despite the coronavirus restrictions. Matt made a yummy brunch and grilled steaks and shrimp for dinner. We had a family water balloon fight. I got a pretty new stained glass hanging for a window in our house. Matt built a little fort for the kids to play in for the yard that will also be a trellis for scarlet runner beans. Stanley performed a magic show for me. The weather was beautiful and fun family time. It was a good day!

Stained glass present

Brunch

Movie Star Lisa

Ready for dinner and for his magic show

The grill master

Hanging out in the fort

Best Mother's Day Crew

Quarantine Update!

 I realize the blog hasn't been updated since New Years! Wow, a lot is different now. We've been at home for about 2 months. School was cancelled at the end of March. Matt & I are working from home. We've been having our groceries delivered and have only made a couple trips to other stores. We've gotten take out from a restaurant once.

I celebrated my birthday with a party with my friends on Zoom. We had Easter, with a visit from the Easter Bunny and a yummy ham dinner. Unfortunately the leprechauns couldn't make it this year, since they were also quarantined, but we did have a visit from the tooth fairy for Lisa.

This time has been filled with challenges, like trying to figure out how to teach the kids at home and having very shaggy hair with no salons open. But there are also some lovely moments, like getting to know the birds in our backyard and playing games together as a family.

I miss seeing my friends in person, and I know the kids do too. This family time has been nice, though. I have the best kids in the world, and it's really not that hard to be stuck with them for months on end. Matt is pretty great too.

Here are some of the moments we've shared through the past few months.

Learning at Home

Our classroom

Picking up materials from Mrs. Coleman

Lisa's life-size little blue penguin

The teachers did a parade through our neighborhood.

First grade class meeting

Lisa's been studying penguins.

Portland Audubon Nature Club

Typing an essay

Reading to Glory

Reading outside

Fourth grade class meeting

Playdate with a friend

Lauren's Bday

Matt grilled dinner

Pictures from the kids

Chalk message from the neighbor

Easter

Coloring eggs

Baskets from the Easter Bunny

Finding hidden eggs

It was a beautiful morning!

Other fun moments

May Day

Skip ball

Pogoball

Lots of Magic the Gathering

Frisbee in the backyard

Playing in the front yard--
Lots of imagination games

Squishmallow party

Socially distant happy birthday to a friend

Walks in the neighborhood