Covid Rest

My whole day: tea, recliner, watching my fam play video games.

Merry Christmas

Silent Night, Holy Night

Silent Night, Holy Night.

"The Mouse King!"

“There’s the Mouse King!” B has been looking forward to seeing the fight scenes of the Nutcracker Ballet, which we spent a lot of time learning about this week.

Kitchen Experimenter

She’s an early riser and a get-it-done-er. Sooo her list of mother-prescribed studies were done by 10am. Since then she’s attempted to make rock candy (fail but still delicious) tried to roast spicy chickpeas (fail but still delicious) and is now concocting various homemade lip balms? I’d say it’s been a productive day. Perhaps one could say that her studies never ended?! And she’s SO happy. And very cute.

Audio Book Love

He has an audio book in his ears and he's working with his hands (yes, play IS work and learning). He’s a boy after my own heart.

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❤️ Birthday Outing for Mama

Romaine Season

This gorgeous thing cost me 20 cents. It’s Romaine season, glory!

Riding Logs

Just another day at Sunridge... riding logs behind the tractor. (Had some fallen trees from big storms a few days ago.)

Passport Problems

Today we should have all boarded flights home to Egypt together. But we did not. We had some passport confusion and have had to delay our return for 6 weeks. It’s a little sad, we are ready to go home! But we did send our fav man off alone for a week to take care of business before he comes back to the USA to us.

Burrito Tuck In

He tucked himself up like a burrito. ❤️ 🌯 👦

A Dairy Free Banana Split from Heaven

I’ve wanted a banana split for years. But I am dairy-free so it’s not an easy task. Today, my dream came true after weeks of planning (no exaggeration). A perfect banana, 3 dairy-free ice cream flavors (two made from scratch by my son and my Mama), coconut whipped cream, 3 sauces, sprinkles, cherry, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. And it didn’t disappoint. 😋💕

Hot Sauce Packet Organization

They gave us way too much hot sauce. Don’t worry. I organized it.

The Other Mommy

Our families have had 2 very fun weeks together. And this girlie calls her Mommy now. 

18 Miles

18 mile bike ride today. 🚲 🚲 🚲❤️❤️❤️

Golf Course Happy

Very fun!! 💕

Gracie

Mike’s parents got a puppy. Gracie. She’s teeny and she’s the SWEETEST.

The Best Daddy

Always working on something. Or several somethings. Loving us and caring for us so well. (My Dad)

The Best Mama (Grammi)

Always taking time with one of them. Or several of them. (My Mama)

Summer Cornhole Nights

That time we didn’t want to stop playin’ in the beautiful summer night and tried to get the youngest to fall asleep outside in a sleeping bag on the ground rather than take him inside and put him to bed properly. (It didn’t work. But we did play ‘til past dark.) I’d do it again. ❤️

A Covid July 4th

We had a bike ride on the greenway, and then a stop at the local donut shop. Not a bad replacement for the usual morning Fourth festivities. (Not pictured, but taking the picture... Grammi! 💕)

Road Trip Life

Road trip life.

5am Cartoons

Little boy jet-lag Heaven: 5am cartoons.

Jet-Lag Champ

The little guy woke up at 2am. He never fell asleep during the day, despite a few car rides. And made it until 7:30! Not bad. Let’s hope he sleeps past 2am tomorrow morning. Jet-lag, so fun.

Frankfurt Layover

We’ve been here awhile. Can you tell? 20 hours. Moving on soon.

Little Mama

“Mom, can I sit next to B and take care of him?” Uhhhhhh, why yes OF COURSE!! My girlie is a dream...

Covid International Travel Adventure

Beginning our long and crazy journey to come see our families! So thankful to have gotten tickets in these unusual times. The next two days are gonna be an COVID-international-travel-adventure!

Trampoline Play

So thankful God gave us one more child. These two play together for hours sometimes, with big imaginations!

Under the Stars

This boy slept all night on the trampoline on our sixth floor terrace. The weather is so lovely these days... 💙... and he was awake at 4:40 when the sun came up.

COVID Game Challenge

We completed our COVID-stay-at-home-play-every-game-challenge (we made up the challenge)... and played all 70 of our games (some of them many times) in the past 2.5 months. Whew!

Grapes

The grapes are soooooo good right now. Can’t get enough. The fruit in this country is amazing all year around.

Morning Light

He is Reading

In this weird season (Covid), this amazing man has sat down each afternoon to teach the little man (age 4) to read. They are past lesson 50 of 100 and IT IS WORKING.

Four

I don't even know what they were doing here on the floor, altogether as I walked out from my room. This doesn't happen often, but when it does my heart bursts.

Story

He often wakes and wants to listen to an audio story. He looks forlorn here, but I think he's just into his story. He's got story in his bones, this one.

Fire Pit Joy.

Can You Hear the Airplane Noise?

Bougainvillea Walk

Bougainvillea is my FAVORITE. It comes in all colors, it climbs all over the place, it grows everywhere! The colors and petals are beautiful and then they drop off the plants and make the ground a gorgeous petal-covered picture. We had bright pink bougainvillea near our home in our former country and I loved all the petals that ended up on our balcony. I had to sweep them up like dried up fall leaves and I loved it.

These days the flowers are in full bloom. On our walk today (with Bunny) the kids played under a white Bougainvillea tree for awhile. 

Friday Rhythms

One way we have stayed sane, even, might I say THRIVED some during this Coronavirus season is that we have lots of routines and rhythms.

Every day of the week has certain rhythms for us in this season. It’s been a lifesaver. 

Fridays (the weekend for us) has ended up with the longest list. No-rules drive-around-for-fun, a 2nd cup of coffee (glory! ☕️) Friday-school for kids online, Zoom Church, crepes for lunch, a snuggle nap with my girlie, cookout for dinner, playing on the terrace, and a longer game with the older kids in the evening. A day full of so much goodness! 

But truthfully, it also feels so long. We don't do screens or audio stories on this day (aside from church things) and that is just plain hard. Also, we miss gathering together and being out and about. Nevertheless, we have MUCH to be thankful for and I'm certain these are days that we will never forget.

Terrace Top Pool

Possibly the best $35 we have spent since quarantine began.