Easter weekend 2021

 

We usually spend Easter in Texas (2014 //  2015  // 2016 part 1 part 2 // 2017 // 2018 // 2019) but

2020 lockdown

2021 not ready to travel 

We had a quiet weekend at home followed by a few days of vacation for me.

Easter 2021 according to my camera roll:

While I was waiting at the racquet club, the owner brought over these warm cinnamon rolls for the girls and me.  You know what's better than warm fuzzies? Warm sugaries. It was such a wonderful unexpected gesture. Thank you, Dan! 

Every day I check the grape vine... and it is alive! 

Raspberry and blackberry bushes greening up.

On Saturday, C and I went to Nachomama's and brought our tacos to a little park (her suggestion: let's have a picnic), Michael's for art supplies, The Container Store for a container* for my burgeoning Olive & June collection, Athleta for the outfit C liked so much she wore it for the next three days, and Laurie's for the Keens I buy them every summer.  Later I ran to CVS for the very last two readymade Easter baskets (whew).

*I explained to the saleswoman, age twentysomething, several times that I was "basically looking for a Caboodle" and finally she said, "I don't know what that is." Oof.

On Sunday morning I went to spin class and then tennis in the park with Luke.  We started driving to find some lunch and settled on Burger King, because it was open. And it might have been the most terrible fast food meal we've ever had.  Again Clemmie had the great idea of going to a park. 

A horse trailer parked not far from our picnic spot.

This lovely man called to the girls: do you want to pet the horses?

(This horse was so tall in order to swing up into the saddle the rider gave a signal and it extended its legs forward and backward to bring its back a bit lower.)

Such a thrill for them. (Josie to the rider: This horse is a paint. I know it from my book.)

More playground time.

Can I explain why there are two Christmas stockings and a fly swatter hanging from the mantel? No.

This is to remember Josie's newly-arrived American Girl doll joining her in the Harry Potter flow in Cosmic Kids Yoga.

At some point in the weekend, the bathroom door opened a sliver and this was handed to me in a curious display of regard for my privacy/disregard for my privacy. 

I had given up on the asparagus that was planted in the fall - but lo!

Days off:

Visit from my garden coaches. SO VALUABLE!!!

They brought potatoes to plant:

Another grape check.

More tennis!

Lunch with mom.

Christmastime 2020

I had a week of vacation before Christmas.  We made a one-night trip to Chicago to see Elise's new home and meet their new baby for the first time. [There is so much to say about COVID I don't know where to start].

Lately the girls have been listening to Beverly Cleary audiobooks at night. I downloaded a new-to-them series narrated by Neil Patrick Harris to listen to on the drive.  We were listening to a scene in Henry and the Clubhouse during which Ramona sings a jingle from a commercial.  The girls erupted in uproarious laughter in unison and then begged to hear that paragraph again (and again. and again).  Later I wondered why that particular scene should be so hilarious to both of them ... I think much of their delight came from investment in and familiarity with these characters.

Meeting the bebe!

Big sister - wearing a Hanna hand-me-down from us!

Bundling up for a walk to the playground.  We had delicious Detroit-style pizza for dinner and visited until bedtime intervened.

In the morning we took some photos in front of a church across from our hotel and picked up quiche and pastries from Hoosier Mama Pie Company. Luke took some family photos of Brett and Elise.

Then we drove to Elgin to see this much-loved family!

Headed to St. Charles to visit with Vince and Kate and co.

Playing "NPR news" with the karaoke microphone.

Mike sent us home with gift bags that included these wax sticks.  I thought these were pretty delightful.

Had to get home for colonoscopy prep! Jenny cracked me up when I told her about it:

Vacation week: Went to the pool.

Christmas Eve: started the day with CrossFit and an hour of family tennis.  Made this disastrous gray, greasy buttercream:

Prepped Bravetart's sweet potato brown butter cinnamon rolls while the girls watched Prancer.  After they went to bed Luke and I watched The Crown... it got later and later and the cinnamon roll dough didn't proof properly. Finally I shaped them and put the pan in the fridge and it was time to put out the presents...

Luke had stashed many of the wrapped presents in his work van... and after midnight he could not find the keys.  We were already concerned this would be the last Santa Christmas and now this! Christmas locked in the van! He searched for the keys for what seemed like a long time and then found them, in the pocket of some pants.

Four short hours later, the girls were up at 5:30.  They surveyed the presents and reported back to us - Santa came! - and we convinced them to doze until 7.

Josie added just the right complements to her cinnamon roll breakfast.

Clementine asked for a typewriter.  She likes the scene in Ratatouille when Anton Ego types out his review of Remy's restaurant.

The rest of the weekend was lazy and wonderful. Went to gym, made sourdough pancakes. Luke and C got a court and played tennis for a long time while Josie and I snuggled up and read Dory Fantasmagory. More swimming in the empty pool.  Early evening NachoMama's run.

Our friends hosted us for a wonderful New Year's Eve - I miss parties so much!

New Year's Day: lazy day of reading magazines, baking with Josie.  We started Honey I Shrunk the Kids and paused the movie to see the Rep's outdoor Glowy Snowy Day.  We bailed for pizza and salad takeout from Dewey's after 30 minutes in the line got us no closer to seeing the production.  Finished the movie (which the girls love) and watched a few episodes of Bluey (which I love - it reminds me so much of our family!)

Jan 2: Wreck bag walk, an annual tradition at the gym.  Three miles as a team of three sharing two weighted bags.  Went to work while Luke took girls swimming. Took Clemmie to Novel Neighbor, where she picked out some books for herself and for Josie - with almost no input from me. 

Looking over the books, Josie held up Cozy and asked "is this by the same person as The Mitten?" I don't remember The Mitten so I googled it immediately ... it is the same author-illustrator! "Do you read this book at Grandma's house?" I asked. "Yes," she said. "And she has a big puzzle of it."

The astounding thing is that she hasn't been to Grandma's house since July - and they didn't read The Mitten then, according to my mom.

Cozy; image via Amazon

                                                         Happy 2021 everybody!