We went to the Getty Villa this afternoon!!! It was our first outing in a public setting in over a year and it went okay. We avoided all of the buildings and stayed in the garden the entire time. We found a cool marble bench and the boys spent some time sketching. It was a really nice visit. When will feel comfortable going inside???
Today was a very exciting day. The boys received their COVID 19 vaccines! Jawsh drove them to the Forum and they were able to get their shots. When Jawsh sent me this picture, I felt this cloud lift off my shoulders. I didn't even realize it was there. This pandemic has taken a toll on, not only the kids, but us parents as well. I have been so worried and concerned but I will say thanks to modern medicine, I am feeling so much better. I hope that their friends will also get their vaccinations so they can all hang out together. When will they be able to see their friends???
It was so nice to finally hang out with the cousins at the park. Our stay was not as long as the kids would have liked but we were all grateful. Kona was so happy to see us that she kept barking, jumping, and started to pee out of excitement. The kids played basketball and soccer and had a great time. When will we head back???
This is a behind the scenes shot of the teacher teaching class! This will the last week we see our students over Zoom so we are all having lunch together. Micah likes to make me lunch so I enjoyed a sandwich and BBQ chips. I will miss the days of having lunch made for me. What will they serve tomorrow???
Happy 70th Birthday to Grandpa Barry. We got to swing by to wish him a Happy Birthday. Later in the evening, we sang and watched him open presents over Zoom. We can't wait until we all get to share a meal together again. When will that be???
We love the beach. Morning. Noon. Night. Sometimes it's just nice to go and take a walk and to feel the sand in between our toes. We love to hear the crashing of the waves and to breathe in the salty air. Micah usually finds a treasure buried in the sand and Noah likes the water- even going in when it is way too cold. We are thankful that we live so close to the beach and can venture there when we feel. When will we head back???
Like all of the holidays during the pandemic, Passover was celebrated differently. It was a quiet Passover this year. We celebrated with Cool Shul over Zoom and then we enjoyed our Seder at home. The boys were in charge of making the charoset and they especially liked eating the matzo ball soup. We made small Passover bags to give to family. Micah found the afikomen but it took longer than expected. Will we be able to celebrate Passover together next year???
We have really enjoyed walking at the South Coast Botanical Gardens. It's just far enough away to feel like we are going somewhere and it's so expansive that we have plenty of room to walk and enjoy nature without others right next to you. We enjoy walking the perimeter of the estate and my favorite garden to walk through is the Rose Garden. Every time we go to the gardens, we notice something new. Micah especially likes finding the rabbits and Noah and I are on the look out for the blue peacock. We haven't seen it in a while so we have an increasing prize pool for the first person who sees it. I think the prize pool is up to $40 now. Who will see the peacock first???
It's been a while since I've seen the boys side by side on the same bed... this made my heart so happy. Through the pandemic, the boys have been together 24-7. They are in the same room while taking classes, they eat their meals together, and they spend all of their free time together on walks, playing tennis or skateboarding. They are together a lot! But even though they are together all. the. time. I am so happy that they have one another. Even though they are in different Zoom sessions, it's still nice to have a real person next to you like you would in class. And even though they argue, it's still nice to have someone to argue with someone face to face. These two are definitely buds. Will they be like this as they get older???
The boys have been continuing their Jewish studies with Rabbi Diane over Zoom. She recently shared about a non-profit organization that helps the unhoused and hungry called "Hang Out, Do Good." The boys made lunches and we also included a kit that contained socks, chapsticks, and face masks. It feels good to help others. Will they continue this good deed???
Sometimes it's nice to take a drive just to get away... and we have found that we enjoy the drive to Palos Verdes. The boys can spot Catalina Island and it's just a really nice scenic drive. As we look out the window, the boys will share stories from their experiences in 5th grade at Catalina and remember some of the good times they have shared with their friends. It's been almost a whole year since they have seen their friends so we know that they miss them a lot. We are hoping that the COVID 19 vaccine will be made available for teens soon.... when will that be???
This morning I made challah french toast shaped into hearts for the boys. Then for lunch they had heart shaped grilled cheese sandwiches and then for dinner we ate Mongolian food made with love by a good friend. All of the meals were an expression of love. It's important for us to remember that, especially when we feel so isolated. It's good to celebrate the holidays that pass as it helps break up the monotony and reminds us of the good times, wouldn't you agree???
We are really glad that Noah is taking art this year. It gives him a different way to express himself and the course work requires him to work off of the computer! Long gone are the rules of limited screen time, as the boys have all of their assignments, books, and classes online. It's pretty hard to determine if they are online studying or doing something else, now that they are in the room with their AirPods in their ears and the door closed. What is going to happen when they transition back to school???
Our family tradition of dressing up together continued! Jawsh made paper cut outs and we took a picture together proclaiming: Happy Harris-ween. In the evening, we showed the boys The Addams Family (circa 199) and Micah went out our front door and knocked on it a few times to go "trick or treating." This was definitely not as eventful as previous years, but we hope that with new national leadership things will change soon. What will Thanksgiving be like this year???
The cousins had a good time making their gingerbread Halloween Shacks. They were online together goofing, creating, and presenting to one another. Micah got super silly and spread black frosting all over his face proclaiming he went through "puberty" and the girls had a great time screaming at one another. They also played a “minute to win it” game, where they had 1 minute to cover someone in TP to look like a mummy. The boys were unsuccessful. At the end of the evening, they enjoyed playing Minecraft with one another. This was a crazy Halloween get together but I think the kids had a great time. What are we going to do tomorrow???
Yet another school project... this time Micah made a carbon atom with fruit. He felt so lucky because his teacher chose him first to choose the element he wanted to represent. He wisely chose Carbon with an atomic number of 6 (unlike Noah who chose Phosphorus last year that had an atomic number of 15). The best part of Micah's project was that we could eat it when he was done taking the picture! What project will he have to complete next???
Another school project... Micah painted a pumpkin in the likeness of... can you guess???
For the past 6 years, we have spent Halloween with the V and K families. This year will be different. There are no costumes, no trick or treat, no parties, no get togethers, no silly games... so this year it was really important to me to BOO these families. I picked up some Krispy Kreme donuts and we left them on their doorsteps with the note, "no tricks, only treats." I miss my friends, as do the boys, and hope that we will come out of this pandemic stronger. What will Micah want to do on Halloween???
We are taking a deep breath and hoping for the best. As we drop off our mail ballots weeks before the election, we have heavy hearts. We know that the way things have been, especially this past year, are not the way it should be. We believe that science is real, we believe in equality, we believe that no person is illegal, we believe diversity makes us stronger, we believe Black lives matter, we believe love is love. We believe that we can make a change. What will happen on November 3???
Happy Zoom birthday to Liam. He is now 9 years old and as funny as ever. He loves his family fully and declares Micah to be his favorite cousin. We hope all of his wishes come true... we wonder what he wished for???
Happy Birthday to my Dimple Cheek Boy. He woke up to birthday streamers, presents upon presents, and of course, his giant birthday donut. Micah is our talented, loving, smart, baby boy. He has an inner GPS and a knack in the kitchen. He is easily embarrassed if Jawsh or I are in his Zoom (this is how I know he is knocking on the door to his teenage years). We love him so.... what will this year bring???
