Vaccine

I am so happy that  Jawsh was able to get his vaccine shot.  We have been concerned about Jawsh and Noah because they have asthma but I am so glad that we have one less person to worry about.  I hope that the kids will be approved to have a vaccination soon!  When will that happen???
 

Back at work

I am back at work in person with the students in the morning and on Zoom in the afternoon.  I didn't know what to expect today so I tried to be prepared.  I purchased a well fitting mask, had a plastic face shield, and also a portable microphone so the children could hear me clearly.  I am sure that it was weird for them to see me like this in class but then again everything is weird.  Keeping the students 6 feet apart is challenging but they have been really great about wearing their face masks.  What will it be like next week when they have to COVID test on campus???

Hello Cousins!

 

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???

Lunch Buddies

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 Birthday Grandpa

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???

Happy Easter

It's been a few years since the boys celebrated Easter with the cousins.  Three years ago, Liam was hospitalized with a head injury, and the last two years we have been in a pandemic.  The boys were pretty disappointed that we did not see family but the 12 inch golden egg filled with candies and coupons helped their mood.  It was a quiet Easter, just like the other holidays, and we are looking forward to celebrating again.  Which holiday will it be when we get to celebrate with family???

Boujee vs Budget?

The boys participated in the UCLA Bruin Experiment as it went virtual this year!  Micah chose to do a chocolate study he called, "Boujee or Budget?  The Chocolate Taste Test." He had participants try different types of dark chocolate with 70% cacao and rank them.  Noah did an experiment entitled, "Feeling Moody: How Screentime Affects Your Mental Health and Mood."  Noah surveyed 8th graders regarding their time spent on devices and their mood afterwards.  Micah placed first in his group and Noah received an Honorable Mention.  This was a great experience for both of them as they got to present their research to UCLA professors, UCLA students, and peers.  Will Micah want to participate next year???

Beach Nights

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???

Happy Passover

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???

From Italy

The sculpture is in...  all the way from Italy.  Jawsh found an artist in Italy that was able to make a 3D model and print of Melting Man.  Due to COVID-19, it took 4-5 months to be delivered because it was held in customs in NYC.  Jawsh was so excited that it finally made it here.  What will he create next???
 

UCLA

It's been nice to venture to UCLA for a walk around the campus.  We like to start off at north campus so we can walk through the Sculpture Gardens.  The Sculpture Gardens established in 1967 has figural and abstract art.  Here we are in front of Richard Serra's 42.5 ton installation entitled "Torqued Ellipse" or AKA known as "T.E. UCLA."  As we walk in and around the installation, we experience space and balance in a different way.  It's pretty amazing to see how grand this installation is up close and I like the fact that it is outside.  The other Serra pieces are at LACMA and there is a definite difference when we see the installation outside.  When will we return to campus???

South Coast Botanical Gardens

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???

Brothers = Buds

 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???

COVID 19 Vaccine

Today I received my first COVID 19 vaccine.  I signed up for the Forum and was able to drive through.  It was about an hour wait because there were so many cars.  I was happy to sit through the line because that means there are a lot of people who are getting the shot which will make it better for our community in the long run.  At this point, I think the schools will be reopening soon so I hope that I will be able to get fully vaccinated before I return.  What will that be like???
 

Hang Out, Do Good

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???

Palos Verdes

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???

Happy Valentines Day!

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???

Happy 44th

Happy 44th Birthday to Jawsh.  Micah put the sign up but since we did not have enough b and p letters, he had to be creative with the spellings.  It's a weird time that we are celebrating birthdays in quarantine and not able to be together with family and friends but the boys and I tried to make this day special for Jawsh.  Happy 44th... what did Jawsh wish for???
 

Viruses

Micah has been learning about viruses in science and was tasked to make a bacteriophage.  He learned about how a virus can infect and reproduce which is so apropos with all of the news about COVID 19.  He made the top with paper origami and placed it inside a toilet roll with paper clips on the side.  He seems to enjoy science very much.  Will Micah have a future career in the sciences???
 

Family walks

 

This is a typical day for us.  After a long day of Zooming with our classes we take some time in the evening to enjoy a socially distance mile walk.  We have our normal walk which takes us to a small trail and then out to the fountains where we can see ducks and turtles.  There are so many people out feeding the animals that they like to swim up to us in hopes of getting some food, but we never have any.  We are incredibly blessed to live in this community to enjoy all of the trails and the boys are so blessed to have one another to keep each other company. As much as I like to think of the positives, I am ready for us to go back to normal.   When will that be???