Fall Break Day 1 Hike and visit with Grandma Burgess and Goldstein and Rubix fully potty trained!

The kids had no school on Monday Sept. 28th and despite the air not being perfect, they were anxious to get out and go for a hike. We decided to do Montalvo view trail, which we had not done in  a year or more together. We all wore masks most of the time because it helps with the smoke.

Rubix was the only one who had to take his off because he was having trouble breathing. It is just under 3/4 of a mile up to the top of a 400+ foot climb and then back down. 

The log to look like a hog was a big hit. Axel took his mask off for this picture, but Phoenix said preferred to keep her mask on. 

Somehow, we convinced her to take her mask off to drink water and to take a photo at the top of the climb at the view point. 

We had just a fun time together. I was able to get back in time to get them lunch and for me to get ready for my afternoon work shift. They had the entire afternoon to play Legos or read and they were all in heaven!

Phoenix loved this tree with the red bark at the top of the hike as so she needed a picture of it. She has been studying trees in school and wanted to share it with her teachers. 

Here the kids are posing for one last photo before we headed back to the parking lot to head home. 

I believe a day or two later I was having trouble getting the kids out for a lunch time break and Phoenix and Rubix were not agreeing on what to do. We some how got Rubix to get over his desire for a bike ride by going on a neighborhood walk/ flower hunt. The kids took over 20 pictures of different fruits and flowers from around the neighborhood. 

It was really fun to see them appreciate nature's beauty.

Phoenix captured this pomegranate very well. He photography has really improved as she has to take pictures of all of her classwork for school.   

Rubix was silly and asked me to take a picture for him. He has become quite the silly one at times and asks if he is funny. 

Our neighbor got a new dog and Rubix fell in love with how cute it was and asked to get a picture of him. I can't remember what his name is, but he is cute. We found out that it was actually her son's dog who he bought when he was home from school over the summer, but he is back at Med school and left the dog with her. She said the dog is very high energy and needs too many walks every day. 

My sister texted me this picture out of the blue when she found it. It is funny how much I am starting to look like my mom. We both can't remember what we were looking at :)

On Sunday, I had the privilege of driving up to Auburn to see my Grandma Burgess with my sister. She has had a rough time, especially the past year, with a heart operating on collateral blood supply and a recent fall which lead to a pelvic and arm fracture which has lead to her being wheel chair bound. She was extremely pleasant to be around and despite having some memory deficits and confusion at times recognized Shannon and I. She also remembered visits Shannon and I at her house last fall and several other memories. She was also very funny. I have been wanting to see her ever since she was moved to Auburn, so this visit was a on my list for the past few years. 

I was overjoyed to have this time with her. We took photos, but then she said we needed to take a proper photos without the masks. 

Concerned we quickly took a picture and then placed our masks back on. It is a little overwhelming thinking that this might be the last time we see her alive. I know I was overcome with peace having seen her, prayed with her and told her how much we love her and how much the Lord loves her. It was really cool to have her say she felt his presence. I do hope she has accepted Jesus into her heart and that her pain and suffering will soon be lifted from her. 

On a more positive note, we also had the luxury of driving 10 minutes away to our Grandma Goldstein's house. She is overall in good health and if she can stay active should continue to do well with her good spirits and positive attitude. She did say the shelter in place is getting to her and that she would love to get out more. She is such a social person. She still plays bingo with her same few girlfriends a couple of times per week, but it is not the same when her clubhouse and all other social events are closed. She started a little library of books on a table outside her house. Her neighbors are loving the book exhange. We felt so complete leaving having visited our Grandmas. It was something that was on both of our hearts and we are so very grateful for the blessed day of seeing each other and these two beautiful women we hold dearly in our hearts.  

Grandma Susan had lots of gifts for the boys and myself since we have not seen her since Christmas. I was confronted with a delivery of gifts to take home, which everyone was quite excited about. Grandpa Brian found this awesome rocket launcher which glows in the dark. They also received geographic science kits that they can't wait to do. 

Grandma made some fun shirts for Phoenix, myself and Axel.

Phoenix made sure to wear this on one of her day she goes to school for afterschool play. The kids started a couple of weeks ago going to school 2 times per week for 1 to 2 hours to play outside. It has been a big game changer and they love it. I am still feeling really sad for Rubix, but Challenger does not have any openings for in person preschool, but he is on the wait list if something opens up. 

The kids had an opportunity for another night swim. They absolutely love it. 

I swam for 30 minutes with them and then I got out to attend my bible study meeting. It was really nice to be able to spend some time with them and still make my BSF Zoom class. 

The kids are still doing well with classes. It is not easy and we do have tears, but overall I do think they are learning. 

I love the white board answers. It has been a great tool for both Phoenix and Axel during class. Axel uses it the most for Japanese and Phoenix for math and language arts. 

Some exciting news is that Axel got the part he tried out for in the school play. He is Pierre the philosopher cat. It is going to be interesting filming him at home and then seeing the final outcome once they edit the clips together. We have tried to start decorating for Halloween, but we can't seem to complete the job. We also are trying to find the time to turn over the garden to winter veggies, so hopefully we can get this done soon. 

Phoenix is getting 2 more bottom front teeth growing in behind the baby teeth like Axel had. The baby teeth are starting to become loose, but she will likely have her new teeth before the baby ones fall out. 

Oh, the most exciting news of all is that Rubix appears to be night potty trained. He has gone 8 nights in a row without wetting the bed and he has done 11 nights total in the past couple of weeks. It looks very promising. He can wake at night and he comes into to see me and I have to ask him to go to the bathroom. It will be nice when he can do this completely independently because I am so tired from not being able to fall back asleep!

The next post will likely be after Halloween festivities unless something exiting happens before then.

 

Into the swing of things

As months continue to pass us by, we are finding new ways to entertain ourselves and each other. Axel, who has been earning money by watching Phoenix and Rubix, decided to buy Lego sets for each of them. I am not quite sure how the subject came up, but after weeks of discussion, Lego sets were purchased. Phoenix's set arrived first. Here they are building it together. 

Here she is enjoying the hours of entertainment it brings. This came at just the right time as the fires and smoke confined us to the walls of our home for a total of four very long weeks. 

I am not sure what the boys were doing here, but I just love seeing them together. 

Axel was obviously doing something for school and Rubix, lonely and likely a little bored, was fascinated with this endeavor. 

Rubix's Lego set arrived a few days after Phoenix's. Here Rubix is excited to open and begin the building adventure. This was Rubix's biggest creator set, allowing him the option of 3 very fun and different builds in one kit. 

Here are the boys together. I am beyond proud of how thoughtful and selfless Axel was in the purchasing of these gifts for his siblings. I do believe it is quite the deal for the younger siblings to reap the rewards of Axel's earnings. 

The smoke and ash covered cars became the norm for the Bay area and most of Northern California, from what the news reported. If you look closely you can see the white droplets of ash.

Although this picture does not do our orange eerie horizon justice, our eyes saw nothing by this orange smoky mist for approximately 3 days. Many pictures filled the internet with labels of "apocalypse". I do have to admit that I had many conversations with patients about many feeling like the needed to get on their knees a pray. It was almost a blessing in my eyes, to feel completely incapable of creating any type of change. It was like our Creator was pleading and calling us by name to come and seek refuge in Him. Boy, did it work for me. I prayed pretty continuously and found myself in deep thought often. 

Back to school night and day came the first first full week in September. Here you can see a picture of Phoenix's class and 2 teachers. She is in the middle of the second row performing her favorite dance move. They have dance breaks a few times per day. 

Phoenix decided to clean up her closet and room and then rearrange her furniture. I was really impressed with her diligence at getting this tall task done. It took her nearly the entire afternoon to finish this endeavor, but she did it with complete satisfaction. 

Here is a picture of Axel trying out for the 6th grade play. He was a Philosopher, pondering about existence and life itself. He had callbacks last week and will find out next week if he made the play and what part he received. 

A couple of weeks ago I purchased pumpkin cider. I opened one and sipped the very spicy drink. It had so much "spice" to it that I told Axel to give it a try. He then asked me if it was alcohol and I said, "No, is is cider, like apple cider, but pumpkin cider." We then looked at the label and discovered it had a small amount. I have always wondered how fermentation causes alcohol to be made. Oh, well. He did not like it and thought it was funny to pretend like he was going to drink some more, although, he refused to have another drink. 

I ran across this picture. I am guessing that Axel took this randomly. 

Last week, Axel's teacher decided to let the kids see other for the beginning 5 minutes of class. Rubix was absolutely in heaven being able to see other children his age. He is doing well overall, but this week in particular was a little more difficult for him to get through his work and play independently. I am beginning to wonder how not being around children his age is going to effect him long term. He had his in class assessment this past week and did really well. He cooperated and had a good old time. I heard laughter and excitement. His assessment was outside in the Kindergarten play ground and I waited in the parking lot for him, not knowing how long the assessment would take. 

Phoenix, is finally getting use to speaking clearly and confidently during her Zoom school. It has been quite the issue to have her speak loudly enough for her teachers to hear her. Overall she is doing well and enjoying school.

Axel has been working extremely hard. He has already had 2 math tests, 2 Japanese tests, 1 science test and 1 essay. We are beyond proud of him for taking the time to do extra math practice with Daddy and at extra help and to enjoy learning the Japanese language. Axel received 2 very thoughtful emails from his Math and Japanese teacher about how great of a student Axel is. 

Rubix, got out the trains for the first time in months. He had hours of fun and insisted I take a picture. 

Last week, the smoke finally lifted and we spent one afternoon playing in the backyard. We saw one little critter while we were playing in the grass. 

We played with the hula hoops, jump ropes and kick balls. 

The kids earned Bell Tower again after working hard to improve their swim times in the IM (Axel and Phoenix) and Rubix the 25 yard free style. Yummy pancakes for all!

Axel had a virtual birthday party where the parents sent a birthday bag in the mail. Rubix and Axel had hours of fun with the party favors. 

So silly!

Too much fun!

We are a little sad as the pool only has one more week before it closes for the season. We had the privilege of doing 2 night swims last week and we have hope to get in a couple of more night swims after school this week. It is going to be sad as the pool was a great help in creating some sort of routine and exercise for the kids. The big news is Axel and Phoenix are going to attend an afterschool program for 1 to 2 hours, twice a week at school starting this week. I am nervous and excited at the same time. I know they need to be around children their age, but it makes me sad for Rubix who has had zero exposure to children his age and does not appear to have a safe outlet. 

We are going to have to consider what is best for him in the coming months.

On Friday, Phoenix picked apples and enjoyed them, as she celebrated John Appleseed's birthday!

Phoenix stated how much she wanted to go apple picking and here she has the privilege to pick apples in her own yard! 

"Mom, is is not the same. I want to go where they have a ton of different kinds of apples and trees."

Fair enough! They were also Super Heros on Friday and had the chance to share their super powers with their friends. Phoenix's super powers are swimming, sports, reading and "fire". I did not see that one coming. 

Until next time....hope you are enjoying yourselves as much as the Szolushas are! :)