Abide by the Peroxide

The return to routine last week was good for all of us, but we were tired by the end of the week!  The kids also started their new schedule with remote learning at home on Wednesdays.  I thought it would be a relaxing "easy day" in the middle of the week, but it turned out to feel very busy as we navigated the different Zoom meetings and assignments for the day for both kids.  The disturbing riots at the Capital last week weighed on our hearts, and we did our best to explain and discuss it with the kids before they returned to school on Thursday.  We declared Friday to be movie night, and we watched the new Pixar movie on Disney Plus called "Soul."  We all enjoyed it, and it was a movie that made us think and reflect on our own lives.    

Sssssh! I'm doing school work!

Evie and Daddy's math game

This part of remote learning doesn't look so bad

Remote PE Class

It was finally time to take down the Christmas decorations over the weekend, and judging by the number of pine needles that fell off the tree...we stretched our tree to its limit!  At least the cleanup was easy with the new floors.  The kids thought it was too sad to watch us pack everything up, so they retreated to the play room and created their own circus, and we all went out sledding afterward for some bonus fun.

Lots of bodies on the ground - it must be good sledding!

Cherry, Mookie and Frankie loving the sledding play time

Some outdoor fun with cousins. We are missing our family time in a big way!

Even Carly emerged to say hello!

We found one final gift that Noah forgot to give Grandpa for Christmas.  He worked hard to make this with his class at school and decided that he wanted to wrap it up and give it to Grandpa - it says "I Love You to Pieces."  So sweet!

Our other excitement during the week was when Frankie swallowed one of Evie's hair scrunchies.  She had snagged it out of Evie's hair and was making a game of running away from the kids with it in her mouth.  As the play time started to escalate, I told the kids to get a treat and trade Frankie to get the scrunchie away from her...before they could do that, she realized they were going to take it, and she gulped it right down!  I've heard horror stories about emergency surgery for intestinal obstructions in dogs, so I called the vet, and they recommended that we induce vomiting.  YUCK.  Even though Roscoe had a lot of naughty moments, we never had to go through this process with him.  We mixed hydrogen peroxide with some deli meat to get Frankie to take it in, and within 10 minutes she was feeling the effects.  She went outside as we watched through the window, and very soon the scrunchie re-appeared (along with her lunch!).  Frankie certainly keeps us on our toes, but she brings so much joy, laughter, and sweet snuggles to our family. 

We got this ornament for Frankie so we can always remember her 1st Christmas!

Matt asked if we were keeping the scrunchie...umm, NOPE!

Snuggle therapy

Any time I sit on the floor, this is where she likes to be

Surprisingly, she doesn't try to get on the couch, but she also doesn't mind when I bring her up with me!

And here are a few other cute moments from the week:

Girl Scouts Zoom meeting - making chocolate mug cakes. Yummy!

Highlights magazines came in the mail - so fun!

Evie used a Christmas gift card to get a hula hoop, which has been entertaining!

We tuned in to listen to Governor Scott's speech - we are so thankful for his leadership for our state, especially during this pandemic.

Cat's Cradle

Matt built a new rack to store our snowshoes for the winter.  Now we just need some more snow!