Noteworthy Achievements

 Dyleva both ended the year well.  Dylan was just glad to be done.  Everyday he would come home and give me a very detailed accout of the 4 square game "in his brain."  

Eva, on the other hand, actually had some academic achievements.  First of all, she had entered a writing contest earlier in the year.  She submitted a work of poetry and also a short story.  They wouldn't announce the winners until the end of the year.  She took fourth place for the poetry, and third place for her short story!  She won some cash.....strange.

Eva also achieved honors, won a literary award, and was voted "Most Inquisative!"

Way to go, Eva!!!

 

Buffalo Quickies

      As Covid restrictions began to decline, Jeff started talking theatre tickets, I started looking around.  I found Alleyway theatre...but a little unordinary.  The Buffalo Quickies performed behind the storefronts downtown.  You wear headsets to hear the performance and sit out on the city street.  It was incredibly unique.  

    We brought Dyleva.  It was a beautiful summer night.  Some of the content went over their heads; but there were seven performances.  Most were very well performed.  The last performance, "Pay your Ferryman,"  was about paying to cross over to the other side.  At the end, everyone was asked to contribute their 2 blocks, provided at the beginning of the show.  Dylan looked at the guy, shook his head, and had us all damned to hell!

https://www.alleyway.com/

12 Years!

 Before Covid happened last year, I felt like I still had little kids.  Now, I don't even know what happened but it feels like they are all grown up.  

In just the span of 15 months, Dyleva has both grown and changed.  I am thankful for the quality time that the pandemic has given me with my children, while they were still children.  

On that note, my baby has turned 12 years old!  We celebrated a couple different ways.  Eva really wanted to show Tia Jill and her cousins the Fuji Grill.  They loved it!

Of course, here is Eva actually turning 12.

The night of her birthday, we had gourmet cupcakes.  Tia Linda, Tio Pete and her grandparents came over to sing to Eva.  

However, the best was Eva's actual party.  This year we booked it at the Botanical Gardens.  Eva invited her friends, cousins, and neighbors.  We spent weeks preparing; getting the menu ready, the prize bags, and organizing the games.  

The guests were able to tour the gardens, and participate in a scavenger hunt.  The kids LOVED being able to go around the gardens on their own.  

We had a very nice brunch spread, and played several new games, like Eva trivia and headbanz.

The day was a success!