Happy, Healthy, and Inspired

We hope that all of our family and friends are staying healthy and making time to relax!  It was a quick week with Ayson home for the week (virtual learning) while Addie went to school.  We finally had more than a dusting of snow fall and stick around so Amy went cross country skiing after work on Tuesday!  For gym class, Addie's class went sledding :)  The cold temps over the weekend kept Amy and the kiddos mostly inside but Adam cut firewood with a neighbor for our wood supply next winter.  The kiddos did plenty of bickering this week BUT they also played together well.  Both kids love to be vocal (LOUD) and thinking positively, we are fortunate that they are healthy and happy and love to play.

Amy and the kiddos had Monday off for Martin Luther King Jr day and we spent Monday and Tuesday evening reading about his work for equality and human rights.  Amy just wishes that kids were old enough to understand Amanda Gorman's Inaugural Poem -  truly incredible and inspiring!

We asked the kiddos on Monday evening what we should do next: another puzzle of play a game - we started a new puzzle!

Ayson's class was virtual for the week due to a covid positive child in his class.  For social studies and the New France unit, Ayson's assignment was to do a small research project on a French influence to the US/world and present the information on a slide (Google slides) or on a poster board.  Ayson chose a poster board as the "presentation technology" was "old" like the inventor he researched: Georges Claude...hahaha.

The finished poster board:

Shadow trying to take a little pouch of Addie's down to the basement.  Amy took it away from Shadow before he could put it in the litter box or water bowl (the 2 main locations that he places items)

Addie and Shadow having fun with Cosmo

Too cute!

A picture from our valley looking west from Adam's firewood cutting.

Sigh, the slogan in New York is "New York Tough" BUT sometimes tough is not the appropriate word Amy or Adam would use to describe Ayson...stubborn would be a better choice;)  Amy wishes all silly/stubborn choices were so easy to fix!

He had to come in at least three times to warm up - the temperature was ~ 23 degrees.

Making progress on the puzzle!

We are getting there!!!

Tada!!!  We have put together 3 complicated puzzles and only losing one piece is not too bad (considering the puzzles sat on the table for a week each while we worked on them :)

Ayson was playing with his hexbug toys and decided he wanted to make his own battery.  He has previously made a potato, lemon, and a grape battery and on Sunday he looked up how to make a coin battery: cardboard, penny, vinegar, salt.  His battery had a charge similar to what his hexbug requires - too bad he could not connect his battery to the hexbug!

Checking the voltage - success!

Adding another coin to the battery voltaic pile.

Showing Adam his new battery

Meanwhile, Addie was giving Shadow a work out

She had Shadow bouncing off of walls and roofs :)

Hi Shadow!  Addie stated that Thunder was not in the mood to play - hahaha.

Adam made homemade chicken wings and baked onion rings for the Sunday afternoon football games.

We Can All Do Something

A second week of January can now be checked off the calendar.  We are sending good thoughts and kindness to all!

In addition to attempting to teach the kids about peaceful protests and how actions of a few can cause significant consequences for many, we have been trying to explain on a smaller scale why actions of one or two children (that misbehave) can result in consequences for an entire class.  Life is not fair.  No one can do everything but all of us can do something - we can all treat fellow humans with kindness and respect.  

Making banana bread Monday night

Addie, the comedian

Papers and art work from Addie's class come home in one big slug due to COVID:

Addie writing about December - the last word (missing from the bottom of the page) is "dinner."  She is referring to our tradition of "picking our own food to eat" - which has been hot dogs and McDonald's for the kiddos...yack)

Adam went to Grandma Colleen's house for the weekend to help get her wood supply for NEXT season.  LOOK at all of the wood!!!

While Adam was at Grandma's, A^3 was at home.  Ayson is in quarantine this time due to a COVID positive in his class.  We did lots of chores, movie watching, and eating the frozen food that Adam bought us before he left so that we would not "starve" :) 

Ayson wanted pancakes Sunday morning so he made them!

Adding chocolate chips

On Sunday, Amy and the kiddos wrote Thank You notes to the employees of the Architect of the Capitol.  These are the human beings that maintain the US Capitol grounds and buildings 24/7.  Working for two states and the federal government - with the mission to protect for the benefit of the American people, Amy wanted to acknowledge the extra effort that many of the staff put forth after the January 6th breach at the Capitol.  These human beings had to clean up the disgusting mess - left by a few (compared to the many outside) - attempting to disrupt democracy as outlined within the US Constitution.  We can all do something to help and uplift others.

Week 1 of January 2021 is done, Check!

 A week of games and puzzles kept us entertained in the evenings this week!  We continue to send good thoughts to our family and friends related to all things life, covid, and politics. :)  We have more in common than we might realize and treating other human beings with respect and kindness will help us move forward.  

Grandma Collene gave the kiddos Yahtzee for Christmas so we played Monday and Tuesday after dinner.    

Adam excited about his roll...the kids not so much...hahaha.

Explaining strategy to Addie

Ayson hoping for two more 4s!!

A Christmas gift of puzzles finally arrived on Wednesday!  Wooden puzzles with intricate pieces - including animal shapes!

Addie and Adam working on her fox puzzle.

Cozmo is back!!  Our Cozmo robot needed a new battery and then a new part (when Amy tried to replace the battery) so Amy bought a used Cozmo.  The goal was to use as a replacement (if everything worked) or to use as parts (if the used Cosmo did not run).  Well, Cozmo works and the little robot is back in the Roe-Ryan household!

LOOK at that smile!!!

Amy and Addie went for a walk at Labrador Unique Area on Sunday while Adam worked on the "rec room" in the basement and Ayson walked on the treadmill (he BEGGED to not have to go outside).  Too bad Ayson did not realize that there was actually snow to play in at Labrador!

Addie holding her "prized" chunk of ice.

We had to check out the ice on the pond :)

The new hallway in the basement that Adam built with the finished section to the right (including Adam's office) and in the background and the unfished section to the left.

Addie placing the LAST puzzle piece in her Fox:)

Yay!!

Ayson finishing his puzzle and his new hair cut :)

The LAST piece!

Tada!

Ayson showing Grandma Pat his homemade robot - DDP (Desk Defender Prototype)

Happy New Year!

Happy 2021, Family and Friends!  We hope that everyone had a relaxing start to the New Year.   We were all in bed by 10 pm on NYE...hahaha.  The kids wanted to stay up but they did not want to stay up by themselves so they also went to bed (grumbling all the way :)   

On Tuesday, we visited with Grandma Collene to celebrate Christmas.  Grandma made the kiddos their own minky blanket - so now the kids will quit stealing Adam's Clemson blanket :)  Thank you, Grandma!!! 

So soft and cuddly!!!

No forcing of that smile for the camera!

Legos!  The kiddos also received Legos which are always a hit!

After a lunch of bacon cheese burgers, we went on a walk.

Ayson rolling down the path.

Pictures at the pond

Gorgeous afternoon after a wintery start to the day!

Hi Ayson!!

The kiddos playing on the ice.  Hi BLUE sky!!!

On Wednesday, we checked out a "new to us" hiking spot that is nearby: Three Falls Woods.  The main parking lot was full but we knew of the alternate spot that starts you off at the top of the falls! 

The trail requires crossing the top of the falls.

We can't wait to explore this area during spring, summer, and fall!

It is a very newly opened hiking area and the trails are not fully marked (only a portion of one trail was marked).  We ended up walking around for 2 hours (3.5 miles) checking out different areas AND trying to find the correct trail back to the creek :)

A fun fort

The snow from Wednesday melted in our little valley to show the pansies that are still alive in our front yard.

We took Grandpa Chuck, to a favorite hiking spot, Tracy Lake.

Addie and Daddy :)

Hi Grandpa and Ayson!