February

February 1st - 3rd, 2024:

February started late into the week, but had plenty going on right off the bat.  Day 1 of February 2024 involved the continuation of Aleks' love for field hockey as Tanya was able to sign Aleks up for a week of field hockey camp at Saint Michael's College this coming July.  

The next day Aleks got a day off, which matched up perfectly with Tanya's work-free Friday schedule.  The girls had a busy morning of doctor's appointments (between helping Tanya's best friend Anna make it safely to her appointment followed by Aleks' own annual check-up).  However, after that was all said and done they were able to find a quiet table at Chef's Corner, kick back and relax, order some tasty delicacies, and then settle in for a chess battle for the ages.  The girls have recently picked up the game and have been really enjoying learning with one another. 

Saturday night Evan got to reconnect with his game night friends and try something a little different (for him).  They gathered at the Boardroom (like they typically would) but rather than grabbing a smattering of games off the shelves to learn and play they sat around a table and Tyler led the rest of the Spice Girls (minus the million-dollar Mock) into the fantasy world of a DnD campaign.  Evan (the fighter), Eli (the rogue), and Andrew (the warlock) began an adventure together that they are looking forward to continuing, guided by the masterful storytelling of Tyler (the DM) with the hopes that their long-lost companion (aka Christian Mock) will join them along their quest.

February 4th - 10th, 2024: 

This week started with a soccer gathering, as there was unfortunately no soccer game scheduled.  So, while Aleks was away at her dad's for the weekend, Evan and Tanya were busy preparing for their soccer team's arrival.  Evan cleaned the house while Tanya whipped together a delicious make-your-own-taco-bowl feast for everyone along with an assortment of "Let's Go Shinkickers" sugar cookies.  A majority of our team was able to join us for a fun, festive evening of food, friends, and "football" reruns.

The week ended with a unique and exciting family trip!  This trip took the Makhlina-Eckstein crew to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas thanks to an internal medicine conference which was hosted at the resort and some related funding provided by the UVM Medical Center (one of the more exciting perks of Tanya's job as a Nurse Practitioner at the hospital).  So, Aleks and Evan had to play hookey for a few days as the three of them woke up at 3am on Wednesday for their 5am flight out of Burlington International Airport.  The early morning was worth every minute of lost sleep as they arrived to a warm and sunny Nassau, Bahamas with enough time to explore the resort, get some lunch, and play at the beach within the first few hours of arriving on the island.

The trip continued with excursions to a variety of different beaches located at the resort, where Tanya enjoyed some well-deserved relaxation and Tanya and Evan swam, dove in and out of the waves, and got within 20-feet of a friendly, neighborhood sea turtle!  The three of them also spent a great deal of time exploring the on-site water park!  They rounded the Rapid River, took tubes up the steps of the Power Tower to enjoy several different water slides, and climbed the stairs of the Mayan Temple to explore a water slide that ended with a trip through a shark tank!  Aleks and Evan continued on to explore a few other water slides that pushed Tanya a tad too far out of her comfort zone.  She used those moments to lounge in the poolside lawn chairs while Evan and Aleks raced down The Challenger, splashed down The Surge, and hurdled down The Abyss.  No waterslide was left untouched!

Beyond the beaches and waterslides, the trio enjoyed exploring an array of aquariums and outdoor marine exhibits that included a wide variety of sea turtles, stingrays, jellyfish, other fish (big and small), and sharks (saw-nosed, hammer-headed, and beyond).  

They also ate a wide variety of foods while at the Atlantis Resort ranging from the pizza of the day to day-old bagels, from French delicacies to strawberry daiquiris, from burgers and fries to a coconut surprise.  And to top it all off, the resort had its own movie theatre where they got to see the new Wonka movie together and then dreamt of chocolate all night long.

February 11th - 17th, 2024: 

The week started with a final goodbye to the Bahamas in which Evan, Aleks, and Tanya soaked up every last minute of sunshine, beach time, and waterslides before flying home.  They arrived to Burlington late and spent the next several days trying to catch up on the lost sleep.

Granted, despite their tiring travel Aleks still enjoyed her first Days & Dreams play practice, her weekly choir rehearsal, and some more ice skating at her school's outdoor ice rink and Tanya enjoyed two late night soccer games (prepared and protected with an ankle brace, to ensure no more ankle injuries, and a knee pad, to ensure no more need for knee stitches).  Evan spent most of the week taking on the tiresome and tedious task of catching up on all of the work he had neglected while away (which was worth every wonderful moment in the Bahamian sun).

The Wednesday of this week also included an opportunity for the Makhlina-Ecksteins to remind one another of just how much them love each other - thanks to Valentines Day!  The girls woke up to a bouquet of roses each and all three exchanged cards and gifts that evening to express their love and gratitude for one another (including a card for the cat as she's also an immensely loved member of the family).  It was a beautiful moment for all.

As the week ended and Aleks went to her dad's house for the weekend, Evan and Tanya went out on a pottery date night in which they learned (or at least gave their best attempt) to throw a bowl on a pottery wheel.  Suffice it to say that they both tried their absolute best and, as always, supported one another all the way.  In the end, five balls of clay resulted in four collapsed attempts and one lovingly crafted cat food bowl that Rogue will get to enjoy in about a month (once it has dried, been kiln fired, glazed, and kiln fired one last time).  Overall, the two had a great time and were proud of their one final product.  And recognized that pottery may not be their greatest strength when it comes to crafting, but making the best out of any situation definitely is.

Saturday capped the week with a variety of activities including Evan's exciting purchase of brand new running shoes to go along with his registering of Aleks for Girls on the Run (which starts next month).  He and Tanya also enjoyed some Mexicali soccer at the Expo Center in Essex followed by some pizza and board games with Tanya's best friend Anna and her marvelous mother Moira.  

February 18th - 24th, 2024:

The week began with several more soccer games for the dynamic duo and then a continuation of soccer throughout the week for Tanya.  Evan and Aleks traveled to Shelburne with Tanya to her Thursday game to cheer her on as she played with their Gol Lytely team.  Evan and Aleks watched and cheered and even got to practice some of their own soccer moves on the field during half time!

The next day (Friday) as the clock struck 3:00pm Evan walked out the front doors of Milton Middle School and basked in the sunshine and 50 degree weather that represented the start of his 10-day school break; at approximately the same exact time about 25 minutes away Aleks walked out the front doors of Mater Christi School and basked in the same sunshine and warm weather greeting that initiated her 11-day school break (Yes, she gets an extra day at her school; and yes, Evan is jealous about that; and yes, Tanya is even more jealous of both of them).

The week wrapped up with a playdate for Aleks with her friend Chelsea that involved a makeover (for the girls) and building a fort (for the cat).  The playdate was followed by some family-fun parking lot soccer (despite the 18 degree temperature) at the unexpected request of Aleks (likely inspired by her and Evan's fandom at Tanya's Thursday soccer game).  Once the three were sufficiently soccered-out (or, more so, too cold to continue on) they returned inside for some hot cocoa and board games.  Aleks chose to play Mysterium Park again and attempted to help Evan and Tanya solve the mystery with her ghostly visions.  The trio almost pulled it off, but fell just short on the final task.  Somehow, this unsolved mystery transitioned the girls into a Karaoke night.  Evan cannot recall what led to this radical shift in activities,  but has video evidence to prove, nonetheless, that it is how the evening ended.  All in all, it was a fabulously fun-filled day.

February 25th - 29th, 2024:

This Sunday started off with the typical church service in which Aleks helped to set up the chapel while Tanya warmed up for her singing role in the choir.  Aftewards, the Makhlina-Eckstein trio engaged in a variety of activities including some painting, some playing (with both Barbies and Tweedles), and a culminating game of family tag (which is forever ongoing in their household).  Eventually, the moment came when Tanya and Evan had to drive Aleks to her dad's house for the week.  They managed the bittersweet moment by swinging into Costco on their way back home and sharing some ice cream...and getting some groceries.

The week continued with Tanya returning to work and Evan running a variety of errands that ranged from the dentist to the DMV.  Their drab and dreary activities were compounded by their time spent Monday evening filing their taxes.  However, there were plenty of bright spots to help lift their spirits including a bouquet of flowers, a nice bottle of wine, and several delicious sushi rolls intended to help lighten the load of their lingering taxes.

And then they embarked on a week full of as much soccer as they could manage.  This endeavor started with a 6AM pick-up game on Tuesday morning at the Shelburne Field House.  It continued with Tanya's weekly Wednesday night game with the Shinkickers and then progressed to a double header on Thursday with a return to the Baird School gym for some pick-up before their Thursday night game with Gol Lytely. 

The month concluded with an exciting late-night parking lot hug with Evan's parents who came up for a 24-hour endeavor.