Farewell January!

January felt like the longest, or maybe the shortest, month ever.  It seems every time we got going, we had to stop for a snow day.  Then, when we came back we had lots of ground to make up but next thing we knew, we were making the February calendar. 

 🏃🏃🏃

Winter is wacky...but so are we!  It was fun to go outside on Tuesday and experience the brief snow shower we had.  Not everyone thought this was "appropriate," but those who did enjoyed themselves! 🌨❆

No jackets because we were only out there for 1 minute!

Is Xavier giving up...the snow wasn't even sticking so why bother?!

Monday was National Puzzle Day so we used that for our theme on Tuesday, since solving puzzles of any kind is good for the brain.  We had a unique one this time!  Ms. Teri sent in some individual jigsaw puzzles with a Revolutionary War spy twist that she had purchased for us in CW.  These puzzles required completing one side and then the other, and we definitely had to work together to solve the cryptic message, but we persevered!

One side of the puzzle was challenging because the scenes on the pieces are holographic and changed depending on the angle from which we looked at it. 

From one angle, we saw a spy guy passing off a secret message!

From another angle, we could see this cryptic message, which we had to write down before flipping the pieces over to solve the side which would help us decode the message.

The decoder side of the puzzle wasn't holographic, but still a challenge because we had to align the letters in alphabetical order...that is the set of letters on the outside of the circle!  Lots of concentration needed here!

Once correctly assembled, we could match the letters from our secret message with the decoded letters to reveal the hidden message.

"Upon secrecy success depends."  Next, we discussed what that message meant! 🤔  This challenge was fun and exciting!  Most of our guys enjoy jigsaw puzzles, so everyone contributed to our successful mission of decoding the message.  Thanks, Ms. Teri, for spotting these cool puzzles and thinking it would be a good project for us on Puzzle Day!  Super success!!

Almost as exciting as the spy puzzle was the crossword puzzle we worked on that had our names for answers!  It was fun to read the clues and guess which friend it was describing!

Wednesday was a cold day, even though the sun was shining brightly.  We contemplated an outside venture, but it was also windy so we decided to stay in and take out the balloons and pool noodles for a game of volleyball.  We hadn't played this game in a while, and forgot how much energy it actually takes to keep the balloon afloat!

Wednesday was also "Inspire Your Heart with Art Day" so we discussed the concept of art appreciation.  We looked at some famous painters and paintings online and discussed how art can evoke different feelings and ideas in the observer.  Chris had the idea to go into the halls of the esteemed AFCC and "appreciate" the art on the walls!

When we visit with Christina at the CW Art Museums on Thursday, she will continue our lesson on art appreciation!

Whether listening to music, checking sports updates, playing a game, or as Kacie and Alexis are doing, researching information, the associates enjoying using the computer lab each day!  The girls were learning about a medical condition one of their favorite singers has (Lupus). 

As promised, and by request, Patti taught us the "Downward Dog" pose in Yoga this week.  Before getting to it, she explained how to say it in Sanskrit:  Adho Mukha Svanasana. 

First, we become aware of our breathing.

Next, we go into Upward Salute, which is a good stretch.

Then, we Swan Dive into Forward Fold!  After doing this a few times, most of us were able to get our hands on the floor like Patti shows in this picture.

After getting our hands on the floor, we walked our feet back to the end of the mat, and we were in Downward Dog!  This pose is great for many things, including upper arm/shoulder strengthening and toning the waist, core, and sides.  Patti also explained how this improves circulation, which we know is important for getting much needed oxygen throughout our body, especially to our brains!

Since we were going to Eaton on Friday, we decided to have a Super Bowl Party on Thursday.  Everyone chipped in to get our lunch prepared.  Here, Sam and Cameron wrap hot dogs in dough for "Pigskins" in a Blanket.

Kevin lined pans with cupcake liners for our chocolate cupcakes!

Chris, Patrick, and Bo mixed up the cupcake batter.  We also had a group prepping baked beans and grapes.  We added chips, salsa, and guacamole (that Nan made at home...it's her specialty), and our lunch was complete.

Chris and Patrick set up the board so we could play Pin the Football Through The Goalpost!

Xavier scored!

Based on where these footballs ended up, and which teams they represented, we predict the Patriots and Eagles are going to tie, at least in the number of field goals scored!

Our gang loves a good game of Bingo, so a quick internet search found us a Super Bowl version!

Finally, it was time to eat!  Sam, Kevin, and Cameron were our big Bingo winners, so they got to go through the line first!

Fun party!  We even made our own decorations!

After filling our bellies, we headed to the CW Art Museums where Christina aided our understanding of art appreciation by first telling us that art is all around us.  It's in paintings, yes, but also sculpture, architecture, ceramics, music...even nature.

She helped us learn to examine art more closely, and find clues in it to reveal what the artist was trying to convey.

Laura listened to the sound of a harpsicord and Kacie read about how they work.

In the Education Room, we were given tiny blank canvases which we turned into our own works of art!

Guess who finds art in a Frosty?!  Answer:  Devin, of course!

Kacie made a tiny masterpiece which depicts a lot of her favorite things!

It was back to Eaton on Friday for a full day of work.  We sorted, assembled, and unpacked lots of parts.  Jorie popped in to say we were "crushing it."  💪😊🙌

Cameron, Kacie, and Patrick broke apart big pieces and sorted the small parts into bins.

Sam had the touch when it came to snapping a little nub off of parts like this.  He did at least a hundred of them!

We apologize that Chris and Kevin were too busy unpacking these parts to stop and pose so the picture is a little blurry!

It's hard to tell, but at this point, Chris climbed into the bin so as to better place the parts Kevin handed him.  Great teamwork here!

We had Xavier on the move today keeping the tables cleared of gasket trash.  Here, he and Kacie help keep the flow going for Liz, Bo, and Alexis, who were sticking gaskets on parts.

Volunteer Meemaw taught Liz a more efficient way of peeling away the excess backing on the gaskets.  Becky came a little later and volunteered, too, but our camera battery had died by then.  We were so happy to have their assistance on our busy production day!

Laura, Drew, Devin, and Xavier were at this moment stacking boxes for recycling...in two neat stacks that didn't fall over!

Chloe also removed excess backing from gasket sheets, and cleverly stuck them together like this.  She then noted that our friend Christina would call it "art!"  You also see Cameron in the background working on assembly of photo cell plates.

We were super busy on this blustery Friday.  Everyone chipped in wherever they were asked to work, and their committed work ethic was obvious to the Eaton employees who stopped by.  When we returned to the AFCC, we celebrated a great team effort with chocolate oatmeal cookies that sort of looked like groundhog mounds...and Tootsie Rolls which we "molded" into the shape of a groundhog.  It was cute and fun...a lighthearted end to our week! We would have loved to show you, but our camera battery was dead!  🙀

Here's what to expect next week:

We hope to have the t-shirt order on Tuesday or Wednesday.  The vendor notified us on Friday that there was a delay in receiving one of the shirt styles, so they couldn't finish the order.  Thank you for your patience.

Tuesday:  Wear your Arc shirts, it's Bowling Day!!  We will also enjoy pizza for lunch with thanks to Kate's family for treating! 

🍕🍕🍕  Weather permitting...and it's looking pretty good...we will take a walk afterward!  🌞

Wednesday:  We will attempt to practice some yoga on our own because Patti will be gone for the next two weeks to a yoga training program in Texas!  She will be missed. 😔  We have some science on the agenda for today and it's also Send a Card to a Friend Day, so we will make special cards for special friends.  Lunch on your own!

Thursday:  February is Dental Health Month so we will revisit the topic of dental hygiene today with some educational activities and a fun craft.  We also have some Eaton work to complete at AFCC!   Lunch on your own!

Friday:  We return to Eaton for another work day.  It's also National Pizza Day so we will order pizza for lunch!  Hope no one minds...since we are also having pizza on Tuesday! 😉🍕

It's going to be a great week!

But first, have a great weekend!

Lisa, Carol, and Nan