Each year on Nathan’s birthday we go to the cemetery as a family. This year we took flowers from our garden. We pray. Each night before going to bed, Griffin prays for Nathan and Reid sometimes does too. Though neither one fully understands yet, they know they have another brother who lives with Jesus in heaven. Griffin is beginning to have more questions from time to time, especially when we go to the cemetery. I can’t believe it has been 4 years. While it seems like awhile ago in some ways, the memories, pain, and grief and all that has happened since then are still seem pretty fresh.
We woke up early Saturday morning and decided to get busy marking things off our Summer Bucket List. First up – strawberry picking! It was a rather interesting experience with TONS of people and the farm moved people through kind of like herding cattle. But, we picked an two full buckets of strawberries in a short amount of time. They also had baby cows there that you could pet, though they were mostly just sleeping.
After strawberry picking we picked up Charlotte and headed back to our house. We changed our clothes, left Reid napping with Charlotte, and took Griffin to the Memorial Tournament in Dublin. It was a sunny, beautiful afternoon. A great day for watching golf. Griffin got a couple of autographs and got to see Tiger Woods pretty close (he’s the golfer in the pic below atop Griffin’s head).
Sunday was the last flag football game of the season, which this year they got to play at Jerome High School football field in Dublin. Reid loved exploring the bleachers and tackling Daddy on the sidelines.
Late Sunday afternoon Kevin and I headed out on a date night. First stop, Wheelie Fun Bicycle shop in Powell where we got Griffin a new bike. He’s been needing a bigger bike for awhile and it was fun to pick one out and bring it home as a surprise! We enjoyed time at Nocterra and Koble in Powell and we also walked around Powell and checked out the new building and development that is going on.
Monday morning Griffin started Soccer Camp, through Locker Soccer in Powell that was held at Library Park right around the corner from our house. He had so much fun! After the first day they moved him up to the older kids group which provided him with a more challenging set of skills to learn. He came home each day telling us what he learned and how well he did. It was awesome, thanks Grandma and Grandpa Beilstein for sending Finn to soccer camp!
Mid-week this week Nocterra had the Columbus Zoo visit their beer garden. It was SO crowded but so cool to see some fun animals and so many families with young kids hanging out.
Over the weekend we went to the Duncan’s summer party in our neighborhood. Griffin was so excited to go fishing and ride the paddle boat out on the water. And Reid kept wanting to play their “baby” grand piano, lol. Later that night we read him his books on our porch and he asked if he could spend the night on the porch. We agreed he could (honestly I thought it wouldn’t last!) but he slept out there the entire night!
On Sunday we headed to Mansfield to celebrate Dad’s birthday along with Father’s Day. The kids enjoyed catching bubbles and playing outside. Do you see Griffin in the picture standing next to the hosta – that is the one named after him “Mighty Finn”! It’s a beauty! And then there is the ginormous hosta that he is standing essentially under in the driveway. Dad had been collecting plants from around the garden and his beds in preparation for heading to the Hosta Convention.
Next camp for the summer: Safety Town! They had several sessions, but the one we chose was put on by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and held just up the road at Liberty Middle School. Griffin learned so many things throughout the week. I was able to drop him off on my way to work and Haya picked him up. It was so cool to see what they were going to learn about each day. The list included – Day 1: Pedestrian, Bus, Bicycle Safety. Day 2: Electrical, Drug, Stranger Safety. Day 3: Fire Safety. Day 4: Gun, Outdoor, 9-1-1 Safety and Day 5: Friendly Sheriff, Water, Seat Belt Safety followed by Graduation where he was given a medal and they sang a few “safety” songs that they learned throughout the week.
I took the boys to the zoo and we explored a short bit, then ate our packed dinner and cooled off with ice cream before we left.
My latest snack invention: banana sushi sticks made of banana coins with a smidge of peanut butter, a raisin, and a pretzel stick. I’m trying to find new snack ideas that are more nutritous and more filling so they don’t want to eat e-v-e-r-y hour!
There is a newer cookie bakery in Powell called Mrs. Turbo’s Cookies so we stopped there for a sweet treat one evening. It’s a cute 50’s themed bakery that has an eat-in counter.
We also checked out the new Dublin Library this week amid the pouring down rain. Griffin got his own library card and we checked out several books and signed up for the reading challenge this summer. Griffin, Reid, and Kevin also got their hair cut at Powell Hair Design, which is more like an old school barbershop in Powell. Griffin can barely fit in the car these days!
Here are a few odds and ends from the week including some artwork from Haya and Griffin, Lily and Brutes sharing the tiny closet space, and the progress on the dock pit at Millcreek at our new Facility.
We’re making the most of summer this year. I’ve been taking one day off a week and trying to have some sort of fun involved with the kids. This week we went to the zoo and rode the train, spent some time at the petting zoo, and saw many animals. Several of these pictures of Reid I’ve included to show his many expressive faces and his spunky personality. He’s in a fun stage.
This week I went to the Train concert at Express Live with Laura, Sarah, and Megan. It was a nice evening outdoors of fun and friends. Over the weekend Kevin enjoyed a trip to Emerald Isle North Carolina with his friend Chad. It was nice for him to get away and recharge for a couple of days. The beach was nice and warm, but super windy at the beach!
While Kevin was out of town Griffin had a double-header weekend of flag football. Grandma and Grandpa Armstrong came up to watch and help me chase Reid around the fields for a couple of hours :). Griffin and Cole earned medals together that day and it was cute to see how excited they were together. It was a busy afternoon as after Griffin’s game I went home, Griffin went to Coopers birthday party with our neighbors, and I went to Greta’s dance recital. Greta was all done up and danced in two cute routines. Thankfully Jim and Pat were able to stay and watch Reid (as he was in desperate need of a nap, though I was also freaked out as he’d fallen and hit his head and had a huge knot on his forehead). Later that evening Kevin returned from his trip. An action packed day.
It hardly seems possible, but the end of the school year has arrived! Wow, did that year fly by. Griffin was excited to hop on the bus for the last time. He truly loves riding the bus – every time I would go to school and he had the option to ride home with me he chose to ride the bus. E-v-e-r-y time. He particularly loved the “music on the bus Friday’s”. I was able to go to the last day of school activities where the kids played games and enjoyed treats.
The below are not G-rated, lol, but it was a fun memory of the boys being silly running around nu-nu after a shower. What’s cuter than a naked baby booty.
Griffin and Reid have been playing really well lately. They are playing a lot of dress up, tackle, legos, and such.
One of our favorite new spots is Nocterra Brewery in Powell. They have a nice outdoor beer garden and a great selection of brews, though honestly Kevin sticks with the Trail Break and I enjoy the sours (Tahitian, Hawaiian, or the newest one I’ve tried is likely my favorite – the Californian Swell). Each day they have a different food truck so we occasionally eat there, but the kids enjoying running around playing ball, corn hole, and meeting new friends. And it’s forever fun when the trains go by.
It was a hot morning for the Memorial Day Parade this year! But the sun was shining and the parade was fun.
Here are a few other pics from late May. Griffin was excited to gear up in the goalie gear when playing with Cole and Cooper. And a few others of Reid and Griffin having fun with Haya.
The boys are enjoying helping me care for the garden. The favorite activity is watering and harvesting. The photo of Griffin wearing my blue tennis shoes is one for the books. We had gone out to dinner at Roosters and I asked Griffin to get shoes on so we could head out. I didn’t look at him before he got in the car and when we arrived at Roosters he was wearing my shoes! He thought he was hot stuff and very much enjoyed wearing my shoes.
Reid had his 2-year well-check with Dr. Houts and he is a strong, healthy boy. He weighs 29.9 pounds (83rd percentile), 34.75″ (55th percentile), and a BMI of 17.41 (71st percentile). He got one shot and handled that like a champ. Afterward we went to Graeter’s for our traditional sweet treat.
Our construction project at Millcreek is humming right along.
And here are some videos of flag football from Griffin’s double header.
Here are a few odds and ends from the week including some artwork from Haya and Griffin, Lily and Brutes sharing the tiny closet space, and the progress on the dock pit at Millcreek at our new Facility.
