I love these kids and I am so thankful I get to be their Momma. Most days I feel like life is blur with so many things going on between work, kids activities, meals, errands, appointments, and so on. Stress has been rampant lately and I’m on overload but I’m trying to do a better job and having more patience (that’s a hard one for me, as if you didn’t know) and caring less about order and tidiness (that one is equally as hard for this control freak).

We’ve been enjoying the outdoors, despite unseasonably warm temperatures. These kids love to be with each other even though it often escalates into fighting and crying and tattle-tales after a short bit. They are loving to be all matchy matchy with their clothes whether during the day or at night with their jammies. From OSU, to Crew, to Aqua-tots, to glow-in-the-dark skeleton pajamas, fishy pj’s, etc. I think it’s adorbs and will encourage it as long as I can. I’ve even purchased matching sherpa-lined jean jackets for fall 🙂 Also, despite having a ridiculous number of shirts – Reid will choose a “go buckeyes” shirt every.single.day from his closet! I swear, these pictures are taken on different days…..

Lily isn’t feeling her best the last week or so. I’m not entirely sure what the trouble is. Maybe she’s sad that Brutus isn’t here or she’s just not feeling well. She’s not eating regularly, including not wanting her pills even when they are in peanut butter pill pockets or bread. She will, however, eat her food if there is human food mixed in (brisket, pizza, bread, etc). She’s eating about a meal a day. She’s also struggling with her walking and is doing the bunny hop with her hind legs more and more. It’s really sad to watch her decline. This girl has been through the thick and thin of life with me and it’s rough to see her like this. She’s not very confident coming down the stairs anymore and her back legs often collapse  on a stair or two on her trips down. While Brutus has been away she’s getting more time out in the front yard with us and I think she’s really enjoying that. She often just lays down in the grass and sniffs the air. She makes it all the way down the drive to the mailbox, checks out the neighborhood dog activity, and then lays down to rest.

Reid seems to be loving school. His Guppy class teachers use an app where they post pictures and I find that Reid is often displaying his unique personality whether through his cute expressions or being the one-off kid doing something no one else is, lol. He’s brought home several cute crafts and Haya says he’s always happy when she picks him up. Both boys are loving Pokemon and Daddy has gotten them each their own book. It’s cute to seem them play and talk and make trades together.

Can you find Reid in the picture below?  Hint: look in the mirror, lol 🙂

We went to Fall Fest at NPCA and both Reid and Finn enjoyed playing all the little games and getting prizes. Reid was so excited when he got the ring around the cone in his Guppy class! And Griffin got three balloons in a row with the slinging game.

We had parent-teacher conference with Mrs. Hale this week for Griffin and he is doing really well. Math is clearly his strength though he is also doing well and as expected in reading. She shared that he is great to have in class – he’s pleasant, kind, helpful, a good listener, he follows instructions well, and so on. He got his second “Pawsome” note this week for showing good “effort” during stations. Essentially, while Mrs. Hale is working with a small group of students, the other students in class work at stations with their small groups. Griffin was able to get two magic words worksheets done (and done well!) when the expectation was one worksheet. He was so proud, this was his second Pawsome note! I love that his teacher is very encouraging and the TRES Pawsitive Promise (Teamwork, Respect, Effort, Spreading Kindness) is fashioned after TRES (Tyler Run Elementary School).  Griffin has gone to the school nurse twice (two Thursday mornings in a row) complaining of his heart stinging or his ribs/chest stinging. I took him to the pediatrician on the first Thursday and he checked out fine. Scares this Momma though! I visited him at lunch that first Thursday and then picked him up to take him to the doctor, so he didn’t ride the bus home. He was bummed about that – he loves riding the bus and being with his friends. For now we’re just keeping an eye on him.

Check out this handsome boy all ready for picture day at school! He chose this nice button down shirt 🙂

Griffin went to his friend Vinny’s birthday party at a Tae Kwon Do facility and he broke this board! He really had fun – might be our next class enrollment, lol.

We ventured up to Apple Hill Orchard for our annual apple picking with Grandma and Grandpa Beilstein (and apple donuts, lol). It was a busy day as we had soccer and a birthday party in the morning and afternoon before we could leave). We picked a bag full of apples and then the kids chased chickens (literally) and played a bit on the train. We had a tasty brisket dinner and lots of tackling grandpa.

 

Brutus is away at camp and while I don’t hear from his trainer, Jeff, really frequently when I do hear from him the feedback is great! I’m so excited and encouraged to see where he was at 4 days and then again at 2 weeks in the videos below. I’m still uncertain how this will translate to once he’s home and how he’ll listen to us, not Jeff or his other trainers, but I’m hopeful that he will carry his training through to any environment. I asked Jeff about training him regarding people coming to the door/ringing the doorbell as he talked about this during our evaluation at our house. The text he responded with was great!