October is full of more soccer and even included a tourney win at the Hopewell Cup at Newark. Despite having the tourney forfeit our first game (which we won 3-1) due to using Caleb as goalie (he also played on the white team in the same tourney, which apparently even though our coaches asked there was miscommunication and as it turns out he wasn’t allowed to play for both teams). We setup camp for between games and were able to hang with buddies and families from both teams which was a lot of fun.
This is a great crew of kids right here! Black and White teams together!
Mom, Dad, Graham, Rowan, and Andy came to cheer Griffin on at a game too. I believe this game we was a loss to SP but a good game.
Griffin and I enjoyed some fun team bonding time with buddies Emerson, Graham, and Rhett at Ten Pin Alley after a game one weekend. Pizza, fries, bowling and buddies. A pretty good mix.
We celebrated the end of the fall season with pizza at the Lewis’ house in Westerville. So many boys running around and playing together. They had a nice fire outside and plenty of food for all. It was a weird end to the season as we were to play SP Academy in the last game of the tourney. Turns out they forfeit the game due to issues/frustrations with decisions made by the tournament director. So as we were headed back to the field to play our last game we were told we didn’t have a game. Ugh! We had cookies made to give to each player! So instead we handed out what we could and then drove all around town delivering the rest.
Afterward we stopped to play putt-putt at Olentangy mini golf. We played 36 holes, both courses. A bit of fun before Kevin’s upcoming surgery this week. Later this evening Griffin started feeling unwell. I took him to the doctor the next day and as it turns out he has the Flu A. Ugh again!
I was able to volunteer at Donuts with a Grownup again this year on the playground at Tyler Run. This is part of the Fall Fest week of activities. Giant Eagle donated all of the donuts!!
Neighbor families the Dennies, Bolans, Duncans and us purchased a Norway Spruce to plant in memory of our neighbor, Don Maxwell, who passed away in August. Millcreek put in an order of plants to Acorn and so once delivered to Millcreek, it was delivered by our driver John and also Mike to our house. It’s a pretty one. Kevin and I took to planting it on our own in the cul-de-sac in front of the Maxwell’s house. A week or two after we had a neighborhood dedication party with appetizers prepared by Jane Martin. The neighborhood also purchased a stone to mark the tree.
We eventually got around to planting the trees at our house too. The Zelkova went out front to be a street tree between our house and the Dennies. The Black Gum went in the back and will eventually provide shade from the west to the pavilion and patio. We also planted the Rhododendron in the back hosta garden to eventually hide the utilities on the back of the house.
Tooth #2 goodbye!
I was able to take Friday off to volunteer at Tyler Run on the playground for ticket sales for the Fall Fest gift basket raffles. The morning started with the Fun Walk through the neighborhood. Saturday after Griffin’s soccer game he and I attended the actual Fall Fest at school where Griffin played with buddies and many games for an hour.
Reidy came down with some sort of bug and was really sleepy for a few days. He and Kevin camped out at home for a couple of days missing activities while Griffin and I went to fall fest and soccer games.
The neighborhood ladies enjoy the company of Beth Maxwell and for a fun activity to keep her occupied since the passing of Don, we asked her to teach us how to make raspberry jam! We had a fun night of making jam while having wine and charcuterie.
Random photos from October.
Dental checkups and no cavities. I was in disbelief given teeth brushing is still a struggle over here. But, yay!
Lilly came to see Reidy play a game! Griffin and Daddy were at Griffin’s first ever hockey game (which we attended for the first period and a half before leaving for Reidy’s game).
Griffin’s first ever CAHA 10U minor Stingers team game was bright an early at 7:30 in Easton. On the way there Griffin said he was nervous and so we talked through that. He also said “wouldn’t it be awesome if I scored in my debut?”. His debut. This kid. Sure enough, he did score, and it was the 8th and final goal to win the game. I was super bummed to have missed it as Reid and I left for his soccer game. But I was so happy for Griffin to achieve his goal, both literally and figuratively. The scoresheet is all whacky as the kids didn’t have their uniforms yet, so even though Griffin is listed as #21 on the Scoresheet (what will be his real number) he was wearing #20 during the game (one of Cole’s old jerseys!).
Griffin and I went to the Momster Ball at Berlin High School with a couple of soccer buddies and moms. It was a costume, game, dance kind of night!
The boys and I went to Peppa Pigs Adventure live show for a fun evening show. I must say, it wasn’t what I anticipated. But the boys enjoyed it and it was fun to try new things.
October means field trip time for Reid with NPCA. This year we went to the Maize for a fun (and cool!) day of adventuring. We got to feed the goats, go on a wagon ride, pick a pumpkin and gourd, and play games. Fun Fact, one of Reid’s classmates lives in Powell (Lakes of Powell, actually) and she will go to Tyler Run next year! That is so unusual! We were glad to connect.
Daddy and Reidy night out to Don Tequila!
Mom, Dad, Kevin and I ventured to Mansfield to begin the process of moving the Walls’ train set to our house. It was several hours of disassembling, labeling wires, disconnecting track, cleaning train houses/trains, and packing everything up. The hauling of everything in Dad’s truck back to Powell reminded us of the days of moving into college and down to North Carolina when the truck was loaded up.
October is for pumpkins!
Griffin wasn’t feeling well and thankfully I was able to get him in to the pediatrician. He tested positive for Flu A. Sadly, this was on Trick or Treat night so he wasn’t able to go out with all the kiddos. We also hosted friends on our patio, so Griffin watched from within the windows! he was a trooper though and was treated to a special 10 pack of timbits and several packages of candy brought to him by friends. And a pic through the front glass door!
Reid was so sweet that he collected candy for Griffin. When he got home (which he had at least two candy dropoffs due to having a full bag during his route!) he put everything on the patio table and split it up for he and Griffin to share.
Mom and Dad came over and brought some fun frankenstein rice krispie treats!
October 2022, Pre-K Monkey class at NPCA. Age 5 (almost 5 1/2).
September 2022, Tyler Run Elementary School, 4th Grade, Mrs. Price. Age 9 1/2.
3rd grade, 2021.
2nd Grade, 2020.
1st Grade, 2019
Fall Family photos 2022! This year we went to Coffman Park for family photos with the Mom and Dad and the Bethune’s. Turned out to be the perfect evening for photos.
Morning snuggle time is the best way to start my day! It makes it hard to leave in the morning though for sure. 
Reid continues to enjoy meal time and is learning to eat more and more new foods. He definitely seems to favor meat (sausage, beef, chicken) and sweet veggies (peas, corn, carrots). He’s hit or miss with fruits as some days he’ll eat them and others not. He does love pears for sure. Strawberries and blueberries sometimes, watermelon he kind of plays with, canteloupe he’ll usually eat. Raspberries are usually a negative. Just depends on his mood I suppose. 
Debbie took the boys to Library Park and Franklin Park Conservatory this week and Finn loved seeing the butterflies. This was Reid’s first time there and it looks like he had fun too 🙂 In all honesty since I’m writing these post several weeks after the fact and Debbie is no longer our nanny, I have mixed emotions looking at these pictures. Happy that they had so much fun with her and she loved them well and sad that things ended the way the did. It could have been so much better. 
These next two pictures Finn created at pre-school and I put them in here as a reminder to myself about the simple joys of being a kid and the ways they find happiness and fun in the littlest things. Man, I wish I were a kid again some days! 
Mr. Reid becomes Mr. Sassy sometimes when he doesn’t have something he sees someone else does. He’s getting really good with the contigo cups so I’ve started giving him one when I give Griffin one. He loves it!
We joined the Bethune’s, Grandma and Grandpa Beilstein, and other friends for Greta’s 5th birthday with a party at the rink. Finn hadn’t been on the ice in probably two years. He was definitely timid in the beginning but after a short bit he was off and skating on his own! Check out his hockey shirt that he chose for the day, a hand-me-down from his cousins 🙂
Reid really resembles Rowan a lot as a baby (is that enough R’s?). While we were at the Bethune’s we checked out a photo album from when Rowan was the same age as Reid (around 47 weeks). It’s crazy how much they look alike and how their hair is very similar too!
Great photo of the grandkids with Grandma and Grandpa!
Griffin is often my errand buddy. The two of us head out on adventures and Reid stays home with Daddy sometimes. We headed to the Polaris area and decided to get Finn a lunch at the new Corner Bakery. He loved it and I loved the manager who was so friendly. He walked around and as he stopped to talked to us he invited us up for a free cookie after his meal. Of course Finn was happy about that 🙂
And here is another Saturday morning photo snapped by Daddy of the boys having a fun morning while I was away at work. Boxes make the best toys. 
On Sunday I met up with my college friends for brunch. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen each other and while we didn’t have a long time to hang it was good to see everyone and get updates on everyone’s lives! It’s been 20 years since we graduated from OU! Yikes!
