Balance

We are a few weeks into the school schedule, and the kids are doing awesome.  I love having them home more and being able to participate in their learning, and feeling like we have some breathing room in our schedule.  The kids have been good about getting their at-home school work done in the mornings, so then we cay say, "Apple picking on a Wednesday afternoon?  Sure!"  I have heard some rumors that K-5 students are going back to school full-time in a few weeks...I know lots of families need that, but I'm going to be really sad if/when it happens!

Coffee date during at-home learning

Puppy play date with neighborhood pals

The kids built this awesome teepee!

Evie's Girl Scouts bridging ceremony

Evie's troop

Noah gets to play lots of sports at home...PE Class?!

Silly Noah, ha ha!

Frankie is growing right before our eyes, and she is such a sweet little love.  She had her first vet visit, and she is healthy - she doubled her weight in the 2 weeks since we brought her home!  Frankie also had her first bath after a very muddy and fun play date with her friend Ivy.  As you can see, she did not love the bath, but she enjoyed being wrapped in a towel afterward!  We have also found that she sleeps in the funniest places and positions.

Frankie met a new friend, Tino, a fellow goldendoodle

Here are a few other fun moments from the week.  We are enjoying the beautiful fall weather!

A funny belated b-day gift for me - a pandemic survival kit!  HA!

Practicing some off-leash time with Frankie (Roscoe NEVER made it to this level!)

Yes, ladies, he cleans windows! ;-)

He caught a grasshopper

Noah runs his own Sunday football in the side yard, complete with chairs for the fans

I also wanted to share the sad news that Grandma Barb passed away early Saturday morning.  She lived a life full of adventures like flying airplanes and hunting bears, being an active member of the dance club, teaching piano lessons and leading her cherub choir at church, as well as showing up to nearly every sporting event and concert for the dozens of grandchildren in the family and finding time for art and calligraphy projects for everyone. She had the best stories to share!  Sadly, she had suffered with Alzheimer's Disease for the past several years, and the last time we were able to visit with her was back in November.  As her disease progressed, one of the most special ways we connected was through music.  The kids and I enjoyed visiting during her music therapy sessions, which brought great joy to all of us to make music together.  Her music therapy sessions often ended with Happy Trails to You, so I will close with these lyrics: 

Happy trails to you,

Until we meet again.

Happy trails to you,

Keep smiling until then.

Grandma Barb meeting Evie in 2011

Our last visit together in November 2019