Bustling Family Life

August has been flying by with lots of activity! We had birthdays for L and I, a reunion on my side of the family, and basically the end of summer as school and soccer are back in session. One night I needed to pack dinner for the fields because there just wasn’t time to eat at home, but otherwise the kids are managing well and it feels like the balance is there. We tried to connect again in nature at end of the month on a camping trip with friends. Here are some moments from this month.

L is in Junior High now! She got an Apple Watch from us for her birthday, which has been so helpful with her activities and babysitting gigs. We went to all the school Open Houses, got the instruments and Chromebooks and supplies and fees sorted, and met all their teachers. She chose to wear a dress for picture day and asked me to do her hair, which I braided and it took me back to when she was a little girl. L is so lovely and trying her best with everything she’s got going on. There was a day when she was uncharacteristically tired after school to the point I turned off her alarms, closed all her blinds, tucked her in bed, and made her take a nap that I woke her up for so she wouldn’t be exhausted for a soccer game she still had. It seemed that’s just what she needed.

W has expressed that his new favorite game is Plants versus Zombies. He’s been playing it on the weekends after chores, and enjoying the books for his reading minutes. He doesn’t like doing homework, but he faithfully does it for Daddy and the ability to play afterwards.

F loves being back at school and is thriving in soccer- more on that here. He’s been cuddly lately, asking to sleep in our bed or take naps with me as I will allow. We are working on remembering his chores sometimes like feeding the lizard or emptying the dishes. It’s been hard for him not to have formal piano lessons since his teacher is recovering her health, but we’ve been trying to remind him to practice.

My injuries from the e-bike accident are almost fully healed. I’m so thankful I’ve been able to go back to running in our mountain. I really look forward to reading once my chores are done or to relax. This month I read the Reckoners trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and Screamfree Parenting by Hal Runkel LMFT.

I made Jeremy a spreadsheet for his calendar / syllabus for teaching his high school classes this year—he loved it! He’s been a busy bee with taking on a student teacher, attending all our kids soccer games especially when I have meetings, and preparing for our trips this summer and camping.

Love, Kat