Home Life without Russell

Well, I would have to say there are three major changes in the house since Russell went to school. Less mess, Less food consumption, and Less CONVENIENT. The most noticeable of all of these things is the convenience factor. I can no longer make a quick trip to the store and leave Russell with the little ones. I can't just swing by Walmart while I am out and run in while Russell watches everyone else in the car. However, for the most part everyone has adapted pretty quickly.

I must say that I really miss our talks. He is really getting to that age where having one on one conversations is really interesting. I miss teaching him, and in general I just miss having him around -- especially when Chris is deployed. I really miss watching his football practices. Even though the little ones could be a handful and occasionally practices were just down right inconvenient as far as getting things done in the evening. I love to watch him play football. He is really good at it. I love to watch him play football as much as I love to watch Zeke at Tae Kwon Do. It is so much fun to watch your children do something well. Even more so if they love doing it.

Olivia still occasionally calls for Russell or Daddy when she gets mad at me it is kinda funny. Although I have noticed more and more lately she has even added in a little YEEKE (Zeke). She really loves playing with Zeke and Caden and running around the yard carrying her little gun. Yes, she is still very girly but she can hang with the boys too. Her gun is always a machine gun -- she has perfected the sound. She is repeating more and more things lately. I am so excited about her starting to talk more. It will be so awesome to get out of the grunting stage. She has nearly all her teeth, and her hair is getting really long. She is 17 months old and still wearing 12 month clothes (they are not even close to outgrown), and she has not made 20 pounds yet (yes I know she is supposed to be rear facing in her car seat). She loves chocolate and ice cream and got her stubbornness, strong will, and temper from me. We are working on the temper but sometimes it is so darn funny I have to leave the room to laugh.

Caden is AMAZING. I am shocked at how rapidly his school skills have grown. He is cutting shapes out of paper better than Zeke did in K5. He counts to 30 with very little help. Knows all his days of the weeks, shapes, and colors. He recites his alphabet, recognized about half the letters, and can copy almost all the letters by hand -- He is even writing his own name and can spell it for you. Just watching his coloring skills is amazing. The improvement in his hand coordination alone in the last month his been incredible. I am anxious to see what he can accomplish by the holidays.

Zeke is still doing well in the fourth grade. He actually seems to be genuinely enjoying learning this year. He is loving Tae Kwon Do, and drums and is looking forward to Swim Lessons starting in October. Now that he is a Green Belt in Tae Kwon Do, we will have another class each week, as he starts Sparring. This is what he has been looking forward to since he started. His drumming is actually starting to really sound cool, and I am actively seeking to find him a private swim instructor. He has also been running 5-6 days a week with me. I have been pushing the double jog stroller (about 65pounds with both kids in it), and we have been in a regular routine. As a matter of fact we have actually been walking in the park once and day and running in addition. We are both comfortably running 3 miles each run in around a 9 minute pace. This week we are increasing our run to 4 miles. Ultimately we would like our long days to be 6 miles. He really wants to start road racing with me. We are going to try to do a 3 mile race together before the end of the year. Maybe next year we will do the 4 mile race that Fork Union Puts on each fall.

Well, as far as the pets go: the new puppy seems to be starting to settle in and Balou is getting over whatever his allergic reaction was.