Week 231 – July 6 – July 12

Houston turned one this week. I can’t believe it has already been a whole year. It’s true what they say – time does fly! I am so proud of you and the fact that you are a great big sister. I want to remember how excited you get to help him and how high your voice gets when you talk to him!

Houston also learned to walk in shoes this week! It took him a few tries, but he’s off to the races now!

Grandma Patti came down on Saturday to join our birthday celebration. With the pandemic still in full force, we couldn’t have a bigger party for Houston. But it’s ok, we still had a great time and he won’t remember this one. Your mom did a great job making a baseball themed pennant and cake. We were excited to watch him get after his cake and he ended up doing a pretty good job with it. He was definitely a little more aggressive than you were at your first birthday party.

Me and you took a little time and went to kick your new soccer ball around at the real soccer field. It was nice having a little Reese and dad time. You loved running around the field and hanging from the goal post. I think you might actually enjoy playing soccer when you’re a little older.

Week 232 – July 13 – July 19

We re-arranged the living room so you and Houston would have a larger space to run around and play with your toys. I know we don’t have much space for a “toy room”, but we’re making the best of the space we have.

We had Houston’s 1-year old photo shoot at a park in Hilliard. It went as well as you can probably imagine. Houston is quite a bit different than you were when it came to taking pictures. I’m hopeful we get a few good ones from Houston, but I know the photographer captured some good ones of you!

I continue to make the garage work for my workouts. It’s amazing what you can do with one dumbbell and some milk jugs filled with water.

Week 233 – July 20 – July 26

What’s going on in the crazy world of the pandemic?

Where do I start? It’s crazy and somewhat surreal! It looks like schools will start virtually and in-person classes may not even happen to the spring. It doesn’t look like we’re any closer to a vaccine, although we keep hearing things about having something by the end of the year. Even then, initial vaccines are usually only partially effective. So, who knows! We continue to stay at home and get creative with fun activities inside and outside. You and mom made some cool tie-dye shirts in the garage.

We are really focusing on saving money for a down payment on a house and made a chart to put on the refrigerator. It’s something visible that we can see everyday and a good reminder that we need to save!

Week 234 – July 27 – August 2

This week was another uneventful week staying at home. With that being said, we continue to get creative and have the most fun we can. I’m extremely thankful that you really don’t know any different at your age. This whole pandemic would be quite a bit different if you were older and knew a little more about what was going on and what you were missing out on.

Your mom and I decided to not send you to Pre-K this year because of the pandemic. While the chance of you getting sick is a small risk, it doesn’t make sense to send you, especially because it’s only Pre-K. Your mom has started to plan a great curriculum for at-home Pre-K. You will miss out on the social aspect of school, but I know your mom will do a great job teaching you essential skills to prepare you for Kindergarten.

I took Houston to the doctor this week…by myself! Your mom was real nervous letting me go by myself, but it was just something I wanted to do now that I was working from home.

Week 235 – August 3 – August 9

You and mom went to pick apples this week! We can’t get out and do much during the pandemic, so it was special for you and mom to pick apples together. We also got a new double stroller that mom has always wanted. Granny gave us $200 to get a nice one.

Week 236 – August 10 – August 16

Pandemic news: The BIG 10 has cancelled all fall sports, which includes Buckeye football! This is crazy, insane, and creates a huge void this fall. This is so crazy and unheard of!

My job has changed quite a bit due to the lack of in-person events, but I’m happy to still bring home a good paycheck. I’m not sure on my role and what will come of it, but I have to keep an open mind and do what I can to bring value to the team. I am doing more video production work as well as being a project manager for alot of our team projects. We also just got approved for SocialChorus, which is a workforce communications platform that will allow us to communicate better with all of our associates. I should have a prominent project manager role for this platform, so stay tuned…

We went back to the trail park for the first time in over a year! You love this place! We threw rocks in the water, walked through the “jungle” to find more water, and you loved picking up sand and throwing it in the air. I forgot how beautiful it is back in that park. It’s something special that we share!

Week 237 – August 17 – August 23

A big life lesson that comes from the past 6 months, turning negatives into positives. Here are a few of my favorite things that came out of the quarantine:

• Car picnics at Hoover Reservoir
• Watching you and mom draw sidewalk chalk
• Evening stroller walks (every day!)
• Friday night movies and popcorns
• Garage workouts
• New ice maker
• Mom’s Nespresso machine
• Working from home and seeing the family more
• starting my work days on the front porch with my coffee

You had a friend over for the first time on Saturday. Grayson came to play while his mom was having surgery in the hospital. You were such a great friend and had the cutest little high-pitched voice when you were talking to him. You were also kind of bossy, but that’s expected. We were very proud of you for being a good friend!

Week 238 – August 24 – August 30

We went to the flower park two times this weekend. Again, it wasn’t much, but at least we got out of the house and enjoyed nature. The parks are pretty amazing here!

But my highlight this week was when mom had out the vacuum and you said “Mom! I didn’t know you knew how to clean.” Sooooo good!

Week 239 – August 31 – September 6

We finally went to explore the trails on the East side of the Hoover reservoir! It is beautiful over there and all the nature trails lead to the water. You discovered hermit crab (or at least that’s what we’re calling them) shells and collected quite a few to bring home. You loved running in the shallow water. You now refer to this park as the “Hermit Crab Park”, not to be confused with the “Trail Park”.

Week 240 – September 7 – September 13

You started school at home with mom this week! Your mom has done a great job finding resources and planning out a great curriculum for you. I think the only issue that she’ll have is that the pre-K curriculum might be a little too easy for you.

Week 241 – September 14 – September 20

Week 242 – September 21 – September 27

We went back to the Hermit Crab Park and this time we took a trash bag and picked up some of the litter that was on the trails. I was so proud of you for wanting to do such a great thing. I hope this starts a tradition of making this world a better place!

Week 243 – September 28 – October 4

One of my favorite things is telling you stories every night before going to sleep. The stories range from you receiving mystery packages, the fun food factor where each room is full of something you love to ear, to going to the zoo and the animals are missing (and you getting dippin’ dots). I told you a zoo story, which you said was too short. I said it was long and that we went through the whole zoo. You said “We didn’t see the Brown bears…..or were my ears closed when you talked about them!” That was one of the funniest thing you have said to-date.

You love teaching Houston to say words. He’s getting real good at saying “Hi!” and you love working with him and asking him to say it.

Something funny you said: “I have been losting it for 100 years.” You said this when you couldn’t find something for a while.