Beautiful Weather

Yesterday afternoon I shut off Hallmark Channel, logged off all electronics and went outside to play with the boys. I left my phone on the kitchen counter so that I could completely unplug from the stress and anxiety of the election situation. I sent several hours riding bikes, playing in leaves and pushing Timmy on his swing. It is amazing how much happier I felt when I was completely away from the news and the stream of social media!

The weather was gorgeous, which definitely helped to elevate my mood. With temperatures in the low 70's, it was ideal for a long bike ride through the neighborhood. Timmy and Robby both delighted in the impromptu recess and the break from school work. I figured that school work would always be there, but the beautiful weather was definitely a fleeting gift. 

Today Robby will spend the majority of his afternoon at his enrichment classes. He loves his gaming class, where he is fully immersed in history while spending time (in person) with his friends. I know that he loves Fridays, but his activities equate to a lot of driving for Timmy and me. When I see him come out of class with a smile from ear-to-ear, the miles logged are definitely worth it.

Thankful Turkey

Although I expected yesterday to be a nail biter as the election results were tallied, I found myself surprisingly distracted through most of the morning and afternoon. Between work and Timmy's classes, I had no time to watch the news and fret. It turns out that being busy was definitely a benefit!

We are 25% into the new school year and Timmy and I are finally reaching our stride. He is increasingly independent with most activities, although he still requires technical assistance with the computer and crafts. During Circle Time yesterday Timmy crafted a "thankful turkey." I loved watching him draw, cut and write on his feathers without assistance. He has learned so much in a few short weeks!

With the help of work and school activities, avoiding the election results was surprisingly easy. I was able to keep updated via text from Scott or calls from my mom and friends, but I avoided the constant analysis streaming on every platform. In truth, I didn't even turn on the news until it was after dinner. Looking back, I probably should have opted for the Hallmark Channel. Almost as soon as I started watching the analysis I felt my anxiety start creeping back up.

Today I plan on avoided the news as much as possible. I'm certain that somebody will call me, or I will probably hear Scott holler from his basement office, when a significant change has been made to the tally. In the meantime, I'm going to protect my mental health and just focus on my daily life. 

Election Night

Election day has left me worn out and riddled with anxiety. I don't want to get into politics on this blog, and if I continue to write I risk airing my true feelings and thoughts this morning. So, for the sake of my own sanity, I think that today's entry will be short. Have a great day!

Molly

 It was difficult packing up and heading home yesterday. It is always hard to say goodbye, but yesterday it felt especially profound. Molly, my Mom's sweet golden retriever dog, has been on a steady decline since she was diagnosed with cancer last year. Over the past few days, she took a turn for the worse.

Molly was happy when I arrived on Friday, excitedly greeting me and the kids with a wagging tail and a smile. On Saturday she was moving a little slower, but she enjoyed spending the afternoon outside as we all carved pumpkins. By Sunday she hadn't eaten all weekend and was not able to walk independently. When we noticed that she couldn't lift her head on Monday, we knew it was time. 

I left earlier than anticipated because I did not want the boys around when she was taken to the vet. Not only did I want to spare them the experience, but I knew that my Mom did not need to worry about anything except Molly. Molly has been a faithful and loving friend for more than a decade. Because Molly is her last dog, I knew that saying goodbye was going to be especially bitter for my mom.

When we were saying our usual goodbyes, I made sure to tell the boys to spend some time with Molly. I let them know that she was getting ready to go over the rainbow bridge. We all loved on her before we left.

After we started our drive home, my mom packed up Molly and took her to the vet. The doctor agreed that Molly was ready. She was peaceful and calm, which is all we could have asked.  We will all miss Molly, but the void will be especially deep for my Mom. If you know her, please reach out and let her know that you are thinking about her. 

Halloween Wrap-Up

 Even though Halloween was different this year, the kids had a great time. They carved pumpkins, went trick-or-treating (outdoor candy bowls only, no doorbells and no contact) and seemed to spend the entire weekend laughing. They didn't seem to mind that their loot was not as heavy as it was in prior years. The search for the elusive candy bowls became a challenge, causing the kids to squeal with delight when a new bowl was spied. 

I was weary about allowing the kids to trick-or-treat, but I'm glad I made the decision to allow it to proceed (with stipulations.) They walked by a lot of illuminated houses, opting to only visit those who had a bowl of treats left at the end of the walkway or on their driveway. No contact treat bowls was their only option, as well as full masks at all times. They all accepted my rules and stipulations without issue and, from the looks of their smiles when they returned home, they had a fantastic time. 

After trick-or-treating, the older Crew played silly games into the wee hours of the morning.  (Timmy zonked out after all of the walking.) I love hearing the belly laughing that echoes through the house when they are together!