Blyth Family Weekend

 The Blyth Family

(minus Chad and Mark)

 

 HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY GRANDMA JEANNE!!!!

 

 Owen and Gracie helped blow out the candles

 

Grandma Jeanne turned 90 on September 11 and we celebrated with the whole family over the weekend.  It was so great to be able to get together with everyone.  We are so thankful to have such a great lady to look up to and who cares so much about her family.  We love you so much!

 

Mom, Dad, and Annie came up and stayed in Iowa for the entire weekend.  Annie stayed with us and the kids were so excited to have her here.  Gracie asked her if she could stay forever, but she had to go back home on Monday. The kids got to show her they can tumble and dance, swing and play volleyball. We went to the game on Saturday (without the kids) and Annie and I got to go on a date on Sunday night to La Fuente in Ames.  It was a great weekend!

Annie and me at the ISU football game

Mom and Dad at the game

What a great picture!

 

Other news...Gracie and Owen both had their yearly check-ups and seem to be pretty healthy kids.  I took them in together, so we were in the doctor's office for well over an hour.  They only had to get flu shots this year, so that was a blessing.  Gracie had a shot and Owen got to do the nasal spray.  Gracie was a champ and watched the needle go in, looked at me, and said, "that didn't hurt, mom."  That's my girl.  Owen was mad because he got the spray and didn't need a Band-Aid.  The nurse was nice enough to give him one anyway.

 

Gracie is doing great.  She is 1/2 inch above the 98th percentile for her height and about the same for her weight.  She is so big and seems to just keep growing.  Right now she's 57 lbs and 47 inches tall.  The doctor acknowledged that she is pretty big but isn't too concerned about it.  She seems to be pretty solid.  Gracie is still adjusting to kindergarten and is exhausted almost every night. We don't have problems getting her to go to bed anymore.  She is learning so much already and is starting to be able to spell words.  She has a show and tell assignment each week and her sharing day is on Fridays.  She doesn't always want to do these right away, as she would prefer to play at home in the evenings.  However, once she gets going on something, it's not so bad.  Gracie is involved in dance (tap and ballet), tumbling, and Sunday School on weekends, so far.  A couple weeks ago, she did the cheer clinic and performed at the first home football game for Ballard.  She loves playing volleyball at home and riding her bike outside.  She is constantly doing cheers and trying to use the furniture as tumbling/gymnastics apparatus.  I think she sometimes forgets that there are tumbling mats in the basement.

 

Owen is also growing like a weed.  He is 36 inches tall now and weighs 37 lbs.  He's in the 75th percentile, so not quite as big as Gracie.  He has also been doing pretty well in 3-yr-old preschool.  He is still getting a nap every afternoon at school, so it's more difficult in the evenings to try to get him calmed down and to go to sleep.  He is a ball of energy and has already had some problems with playing too rough at school, trying to wrestle and tackle some of his friends.  His teachers have said that he's not trying to hurt anyone, but obviously, it needs to stop.  I'm not sure if letting him go to the wrestling room will be good or bad.  That will give him the opportunity to do that stuff, but he has to understand that he can't do that at school.  Otherwise he is doing great and his teachers love him.  He is so funny and makes me laugh everyday.  He has actually started showing some empathy for others, too.  When Gracie has  melt down, he will walk over to her, put his hand on her shoulder and try to console her.  It's pretty cute.  He is more helpful, now, as well.  He helps clear the table and can comply with requests most of the time. He still loves the super heroes and wants to be Spiderman for Halloween this year.  We'll see if that changes again.

 

We are so lucky to have such great kids.  They have their moments that make me want to pull my hair out, but most of the time I don't know what I would do without them!