Alex--
Doing really well at college. He's got a solid group of friends, a job, and a variety of classes that he enjoys. We chat on the phone on Sundays and text through the week here and there. He's navigating independent living and adult life. He's coming up to C-U for James' birthday weekend :) James will be turning 13, so they have plans for a PG-13 movie marathon. Thank you to Erin for being willing to host them! That wouldn't go over so well at our house.
Robert--
Working through the high school grind. He's got a solid group of friends, a killer workout routine, and a variety of classes that he tolerates well enough ;) He made a decision this summer to be out of his room more and be more social in general. It was tricky at first, but now that Matthew is generally on a tablet most of the day, the house is quiet and serene. The whole household feels lighter. There's time and opportunity and energy for real conversations. We talk about lots of things theoretical and hypothetical. He tells me about some of his classwork and some of the things that really frustrate him. I'm learning his life rhythm and cadence a little better. He's a genuinely funny and thoughtful guy. I didn't know that last year.
James--
This kid is taking school a little more seriously this year. He has a goal to have zero missing assignments. He's even started using the study hall he has at school to do homework...imagine that! James has a grade goal in mind for math, too. He still hates learning French. Almost as much as he hated learning piano. Speaking of music, James' 7th grade class is putting on a musical, Matilda, Jr., in December. Not only did James audition, but auditioned for a lead. He was assigned the exact role he wanted: The Trunchbull. If you're not familiar with the Roald Dahl story, Matilda is a bright girl that is sent to a horrible school headed by The Trunchbull. The Trunchbull is a very masculine, militant, yelling sort of person with horrible torture chambers and a vindictive rage towards children. Of course James wanted the role! He already knows all the music.
Matthew--
I just wrote about Matthew in the previous post. I wonder what he would write about himself. He would likely tell you about Zelda: Breath of the Wild, or Grounded, or any other video game that piques his interest at the moment. He wants to do gymnastics and work out so he can dress up as Spider Man and look the part. He loves having his own room (Thank you, Alex).
Nova--
Cute dog. Still calm and patient. Excited to go places and sniff new people, but prefers if they let her approach at her own pace. She discovered squirrels at the dog park and now hovers obsessively at the foot of those trees hoping one will fall out or something. I'm not quite sure what she would do if she ever caught up to a live one. She's not terribly interested in the dead ones we've found. She does hunt crickets and grasshoppers, though, as James learned the other day. He was trying to catch a large grasshopper to save for Alex's bug collection. He finally got a hold of it, but it slipped off the bench and Nova pounced on it immediately. Chomp, crunch, slurp, smack, smack, smack. Then she looked up at James as if to ask, "Got any more?" Well, James was a little upset at first, but then he just stirred up the grass to get more crickets to jump onto the patio where Nova could eat them. She's no good at hunting them in grass.
Nova comes to the nursing home with me every week to visit a friend. She comes to the boys' therapy appointments and sits with me in the pet-friendly lobby. I take her wherever I feel like I can get away with it. I keep taking her out with me so she gets used to meeting new people. I'd really like for her to be comfortable as a therapy dog. She's well-behaved and curious, quiet and soft. She only stinks when I haven't bathed her in a while :)
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