Survival mode continued...

Lucius gets invited to just about every kids birthday party. Which is a bit sad for Oliver because he doesn't get invited to any really. I'm quite sad for him, its sad being left out and watching his brother go to so many different places. One party was at the Big Thrill Factory. Oliver and I dropped him off there and were going to go on a little outing of our own but the mom (a friend of mine) said she had an extra ticket for Oliver to stay if he wanted to. It was so super nice, I let him stay. Of course, that meant I had to stay to watch Oliver because the place was a sensory overload waiting to happen. He had a blast- with some minor setbacks that my friend helps avert. But then all at once it became too much. We left Lucius there to enjoy the rest of the party and I took Oliver home to relax.

We drove to Olivia, MN one Sunday to celebrate Grandma Great Gloria's 90th birthday.

We had ice cream and cookies one night because Oliver had a non-violent school day (from what I gathered), walked away from an argument, talked to a teacher about a problem, cooled off away from the crowd (even though he missed lunch), got through a whole STEAM project after school without behaviors and told the truth. He had lunch in the principal's office but I heard that was only because he missed his regular lunch time, not because he was in trouble.

Oliver and I occasional get the chance to go shopping together. I LOVE spending time with him while picking out clothes. Especially when he's helping me find clothes for myself. He could make anyone feel good about their outfit choices. And since he makes me happy about myself, I occasional end up buying him something nice. He loved this sweater... so I bought it for him. He's wore it almost non-stop since we got it.

Oliver with his neighborhood girl friends. I love our neighborhood of close friends.

The boys spent a long time raking the leaves in the front yard. Then spent a really long time one evening making a leaf fort with both neighbor boys and two neighbor girls while the parents ignored them to watch the fire I built in the backyard. While texting my neighbors to come over an ash fell on my foot and burned a whole in my shoe. It was just another bad thing in my list of bad things that happened that week. But a Friday night bonfire with friends was a lot cheaper way to cheer up than therapy. So I'll deal with it.

We went to STEAM one afternoon because it was egg drop day. We went last time and both boy's eggs broke in the fall. This time they both had improved egg drop carrier plans. I only helped blow up the balloons and tie the knots in the string as I was instructed. they built them all by themselves and both eggs survived the two story drop. Impressive. Oliver accidentally broke his egg after the drop but Lucius brought his home. While sitting around the dinner table I remembered to ask him where he put his egg. I'm glad I did because he told me he put it with all his trophies downstairs in his room. Apparently he wanted to keep it forever. That would have been a very smelly surprise to find one day.

I took Lucius to a grant proposal meeting the end of September. We are asking for some grant money to expand our growing chess club. He wore his chess club shirt and listened. Then they asked him one question: why do you like chess club? He thought for a long time, feeling rather shy, (I never expected he would actually answer them)... finally he quietly answers "Because it helps my brain". Wow, I love that kid! He is amazing.

And that just about fills in our Sept & October. At least the parts I will want to remember. The drama and emotional stress I'd rather not relive.