Stress Relievers for the Tollesons

The kitties follow us around
in the morning as we get ready.

We each take a cup of coffee with us to work.

Being outside clears our minds and warms our souls.
It's wildflower season right now and the sides of the roads are
absolutely beautiful! There are bluebonnets everywhere :-).

In colder weather, you'll often find Hannah
 throwing on a well loved hoodie after work!

James decompresses with an episode of Star Trek in the evenings.
He's currently watching Star Trek Deep Space Nine.

We can't imagine not having our kitties.
Rimsky and Duncan keep us smiling and
laughing through the more stressful times.

Update

Hi everyone!

I'm getting this blog post in under the wire! I was waiting to post until after the Sunflower Cluster which was yesterday. The Sunflower Cluster is the big dog show that happens once a year at the Kansas Coliseum. The Wichita, Salina and Hutch dog clubs come together to put it on and it is a big undertaking. I love visiting it every year. There are hundreds of dogs there and every breed imaginable. I can't even start identifying them when I'm there. I quite a few goldens but none that looked like Gus. English cream goldens just aren't seen very often in America. They are much more the normal in England. Most people don't even know he is a Golden.

Gus did accompany me to the show in duty. This was his first time to go. Last year Shona went and the year before that, Benny. I do have to say that this year I worried the least about the dog I was taking. I love my other pups but Gus has far less anxiety and bad behaviors around other dogs. He isn't phased at all by hyper or badly behaved dogs. It riles Shona up and Benny is fairly unpredictable. It was nice to have a solid presence with me. Gus did well overall which I was very proud of since it is so huge with so much commotion and things to see. My only complaint was he tugged quite a bit but if that's it I consider it a success!

I have been saving money for quite some time to shop at the venders at the show who have so many dogs things. I purchased a shirt, a rope toy, a chain martingale (it's a type of collar) for Gus, a new turquoise leather leash and a brush. I was glad I had saved. There were of course other things I could have bought but I resisted.

Other than that I have met a new friend who is training her dog to be a service dog and we have done a few things. I have been to The Hutchinson Recreation Center and done some craft classes (Grandma accompanied me to the Easter Basket making craft. That was fun). I am continuing Gus's training and he has a new "house" (picture below) to go in instead of a crate. Benny is doing pretty well. Seizures happen every now and then but by and large we have good control. Dr. Beth (my main therapist) just got back from a conference in Europe and brought back dog collars for both boys. Her colleague told her that she was the only person she knew who would walk all over Paris looking not for souvenirs for her patient but for her patient's dogs so we feel very loved.

I am starting therapeutic horse back riding tomorrow at Reigns of Hope. I qualify because of my PTSD. I'm not a big horse person but I wanted to try it. We'll see how it goes.

And now some pictures.

Gus and I saw Cinderella. He wore his MuttMuffs for ear protection

Gus in his House

Benny thinks my bed is his

Rivers Ripple

Slightly late, but not by much...
Last we posted it was December.  We've had a very good start to 2015. 

Dan was recognized at his work holiday party with the Kim Setty Memorial Award for Excellence for 2014.  It is the equivalent of employee of the year and he is the youngest person to receive it to date.  It is a huge honor for him and he works very hard at KWCH.  His latest projects have included a magic talent (magician search/booking site)website, updating and redesigning the KWCH website, fielding all sorts of tech/live stream/website questions and problems, and managing his web team.  He's still playing bass guitar.

Grammy and Olivia play.

Sarah keeps busy with Olivia and Kinley, the daily household chores/tasks, and also work at Via Christi Rehab.  She still enjoys getting to the Y for a workout twice a week, attending Bible study when she can, and baking up a storm (cookies at least once a week!).



Olivia and her sunflower transplants.

Olivia loves preschool--bouncing into her classroom every time we take her.  Her report card was good--knows all the concepts she needs to and is working on sitting through longer activities (no surprise there!).  Olivia has been taking swimming and gymnastics, but took a recent leave of absence due to an ankle avulsion fracture.  It seems to have healed.  This month she'll be back at swimming (she knows a basic front crawl and back crawl and is beginning to learn 2 other strokes).  And she'll try her legs at soccer, something she's asked for multiple times.  Most days you'll find her playing dress up, Barbies or figurines of some kind, and using her imagination (today was a wedding/ball/birth/baptism celebration of sorts). 


Kinley claimed this chair.

Kinley will talk your ear off if you can catch her without Olivia around.  Often she is difficult to understand, but she shocked the hairdresser this past week with how much she chatted.  Her personality continues to come out.  Right now she is working on potty training.  She's been successful so far--pooping in the potty most days and peeing in the potty quite a bit too.  This has, of course, disrupted her naptime.  Most days you'll find Kinley building with the DUPLOS/LEGOS, playing with the small figurines (especially Lalaloopsy), and with her Belle or baby dolls.

Brisco gets a house.

Brisco got a haircut for spring and is soaking up any attention he can get.

Relaxing at the condo.

We all travelled to Colorado with Grandpa J, Uncle Charles, Mary, and Kurtis for a ski trip in February.  It was a fun time, good break from the every day, and we got to see LOTS of snow. 

The girls loved the bunk beds at the condo.

As many of you have heard, we retired Grandma&Grandpa's sofa and purchased new furniture for our front/family room.  Aside from a snafu with the sofa (WRONG color!!), things are coming together nicely. 

Painting Easter eggs yesterday.

Happy Spring!

The family visits Santa at KWCH.

 

Hooray for SPRING from the Shooks 

S - Samuel  is currently doing better.  He is more alert, Less depressed.  Fewer (to none) voices.  Visits friends, Plays in his band. Occasionally talks to us:)

P - pictures of spring in the neighborhood.

R - Recital will be happening at church on April 26.  The three organists and the organ installer will be playing the new organ at church.  I'm not sure how it happened that I avoided recitals in my youth and have one now!:(

I - Interesting is what Erik's classes have been this semester.  He has an ecology, microbiology and an art class where he made a mold of his face.  Hopefully he will post a picture when it is his turn. 

N - Nami classes.  National alliance for Mental Illness.  Tim and I are taking a 12 week class for family members of someone with mental illness.  The class has been great.  We have learned about lots of the different mental illnesses, about the brain, and about the emotions we as family members go through, Next week is on medications.  One of the later ones will have two people come and talk that are successfully living their lives with their mental illness.  There is also a group that meets twice a month where you can go and hear people's stories and get ideas and hear how others have handled problems.  One week a month, a resident med student from KU comes and people can ask questions about medications.  There are several of us who started about the same time and we feel like we are good friends when we see each other now and we can speak without crying so feel like we have come a long way!  Hannah went with us last week since she was home visiting for spring break.

G is for Good, better. best which is what we wish for everyone's spring and Easter.