Really? 87 days until Christmas?

This weekend's project was mulching part of our backyard where the trees grow and the grass doesn't. It's pretty much been a mud pit since our first winter here. It was quite a big job, and we ran out of mulch, but it already looks much better.

This weekend Amy started soccer. She is really excited and will be on a team with her friend Tess. She practiced Saturday and on Sunday wore her uniform, shin guards included, to church! She is a very busy girl.

Three weeks into school, the kids are genuinely enjoying their new school. Aidan was asked the other day how he likes school this year and he said he loves it! Who knew? The begin their clubs this week, with Aidan in Robotics and Science, and Amy in drama. They both got their progress reports for the first 3 weeks: Amy has a 100 avg. and Aidan has a 97. He loves having 8 different subjects and teachers and has shown a lot of maturity and growth since school started. Amy, too, is thriving at school and loves to try to get her homework packet she gets on Fridays finished by Monday morning (they are due by the following Friday).

I have been elected to the PTO board at their school. Our entire board is made of new members who are also parents new to the school, so we are learning as we go. We have a great team and I hope we can be an effective one, too.

A few weeks ago, a friend/colleague invited us to Fiesta Texas with her family. The kids and grown-ups all get along really well, so we get together when we can. The kids had a blast. Amy rode anything she could get on, even making me ride the Ferris wheel with her (barf). But I got off easy- Will rode the spinning tea cup ride! HA! After several hours of rides and walking, we crashed at the wave pool. It was a great day and we all had a lot of fun!

Tatum, Tess' little sister.

Tess and Amy on the Ferris wheel.

Over Labor Day weekend, we travelled up to see the parental units and took the camper up for inspection by Pop, the fixer. The kids wanted to try to sleep in it, but it rained the first night and kept them awake, so they ended up in the house with us. The second night we were all too tired to try it again! We had lunch with friends on Saturday, then went to the Schallas for lunch on Monday. While we were there, Aidan, Pop, Will, Nick, Amy, me and Dave pitched in to help build the floor of the tree house. Aidan was beyond thrilled, and he did a good job nailing the plywood to the 2x4s underneath.

Amy had a good time playing with her cousin, Michelle, who wanted to follow Amy anywhere and do anything Amy was doing. They were cute together! Michelle is starting to talk- she was so cute to watch and listen to!

Beautiful girl!

At gymnastics Tuesday, Amy was the only gymnast who showed up for class, so she got a one hour private lesson, and he worked her tail off! The other benefit was that she got to focus on some higher level skills than usual. Here are a few clips...

Now it's off to the Presidential address...