A New School Year...

School is well underway.  The kids are half way through with their third week of school.  Although the weather feels more like July, we are embracing our fall schedule.  The kids are all back into their full schedule of activities after school, and the nights of family dinners and summer cocktails on the porch with games of tag in the yard are long behind us.

Colin continues to thrive in middle school.  He is embracing the freedom and learning a bit about the consequences that freedom brings.  Middle school teachers aren't much for second chances when it comes to missing assignments, so we are quickly learning to remember our homework and get things turned in on time.  Outside of school, Colin is playing a little soccer and lacrosse.  He is also continuing with his guitar lessons, for now.  It turns out with everything there is do to, practicing a musical instrument is difficult to fit in.

Zachary is settling into 4th grade.  He is suffering the consequences of his parents learning the hard way what happens when we allow a bit of slacking in the remembering your homework and planner attitudes arrive.  He seems to be a quick learner though, and is now getting homework turned in on time and remembering to bring his planner home filled out.  Zach is playing lacrosse this fall.  Although he moved up to a new age group with more skilled players and a faster game, he scored 4 goals on Sunday.  He enjoyed the feeling of winning very much!  He also started piano lessons and feels very good about how quickly he is learning to play.

Molly still loves school.  Highlights have been getting to check out chapter books in media, being the fastest girl in the first grade, and popsicles daily to beat the heat.  She has also started piano lessons, which could not wait to begin because she has wanted to "take them forever!"  Her mother is once again her soccer coach.  Molly seems a natural at soccer, but has suffered some major hits to the face this fall (from the ball and overly aggressive girls).  She is beginning to think she might not like this sport so much.  After a very difficult first game, in which our team was crushed, Molly scored the only goal for our team.  Her streak of scoring the first goal of the season has been kept alive!

Life just continues to get more and more busy the older the kids get.  Balance is our new objective as we struggle to figure out how to do it all versus what to give up.  It all seems so important and yet there are just not enough hours in the day.  The theme of this years blog posts may just be about that struggle.  But, here is to Fall...A New Year...And New Adventures...Hoping for great things to come!