Almost fall break

 It is hard to believe that it is October!  The girls have (a short) fall break next week, and then Drew has (a VERY LONG) fall break the last week of October.

The school year has gone very well so far.  Lauren continues to excel at school, despite having cheer 3-4 times a week and working 2-3 days a week.  She is a very responsible driver, and since she is one of the first of her friends to drive, she is chauffeur.  (Which is the opposite experience from me as I was one of the last to drive; Ali will be the same!)  She still thinks she wants to go to college in NYC, so we need to get her to visit some other spots so that she has something to compare it to!  NYU set the bar pretty high.

Ali has adjusted well to high school, although I think the amount of work she has to do is more than she realized.   She is working hard at gymnastics to perfect her Level 6 skills and have the great season she missed out of last year due to her bad ankle sprain.  She is excited about when she can be a Saint X cheerleader as well.  She is be a star member of the team with her tumbling skills!

Drew is really enjoying middle school!  He has two classes with his best friend, and they have started a business where he made college football cards, laminated them and is cutting them out and selling them in packs of 4.  He had put everyone in the family to work with help cutting out the cards, even Nana!  I am impressed with how much he has learned on the trombone in the short amount of time he has been in school.  He has 5 or 6 songs in his repertoire, and I can recognize all of them.

I am enjoying a bit less of the taxi duty, although I do have to take Drew to school 1-2 times per week (always on Monday with his trombone that is too big for the bus and another day after he gets his allergy shot.) and pick him up three times per week (Monday/Wednesday for soccer and Friday with his trombone).  Lauren is able to either bring Ali home or take her to her activities after school pretty much every day, which is helpful!  I am loving my tennis, and try to play at least 3 times a week!  Everyone on my team is improving, it is fun to watch!

Brad continues to love his job, and all his co-workers.  Texas Roadhouse is doing REALLY well, and is the 4th most recognizable restaurant brand after McDonald's, Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A.

Nana and Papa have been our house guests for almost 2 weeks, and we have enjoyed having them here!  Archie especially since Papa has taken him on a three mile walk almost every morning!  As soon as Archie sees him in the morning, he knows what is coming and he gets SO excited!

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