First, my apologies to those (very few) of you who keep coming to check this blog to find nothing new! Our summer was great - lots of sun (really! didn't feel like Seattle at all!), plenty of unstructured time, and a trip to visit my family in California. But it was also busy with 4 baseball tournaments, 3 soccer tournaments, practices, piano lessons, and just general responsibilities that don't go away just because the sun is shining!
That said, I am thrilled that September is here. I just don't DO well with all that free time! I love the schedules that come with the school year. (I even mopped my floor this week?!) It is definitely feeling like fall outside, too!

Here are my kids in their first-day finery, on Wednesday, September 2. Tristan is in 6th grade, which is middle school! Wow! Three days into school and he's had homework in math, language arts, and social studies. He's already used his flash drive and graph paper! (The school supplies get more expensive as they get older, huh?) Karina is in 3rd grade. In addition to cursive, they learn keyboarding (typing) in 3rd grade. (She already knows how to use PowerPoint better than I do.) And they get to learn about salmon in 3rd grade. Big field trip to the hatchery coming up. :) Washington is so weird and cool at the same time.
I will continue to substitute as an instructional assistant this year. I really enjoy working closely with kids who need a little extra help in school. It's also fun to have a job where you get all the same days off as your kids! Next summer, we're planning on fewer ball games and more fun - maybe a camping trip, hopefully a trip to see family, and definitely lots of free time.