Go, Go, Goers!

It was a good week! G is trying his very best to have green days at school, and Ava's doing an awesome job at completing her homework right after school each day - plus she has all A's in her classes right now, including math, which has always been a challenge for her. This school thing is tiring G out... I spent a full day/evening in downtown Minneapolis this past Wednesday, for the first Digital Product Summit for my company. We had fantastic speakers from Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and a variety of other large business in the local area. I learned a lot, met many new people at Patterson, and enjoyed the change of pace from being in the office. Can't wait for next year's event! Scott and I also celebrated our anniversary this week...fourteen years of marriage - wow! Just like any marriage, we've had both high and low points, but are grateful that we are together. Since our anniversary was on a Tuesday, we weren't able to get out for a nice dinne

After a long week of work and school, Scott and G headed up north to spend the weekend with Scott's best friend and his family. G was super excited to hang with the boys, have a bonfire, make s'mores, and do other outdoorsy things. Maybe he'll see a fox like this! At the same time, Ava and I were really looking forward to a girl's weekend at home! We went shopping for HOURS yesterday. It was so much fun browsing through shops with her, taking our time, with very little agenda to follow. This finally gave me a chance to take her to Punch Pizza, which I haven't been to in about 10 years. So good! We had lots of fun looking at holiday decor, and even managed to pick up her Halloween costume (hello, angel!) I think she actually liked these sparkly, fluffy high heels! After our shopping extravaganza came to an end, we came home, did a few things around the house, and then walked the 1.5 miles to Central Park in Rosemount. Last night was the 2nd

Week 2 of school is in the books, and it was...not horrible. It could have been better, but we made it. Survivors! Ava is struggling to get to two of her afternoon classes on time (they are on the opposite sides of the school from each other, so she has to make it there in under four minutes, each way.) I am hoping that we've resolved the issue by getting her a binder to put her notebooks/folders in for all of her afternoon classes, which then removes the need for her to stop at her locker. Other than that glitch, she's adapting well to middle school, and having fun with her friends. She also started up her Performance Baton courses again, so our Tuesday night are back to being hectic, but that's okay - it keeps her active! We're trying to figure out how to deal with her tween attitude at times. Don't get me wrong, it's minimal...an eye-roll here, a hands-thrown-up-in-the-air there. It could be much, much worse, but we need to figure out how to res

We survived the first week of school! Honestly, it was a great week for Ava, although I was a nervous wreck for her. I was so anxious about how she was going to do, how she'd adapt to her earlier morning schedule, how she'd find her classes in a much bigger building, how she'd make new friends, etc... And you know what? She did great! She was only late to a class once - it was on the first day and she had to book it to the other side of the school in four minutes. She hasn't made any new friends, but is having fun hanging out with her ones from last year. She's already ahead in her homework, and she's rocking her change in schedule in the morning. The house is really quiet after she leaves...G and I are the only ones left, and he's usually ready for school and snuggled in to watch a little TV while I shower and get ready for the day. It feels weird, but I'm happy my girl is adapting so well! AND, after 3+ years, she finally has another loose too

I think the last time I posted, I commented that I was having a hard time finding time to get my laundry done...and things are still a struggle. With the end of the summer coming up, and big education transitions taking place, it's been a challenge to find time to get most of our normal tasks done around here. So, what have we been up to? Ava and I attended a two different back-to-school events in the span of just a few days. BUT! Her locker is all set up, she's somewhat comfortable with how to access said locker, and she seems to have her upcoming schedule set and ready to go. I wanted to walk her schedule a few times so she was comfortable, but she told me she was okay, so...we'll see how the first week of middle school goes! All supplies are safely tucked away, waiting for her at school; she has a new Irish sweatshirt to show school pride; and she smiled nicely for her school pic (that was an adventure that took 50 minutes of waiting in line. Ugh.) She had a great