September

 Can't believe we are now in October and the first 7 weeks of school are in the rear view mirror. Girls are going great. Emily is really liking 3rd grade and Ellie is doing great so far in middle school.

Jeff and Jody and Co. came up back in August - right after school started. After a nice dinner at the club we left the kids at home to put themselves to sleep and the adults went to the Pageant of the Masters. 

End of summer neighborhood pool party. 

Ellie got her braces off about a month ago and is looking more grown up every day. Not to mention she never stops eating and moving...

Over Labor Day the girls went down and spent some time in SD with Jeff and Jody and Co. 

While they were in SD I took my first international trip since COVID struck. Spent a week in SEA, several days in Maylasia and then on to Thailand. The highlight was probably touring the grounds of the grand palace in Thailand. 

 

The other week Ellie went to Disney with her entire softball team. They left the house at 7am and didn't back until ~10:30 pm. They had a blast and the best part there were no parents!! 

And finally last Saturday Darcy took the girls to the theatre to see a local ballet production. 

Hawaii

 

WAAAAAAY back in mid-July we took a week long trip to Hawaii (I finally have a few mins. to get the pictures posted). Awesome trip and we had a great time celebrating Bob and Jamies belated 50th wedding anniversary which had been postponed because of Covid. We also had to rearrange things at the last minute because Ellie softball team was playin in Western Nationals the week we were supposed to be in HI. Thankfully we were able to go a week earlier and still get to spend time with Bob and Jamie and the Leshners. Fantastic vacation. 

Back to School!

 

And just like that our summer comes to a close and the girls went back to school today! Both were very excited to go back. 

Ellie started 6th grade and was ready to tackle a new school, Aliso Viejo Middle School (the Falcons) and the responsibility associated with changing classes and getting a book locker. Didn't seem all that nervous and was very confident about the whole thing. 

Emily was equally dialed-in to start and kick ass in 3rd grade. She seemed excited for her teacher assignment and has a few friends in her class. 

To add to the excitement the middle school and the elementary school start and end at different times........ so we are adjusting to that. 

All that being said I am happy to report that both girls had a great 1st day of school! 

We have a bit of a tradition of taking the girls out to a "fancy" restaurant to reflect on our summer and think about what we want to accomplish for the upcoming school year. This year we went to Trevors on the Tracks in San Juan Capo. 

One day down,,,,,,another ~160 to go.....gulp!