Endings and Beginnings

It's Friday and the 2nd day of school for the students.

It's been a bit rough of a week.....mainly because of this back pain I'm still dealing with.  But even so, I can find at least 5 faves and hope you can too, no matter what kind of a week you've had!

Join in with us over at Susanne's...directions for linking up can be found there!

MY FAVES

• HOMETOWN VISIT!  Dave, Claire and I visited my mom and dad on Sunday.  They live about 1 1/2 hours west of us, in the Mohawk Valley. I was raised in Herkimer which is just across the river from where they live now.  It's a small town but charming.  Claire had fun looking at old photos and my husband "interviewed" my parents about their early years and life in the 1940's/1950's for some research he is doing.  We enjoyed some lunch with them and then chatted the rest of the afternoon. Since they are elderly, they get tired quickly so didn't want to go out to dinner with us. We enjoyed  some dinner out and then drove home in a beautiful full (blue!) moon!

• PUBLISHED!!  My husband is now a published author!! It is an online short story. His genre is science fiction. The story can be found at Amazon for Kindle, itunes, or Smashwords.com for every e-reader out there!   Look in "A High Shrill Thump: War Stories." That is the anthology.  HIS short story is called The Home Front.  It's very good and I'm not just saying that because I'm married to him. I typically do NOT like science fiction.  Check it out! It's only $2.99 to download.

Claire roasting marshmallows Labor Day evening 2012

• LABOR DAY BONFIRE!  Well, Monday evening found my husband going out to the movies with some of the youth group boys so Claire and I decided to light a fire in the pit for one more evening before the new year.  We successfully started a fire (Dave is usually the one to do this chore!) and Claire was so happy that we kept it going into dark.  Around 9 pm we decided to put it out...my back was getting sore from sitting on the camp-style chairs and Claire was tired of the smoke blowing in her face...it was windy that night!  But it was so much fun just sitting and chatting. And she LOVES marshmallows!  I had had one with the neighbors the previous week so decided to stick to my diet and just have a mug of Mocha Nut coffee.  Sitting in the darkening evening, by a fire, is always a fave.

• ICE PACKS!  My back has needed ice this week.  The chiropractor had told me to stop with the heat, back when I had my first appointment with him, and to ice the back instead. Those ice packs have been life savers after work this week!

Claire, age 13, 8th grader!

• 8th GRADE!  Our "baby"....our 2nd (and youngest!) daughter started 8th grade on Thursday.  It is so hard to believe that after this year we won't be trekking to the junior high any longer!  She is so excited about her classes ( this first quarter she is taking Technology, Russian 1 Regents, Math 9 Regents, Advanced English 8, Science 8, Social Studies 8, Health, Chorus, Orchestra...and of course Phys. Ed).  She is also staying in Select Chorus, Russian Club, Drama Club and wants to audition for another performance group, Scherzo (a select group of strings players).  On top of those after-school clubs, she has 2 ballet classes per week for 2 hours per class and is on the student leadership team for the junior high youth group at our church. She is gonna be busy!! But...she loves it and knowing her, yet another over-achiever in the family, she will be on the honor roll! at least that's her hope again!  We are very proud of her!

That wraps it up for me. I'm tired.....am writing this on Thursday evening and still have a load of laundry to fold.  And so the new year begins.........

have a great weekend!!