Updates

Our "fall" schedule is in full swing now and everybody is pretty much used to being back in school and sports by now.

Jeremy and Adam have been practicing to exhaustion with their swim team each day. They have 3 1/2 hours of weight training, running, and then swimming! They had their first meet on Tuesday and both boys did a great job. I was teaching piano and missed it but wish I'd been there to see Adam come from behind in both of his races to win!!! Way to go, Adam!! And Jeremy won his races, as well! They are both in awesome shape. They've had practices for about a month now and it's great to see them make such quick progress. Aaaah, to be a teenager again! The swim team members voted Jeremy as their captain again. He thinks it's because nobody else wants the job, maybe he's right but it's still an honor. He's working on finishing up his Eagle requirements and we'll get to celebrate his court of honor with him in the near future. It's so fun to see your kids achieving goals and doing well. Adam's loving high school and making friends and we couldn't be happier for him.

Austin joined the band and is playing the baritone. If you've never seen that instrument before, it's huge. He lugs that things to/from school every day but he's having fun playing it! I tease him that he should have chosen a smaller instrument but I think he likes the big sound of the baritone. He's making some new friends and every day after school gets his homework, practicing, and chores done quickly so he can go hang out with them.

I'm teaching my fall schedule of piano lessons and having fun with the students. I'm trying out a different series of books and hope the kids like them. I know they're well written and if the kids apply themselves they'll learn a lot quickly.

Ken is plugging away at work. It's been so busy there, probably just like a lot of other places where the work force has diminished by a lot quickly and the people who are left get the extra work.

Ken's mom has moved in with us for a while until her home is built and we're having a fun time together. I can see where Ken gets his personality and willingness to do things for others. It will be a good day for her to get to move into her new home and she'll be just around the corner but we'll still miss her! We've been going to the gym to exercise so she's been a good influence on me, too, getting me out the door even on days when alone I might not have gone.

Josh is doing better each week in Hungary. He's had a tough time getting used to being in a foreign country and doesn't recognize the language as well as he thought he would but he's getting it. He misses everyone a lot!! Check his blog for updates and pictures!