October (all of it!)

Band: there were multiple parades, football games, and field show competitions, some we attended and some we did not. Charlotte and I rode the ferris wheel at one of the festivals where Zach performed. It was cold, but she loved it.

Gabe's birthday: he continues to evolve his gaming set up. We took him to dinner where Zach was in it for the steak, Gabe was in it for the bread, and Charlotte rode the horse outside the restaurant.

Our anniversary: we enjoyed the fall foliage and dinner out.

Charlotte built Lego robots at Girl Scouts and attended her school's trunk or treat and Halloween parade.

Zach went to dinner and the Homecoming dance with friends.

Gabe performed in a middle school band concert. We think the seventh and eighth graders sound practically as good as the high school band. We're excited to see if they get a chance to march this year.

Then Halloween trick-or-treating! The boys handed out candy while the rest of us walked around with our neighbor dinosaurs.

Many cat cuddles, and flu shots, covid boosters, and one kid with (probably) the flu!

September, second half

We've enjoyed the downtime of fewer band events the past two weeks but have still had enough to keep us busy. We did a couple of new things: a Boy Scout day trip to a botanical area we'd not been to (and the kids' first trip to Shoney's), and a Girl Scout meeting at a therapeutic horse farm.

September, first half

It is marching band season! We are adjusting to our new normal of having one child in each school, even more activities, and the two cats who are doted on profusely. There are one to two band events per week in addition to practices, Charlotte started ballet again and school choir, and all three are doing scouts. We hit the outdoor pool one last time. Zach bought a plant for his bedroom, because he needs one more thing to do (!), but it's making him very happy. He saw the allergist for peanut and tree nut testing. Yes, he is allergic to both, but more specific testing is required for peanuts. He may be able to go back to eating them eventually because he's had no symptoms. I don't know what prompted Charlotte to put Jasmine in the stroller, but she actually likes it. And Frank and I had a date night (sort of, if you count band festivals)...the other two kids stayed home and we enjoyed listening to the music of John Williams and everything the other bands played.