First Day of School 2016

The kids have been back for almost a month now and we have a good routine going for us. I worked on the first day of school, so I wasn't home to get the photos. Peter didn't pay much attention to the fact that they are all blurry! Oh, well.

Jeremiah is at a local charter school this year. He's taking a bus to and from since it isn't quite so local that he can ride his bike. So far, we are reeeeeeeally impressed with the staff and the philosophy of learning. We still cannot believe we have a high school student in the house.

Alayna started 6th GRADE(!) this year. She got the teacher she wanted and is thrilled. I love that she is coming in to her own unique groove as a person. She's definitely in that tween phase and, so far, it's not too bad. 

(Yep, she's taller than her teacher. And she's barely 5 feet tall!)

Vestiges of Summer

Well, summer ended what, a month ago? I've been a little busy to update. Summer went by quickly. We had to adapt quite a bit due to Jeremiah's mobility issues, but we made due and still had a great summer. The kids had their weeks with their paternal grandparents and their weekends with their maternal grandparents. Sleepovers and "play dates". Movie nights. Sunsets at the beach. And, a lot of "real world learning", I called it. They are on their own quite a bit these days, so I've been teaching them new recipes to cook when they have to make dinner and adding some new chores to their routine. They are handling this new freedom in stride, much like all the other changes they've had to deal with in their lives. If we've done anything right in this parenting gig of ours, it's raising kids who are readily adaptable and can go with the flow when necessary.

Here are some photos from what was left of our summer.

Homemade fruit leather

Wine tasting for daaaays

15th Anniversary!

We joined a wine club for our anniversary. 

Santa Barbara Zoo with friends

Youth Camp for Alayna

Look, Mom! I got a job!

Love my snazzy hat.

 Visit with the 'rents

Co-workers! (On different units)

Ezra's Eternity Day -- Ashes in front of my hospital, since he is the one who inspired me to be a nurse.

First DLR trip of the "season"

Now, we embrace Fall -- the leaves changing, the soup weather, wearing sweaters and early sunsets. And, I will be making the transition from day shift to night shift come October. Let's do this!