updates

This past weekend, for the first time in a long time, life slowed down for a minute.  It was wonderful.  I went to the gym, finally got the haircut I'd rescheduled a thousand times, Steve ran, the girls hung around in jammies ... we needed it!  On top of that, it's Thanksgiving break.  The last four weeks have included 5th grade camp (for me), Halloween week, election week, and super moon week. To say we've needed a break is a huge understatement.

We're heading to MN tomorrow morning, but I've been itching to get some things down on the blog, so it's bullet points tonight...

• Both girls finished fall soccer a couple weekends ago.  They'll continue to play indoor this winter.  It's so fun to watch them improve and have a good time with their friends in the process.

•  Sara also finished her first volleyball season.  She improved drastically, and it was so exciting to watch it "click" for her.  After a very long morning of multiple back-to-back games, including a real nail-biter, Sara's team took 2nd place in the end-of-season tournament.

• I can't believe the holidays are upon us.  I love Thanksgiving; for me it's always like the calm before the stressful storm of December.  I haven't even thought twice about birthday or Christmas presents yet ... I am in a one-day-at-a-time mode this year, and I'm just being okay with that. 
• School is going so well.  It hasn't been without hiccups and a few significant issues, but I love going to my dream job everyday.  If you had told me in August I'd make it until Thanksgiving, I wouldn't have been so sure ... but here I am!  Sara is doing wonderfully in 2nd grade.  She has something exciting to tell me everyday, but my favorite was the other day when I picked her up and she said, "Mom, my teacher trusts me...".  Her story had to do with helping friends on the computers, but I just loved hearing the first part of that story.  How empowering!  Emma's year is going well, too, and she loves to practice writing her numbers and letters.  When the girls aren't fighting, they are really sweet together.
• We had a fun time at the skating rink with friends today, and then made a stop at Trader Joe's for chocolate Advent calendars (annual must-have).  I have so many other things to update on, but I can't think right now (speaking of aforementioned fighting) and everything I wanted to say has escaped me.  It's probably for the best because I have to go pack anyway!

Happy Thanksgiving, all!