What We've Been Up To Lately

So, I haven't really talked about what we've generally been up to since summer break. I've blogged about Bri's birthday, her birthday party, the Queen concert and Autumn Moon Festival, but not really about the "day to day" stuff.

I guess I'll start with a quick school update...

Briana is doing awesome so far in 8th grade. This is the best group of teachers she's had in middle school. They are really all fantastic. I'm kind a stickler for great communication and they all seem to have a good handle on that. I am in denial that 9th grade/high school is around the corner, and I am trying to remain in my ignorant happy bubble for a few more months.

Bri has gone to a couple of Junior Beta Club meetings already this year. She is back to visiting the adorable dogs at the local doggie shelter for volunteer hours...

Running club has not started back up yet. I really wish it would soon. It might be because it has been so stinking HOT here in Georgia the entire month of September...

 Hotter than August - no kidding. I think it's going the hottest September on record in GA. It has been in the high 90's every day. We had like a two or three day reprieve where temps were in the 80's with no humidity and it was heaven. But then the heat and humidity slapped us back in the face again. Oh well...

On a lighter note, I did a little mama bragging on FB recently about Miss B. Here is what I wrote...

She's a really great kid. She drives me nuts sometimes, but honestly, she's a good kid. And come to find out, she's been getting points every day for helping this student out. She's pretty happy about that.

And Briana's last year's milestones results (standardized testing) came back a couple of weeks ago, and she rocked her english and math exams - subjects she gets flustered in sometimes. So dang proud of her...

Level 4 is the highest level you can get. Pretty cool huh?

School yearbook pictures were taken last week, but I am going to post Bri's when I get the final copy (the proofs were not cropped properly, edited, etc). I wish she would smile bigger for school photos, but I take what I can get!

Briana is still really enjoying her guitar lessons. Doug was so inspired by Bri playing guitar now, he went and bought an electric guitar for himself so he can play along with Bri. Bri had to check it out before we bought it...

A few weeks ago, we went to the Pioneer Days Festival with one of our favorite families (we went together last year too). It was Year 10 for us! It always lands on Labor Day weekend, so it's a nice (hypothetical) farewell to summer (because it stays hot in GA until October!)...

The beginning of autumn means that Halloween is around the corner! We LOVE Halloween! We have visited two Spirit Halloween stores already this year...

Briana informed me that she doesn't want to trick-or-treat this year (ugh - knife plunge to my heart). But, we are being invited to a Halloween party this year, so Bri was able to get a costume for that. Mum's the word on what she's going to be until closer to Halloween!!

Several weeks ago, we found out that one of our very favorite restaurants was closing down for good. We ate there quite a bit over the years, and we were so sad about it. Rumor is that rent rates went up really high in the shopping complex. We went one more time a week before it closed...

Miss Mei Mei is still as spoiled as she can be. She is still super clingy attached and wants love all the time. She doesn't like when any one of us leaves the house - she whines even when there is still someone in the house with her. She cries, looks out the front window and grabs her angry bird "babies" for comfort...

Mei had some issues with throwing up food a few weeks ago, so I took her to the vet. The doctor thought she might be dealing with some acid reflux (and she is already on special gastrointestinal food). Lovely. I had to give her a pill once a day for her tummy. She seems to be doing better now.

Doug is loving his new job - though he is super busy. Start up companies are no joke. But he is so much happier now than he was at his former company. So, it's all good.

So, what about me? I'm doing ok. Still dealing with some anxiety unfortunately - but I know it's never going to go away completely. I'm doing my "mom thing" and still doing it pretty well (though I do fall down sometimes). I'm feeling a little stagnant in my life right now, and I'm looking to find something new to spark my interest and keep me busy. Let's say I'm a work in progress.

Bri is currently on fall break this week and we are "staycationing"...

Bri is actually loving just chilling at home. As much as I dislike Bri having to go back to school August 1st, when fall break comes around, I end up being really happy that she has this break time to get rejuvenated.

I'll blog about our fall break in the not so distant future.

Thanks for reading!