After our Beach trip with the 'girls' back in May, summer was relatively slow for once.
We started out with a lot of swimming and bowling.
David, my mom and I even bowled on a short summer league. Darrell and Leila would bowl their own games while we bowled our league games.
Leila started ballet in June - which she absolutely LOVES. She's still in gymnastics, but I sort of think that if she had to chose one or the other - she just may pick ballet.
Darrell went back to 'Camp Electric' (a contemporary Christian music camp) in July. This was his 3rd year. He still likes it and wants to go again next year, so they must be doing something right there.
August, of course, brought the fair.
Then the boys took a trip with my mom and their cousin to Branson, MO. They all seemed to enjoy it and had a great time. But the general consensus was that TN has everything Branson does, and is only 1/2 the distance away.
When they came back, we took a short weekend trip to TN to see my brother and sister-in-law. That's always a nice time. Went to Gatlinburg - spent way too money - the usual.
Leila & Uncle Darres
A high point at the end of the summer - ziplining! My uncle has a zipline at his house. Austin, Darrell and I went. It was fantastic.
Me!Now, Septemer is here - Labor Day has past - the pool is closed - and the new school year has begun.
Darrell is a sophomore.
He's a good student. He's taking all honors classes. He even has one AP class - as a 10th grader. I think that's pretty good.
He'll be okay. He has good study habits. He does his homework (which he has every night) as soon as he gets home - even on a Friday. Pretty unusual for a teenager, huh?
He's running cross-country again this year. He had his 1st meet this week. He's not the best runner, but he's consistent and solid - so that's okay.
1st Day of 10th GradeLeila went back to preschool. She's at the same school, in the same classroom and has the same teachers that she did last year. The only difference - new classmates. (All the ones from last year moved on to kindergarten.)
She's fine. She loves it. She has missed it over the summer. On the first day, there were a few kids that were teary and unsure. Not Leila - she was ready to go!
1st Day of PreSchool
Austin - turned 19 in June and well, he decided not to go back to school this year. He decided school isn't for him at this point - which is fine, it isn't for everyone.
His senior year in high school, he worked as a gymnastics coach at a gym here. While at school, he worked as a coach at a gym in Fairmont. He really, really loves coaching, but it's hard to make it on your own financially as a coach. This was something he came to realize after trying to pay rent and insurance and living expenses for a few months on his own this summer. He came to the conclusion that he needs a 'career' rather than a 'job'.
He considered the military - and I still don't think that's totally out of the question.
He would like to go into the State Trooper program, but you have to be 21 - and he's only 19.
At this point, he's decided the best thing for him is to get a job on the river - good pay, solid career, and upward mobility. He took the Maritime Deckhand Course in August, and has been applying for jobs since. Hopefully something will come up SOON.
It's been nice having him home, the last month or so - he can be very helpful. He helps out, he runs errands, he keeps Leila, he'll do pretty much anything we ask.
He's a bit expensive though - and he eats a lot. He's been doing a few odd jobs here and there for gas money, but the money he had saved from when he was working is almost gone. We told him that he needs to find something part-time to hold him until a job on the river opens up.
So now, he's looking and applying for both part-time 'jobs' and full-time 'careers'.
