Happy Labor Day weekend! I spent the day at work(double pay). Tom and Scott spent the day at home-Scott finishing up a paper and taking practice online exams for his drivers permit. Tom is working on a few projects around the house. Lately he had to take my van in since the wheel sensor keeps going off. They think it is a bad battery. Tom has also had to change out our garage door opener-the motor on the old one was wearing out. And he also changed out the wheels on the garage door. We haven't been doing as much yard work lately though since it has been so dry and hot. Although it is time to start putting in the fall flowers. And our garden is winding down with not quite as many veggies as we had last year. The deer and bunnies ate most everything.

Renaissance Festival

 Archery

 Jousting matches

School is back in full swing. Scott just finished his second full week of classes. I have to order him a tuxedo for choir, and looks like he will be traveling to Chicago in the spring for a singing competition and some sightseeing.
He also hosted his very first Video Club meeting. He was very pleased with the turnout of about 20 guys. He headed out to school the morning of the big event pulling a wagon behind him full of Mountain Dew, Doritos and an xbox.  Everything you need to run a successful Video Club. He also had to hang posters and make an announcement in the morning. Fortunately his friend Tori helped him out(short for Victoria). At least he could take it easy at his last boy scout meeting. He spent most of the meeting writing a class paper about scouting on his cell phone.

Allison managed to make it through her first full week of classes as a Junior in the School of Business. She had some last minute books and online articles to purchase, but she was pretty well prepared to start a new year of classes. She and her roommates spent some time down at Ocean City before school began. This weekend she came home and spent time with us. She drove home Friday night and worked on some homework and her resume. The professors are already lecturing the kids on the importance of obtaining a working internship next summer. Fortunately Tom looked into internships at Northrop and Allison plans on applying for a management internship next summer(although she will really miss being a girl scout counselor).

We also enjoyed having Grandma B over for dinner on Friday night. I took her to the salon to get a perm and I needed a haircut. Both Tom and Scott got their hair cut this weekend too. We are all getting spiffy for an upcoming wedding that Tom and I and my mom will be attending in a few weeks in Michigan. My cousin is getting married at my Uncle's house in Northville, Mich. So we will be driving up for the wedding and to visit with friends and family. Even my brother Dave and his wife Sandra will be heading up to Michigan from Texas for the wedding. It will be a lot of fun to see everyone again(although I am not sure who all will be coming!) I was also looking through mom's wardrobe to see what she can wear for an outdoor wedding, including shoes. Plus I spent my Friday afternoon completing some business issues with mom and dad's broker at Merrill Lynch. There are still a few loose ends to take care of with their finances. And it looks like we just finished up their taxes from last year after I finally caught up with their accountant.  Never a dull moment. Still keeping a close eye on my dad and his health. He really needs total care at this time.

Since we decided not to go away for the Labor Day weekend, we took the kids to the Renaissance Festival. That is one of Allison's favorite events. She loves to dress up and shoot some archery. We all love the food and the silly plays and shows they put on. And the shops are always fascinating. We invited our neighbors to join us this year as they have never gone before. They were amazed at all the elaborate costumes people wear and how serious they take participating in the medieval times. People really get into character. And not just the staff. After watching the last jousting match of the evening, it was time to head home and catch a movie and some dinner.

Allison packed up on Sunday morning to head back to school. I put together a survival kit full of snacks. She has been enjoying her time on her own, getting used to cooking for herself as well as having her very own room in her very own townhouse. Not like the dorm rooms. Although she did sign up for a modified meal plan so she can eat lunch while she is on campus. And lunchtime gives her time to catch up with her friend Tyler. Now she is looking forward to her upcoming sport events, especially Field Hockey. We spent the rest of our Sunday cleaning and cooking to have the neighbors over for a Labor Day weekend cookout. Finally we were able to enjoy dinner out on the patio. The weather was not too hot, humid or cold. And not too many mosquitoes. We also invited our friend John Dutton over(our California friend). And even Ripley the puppy came for dinner. We are still keeping it calm with Cookie so her leg can heal, so no long walks(or rough housing with Ripley).

So I have not been taking as long walks as I like with Cookie. I was glad to have my swim aerobics class start up again on Friday mornings at the Y.