Starting off the school year

Well Olivia has made it through her first full week of this school year, or maybe WE have made it. Her first day of school, I woke with a horrible neck and headache that lasted all day and the next day, I woke up with severe vertigo and could not even walk, my head was spinning so bad. SPLENDID! Thank heavens for Bonine. Though she is only in the 8th grade,
she is now going to the high school. She spent the first few days getting lost in the building and sometimes
going to the wrong class(they use a 4 day rotating schedule that drops and picks up certain classes). She seems to like it, though the amount of homework has tripled and she is not pleased about that. She does both soccer and cheerleading in the fall season so she usually has a practice or game 6 days a week, making it hard to fit in all the homework. They won the 1st soccer game of the season today and Liv scored one of the goals. Then we drove to see our nephew's football game and they creamed their opponents. It's kinda fun, kinda hectic getting back into the whole grind of school. We have to leave the house a half hour earlier in the morning.
The last school she went to was not even a mile from our house. The highschool is 2.5 miles but the TRAFFIC is insane. The first day of school, it took us a half hour to get her to school and get home. CRAZY. Considering the towns around here are about 3 to 4 miles across but have populations
upwards of 10 thousand people each, you can imagine that's a lot of darn cars on the road. I am now driving a roundabout way to get to school but at least I avoid sitting in bumper to bumper traffic until the last block or so. Liv also got retainers this week to try to correct a few bite issues before she moves on to full braces. MAN I did not know how pricey braces were. I thought maybe I'd hop on that bandwagon and get my askew front tooth straightened a bit but 6 thousand dollars times 2, forget it. This guy is so busy, it's hard getting appointments with him. I told Olivia she should DEFINITELY become an orthodontist. KA-CHING.  I took the 5% off, pay all up front option and I think the dentist's wife is out buying coach pocketbooks and shoes today with Tim's hard earned money. So anyway, onto the fall. We live a pretty boring life so it's nice to get out and socialize at all these sports functions. Even Lacey has been loving it. I take
her to the new dog park where Liv's soccer games are, just down our street. She made some new dog friends. Today, she met Fred the beagle and I think Fred is "head over paws" in love with our little Lacey. He
was baying at her and finally Lacey broke down and talked to him. Everyone was laughing at this little beagle conversation. They stood there on point, looking at each other and he would bark, then she would answer. Very cute. After Liv's friend's soccer game was finished and I left to go help her with our chairs, Fred cried for Lacey and followed her all the way down the fence line. He layed down and watched her every move until we came back his way toward our car. He started barking at her
and followed her every move down the fence again. The whole time, Lacey was barely giving him a glance. Playing a little "hard to get", I guess. He was adorable. Same age as her but a bit smaller. I better watch him though. It appears he still has all his "original equipment" so no wonder he hasn't "lost that lovin' feeling."
Got a call from my older sis who is touring California with my parents, while at the dog park. She called from Tahoe. Color me jealous. Someday, I should force myself back on a plane and go there. Tim and Liv want to go and I wouldn't mind  a CA trip either if it weren't for the flying part. Oh well, time to make the donuts. Happy Fall!