The school/church/Scouting year has started up again, and we're all staying very busy between school, work, meetings, field trips and all the minutia of family life.

Rose, Audrey and Ben are all at a new private school.  Peggy and Ed spent a lot of time struggling with the decision, but now that everyone is settled in at school, we’re feeling good about it.  They’re at New Hope Academy which is not quite affiliated with the Unification Church.  (Yes, you’ve heard them called “Moonies.”)  The founding parents were all members of the Unification Church, but there are several dozen religions (and ethnic groups) represented there.  They do a wonderful job of honoring spiritual life without enforcing one set of doctrines.

Rose is in ninth grade this year.  Her favorite course is probably Korean, which has inspired her to consider majoring in Asian languages in college.  She still dabbles a little in Japanese to keep up what she learned last year.  Rose is also taking dance as an elective and really enjoying that too.  She’s doing well in all her classes and also working on earning her Girl Scout Silver Award this year.

Audrey is in fifth grade.  She’s doing well in school, holding her own in a very competitive class.  She’s also enrolled in an after school drama program.  Her teacher Miss Miller is from California, and very energetic.  At back to school night, Miss Miller finished her parent talk in 15 minutes.  The program had allotted 45.  She prods, badgers, cheers and pushes her students to do the best they can.

Ben is in kindergarten.  His teacher Miss Karen is awesome.  She loves children in all their messy, noisy splendor.  Without ever crushing them, she teaches, disciplines, encourages and draws out their very best.  It’s been a real joy to watch Ben blossom already this year both academically and in other ways.

It’s also shaping up to be an active Scouting year for the whole family.  Peggy is leading Rose’s Cadette/Senior Girl Scout troop with lots of parent help.  Peggy’s co-leader for several years needed a break this year.  Fortunately, the girls are old enough to help out a lot.

Audrey decided to join the Girl Scout troop that meets at school instead of in the town we live in.  She’s already been tent camping and loved it.  Since it’s a multi-level troop with girls of all ages, Rose is earning her Silver Award leading the Brownie troop (first through third grade) and Peggy is helping out at meetings as needed.

Ben and Ed are very excited about Ben’s first year as a Boy Scout.  He’s a Tiger Cub Scout this year, and Ed is helping at all the meetings and having a blast.  They've shot bows and BB guns, hammered together toy boats, and done all sorts of other manly things.

Rose turned 16 this month.  As part of her goth princess phase, she wanted skulls on her cake.  It turned out pretty well, all things considered.

Ed had a birthday too, but he's not admitting how old he is.  He is owning up to losing SIXTY pounds this year.