We still have one kid who is into Halloween and we’ll take it! Lauren leans more gory and frightening and did not disappoint this year. She went trick-or-treating around our neighborhood with her friends Noa and Maddie (who also leans toward gore). As usual, our street didn’t get my kids, but there are a few other blocks that are busy, so that’s where they headed.
At the end of October, my family came up for the weekend to celebrate the engagement of Hayley and Tim and to see all the Savage cousins who were in town. My grandfather’s youngest sister, Carmela Savage, had five kids who were all in town. My mom and the rest of the Rainer clan were invited to Steve Savage’s house for a cousin reunion. I’ve met everyone at some point, it’s been a while. It was fun to catch up.
The next day Hayley and Tim hosted an engagement party at a cute farmhouse they’re renting in Chester County. It was a beautiful day and the house was a perfect setting. No date set for the wedding yet.
At age 11, Lauren has finally decided that she wants to get her ears pierced. Up until now, she hasn’t wanted to and just a few weeks ago started talking about it. I waited a few weeks just to make sure that she was serious and she was, so we headed to the mall and did the deed. She was brave and it was quick. And I think she already owns more earrings than I do!
It’s been a lovely fall. It hasn’t rained here in about 6 weeks, which has been terrible for the grass and plants, but with low humidity and the perfect temperature, it’s been amazing to just be outside.
Dave and I competed in the Waterman’s Olympic Distance triathlon in Rock Hall at the end of September. I was still in great condition from training for Nationals and ended up taking 2nd overall in the Masters Category (anyone 45+). I was a little offended to be considered a Master, but what can you do? It was my fasted Olympic Distance so this Master killed it.
Lauren ran on the cross country team again this year and did really well. She ended up in the Top 5 of her team of about 30 5-8th graders. She really enjoys it and is also very much looking forward to joining the track team when she’s in 7th grade (track is only 7th and 8th).
And Sophia had a cool experience with the Philadelphia Girls Choir. She was one of just a few singers invited to sing with The Philadelphia Orchestra in their performance of G. Mahler Symphony No. 3. They performed twice at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and once at Carnegie Hall in NY! The most exciting part of the NY performance for her was running into Alec Baldwin in the hallway, who then took her phone to take a group selfie (“he touched my phone!!”).
