Happy Hour

We continue to have our family "happy hours" on Friday nights. They start whenever the girls get off work---which is usually 3:30 or 4:30. We've all come to really look forward to this time as a chance to catch up with each other from the previous week, discuss current events and local news, discuss our weekend plans and sort out any other family matters.

Knowing us, it follows a pretty strict format. Nobody can discuss anything until the whole family is here---well, except for Nicky who doesn't usually get here until 5:30. Before he gets here, we discuss stuff that would be of little interest to him.

Once we begin, each person brings up one topic for discussion. Once that topic has been exhausted, we move to the next person going clockwise. If the person that started has another topic, they have to wait until it's their turn again. This way, everyone has equal time. It keeps us focused. If we don't approach it this way, we end up having several topics going at the same time and never fully discuss anything. The conversation jumps all around.

Sometimes we have some pretty stupid discussions that go on for way too long---like tonight, Mindy asked something about the population of greater Nashville compared to St. Louis. OMG! Butch actually new numbers and statistics. I didn't quite believe it, so Steph checked the internet via her phone. For crying out loud---how in the world does he know that there are 94 municipalities in St. Louis? I finally put a halt to this topic.

When it was my turn, I didn't have a single thing personally to report since I haven't been out of the house since a week ago Thursday. But, I did talk to Sandy, so I got to give a Lapps Family update.

The Lapps have moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. It's been a crazy, busy summer for them. All 3 kids are in Catholic schools, but they are all different. Mitchell is in the 10th grade. His first couple of days have gone pretty well and he's made a couple of friends. He's not used to such a big school---1000 students. He said that the school he came from---if you were new, everyone knew it. Here, you have to tell people that you are new.

Victoria is in middle school and so far, so good. 6th grade can be tough. But, luckily for her, everyone is new at this school. She has met a couple of girls and it seems to be going pretty good.

Elizabeth has a problem of a different sort. She's in the 2nd grade and has always been outgoing and popular, so we felt like she'd adjust pretty quickly. She says that everyone is pulling on her, "sit here Elizabeth", "sit with me Elizabeth." She told Sandy that she didn't know what to do. Oh, to have such problems!

Greg loves the new job. He's still trying to negotiate the traffic. Sandy, too, is trying to figure out her best route. Their house in Kalamazoo sold right away and they've found a house in Charlotte. They are planning a door to door move around the first of October. Meanwhile, they are in a furnished apartment. Sandy said it is really close quarters for 5---not to mention one couch. I think she needs to institute the universal rule: "calling place back!"

We discussed Mindy's "cush" job---basically she works 3 1/2 days a week. She's says that's about to change as she moves to a new practice next week in Rome, GA. She'll be there until the end of the year. It's only a 3 hour drive from Nashville and she comes home on Thursday night.

She's made another necklace that's pretty cute. She's going to New Orleans for Labor Day weekend. She has to get down there about every 4 months or so. She'll be there for Gay Mardi Gras and staying with her friend, Rachel who lives on top of Emiril's. They still have friends there too.

Steph told us about her new Bunco club in her neighborhood. She said it was pretty fun and it looks like there will be some interesting people. Turns out, Morgan has babysat for several of them. She met another gal who needs a ride for her daughter to SCA, so another source of income for Morgan. Both Jordan and Morgan are settling in to their school year.

Blah, blah, blah.  I realize that this post sounds more like a boring report. There's just nothing all that interesting going on with me right now. I did get a layout done this morning. Considering I should be off scrapbooking for the whole weekend, I'm glad I got to play in my room. It took me quite awhile to get started. I couldn't seem to focus. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll be more productive. I'll share soon.