The Senate Simulation

Ally is taking Honors US History this year in 11th grade and part of the curriculum is learning about the US Government so they do a project called the Senate Simulation. All 11th graders and most of the 12th graders participate in this project. Each student is randomly assigned a Senator. They have to research their Senator, give a presentation in class about the Senator and draft a bill that the Senator might actually submit to the senate. A committee decides what students will present their bills to the Senate on the day of the simulation. 

During the event students are encouraged to dress like a Senator (but not required bc the school does not want people to just buy clothes for this event) but no hoodies, or crocs etc there was a basic dress code. 

During the event the Senators have the opportunity to comment on bills and each bill is voted on. Some are a group vote others a roll call vote. 

The whole event was live streamed so parents and family could watch from home. I shared the link with Debbie and Dave and I watched the last 45 minutes from work while doing some things at my desk. It was pretty neat to see.

Ally commented on several bills. And we got to see her present her bill I texted our group chat and everyone logged on, even Becky from her classroom. It was voted on and passed!

I was pretty impressed with the preparation work of most of the students. Ally was Senator Bob Casey Democrat from Pennsylvania. And when she commented on a bill about funding for gun control research, she talked about how she had 4 kids and as a parent she felt all children should be able to go to school safely and that gun violence is the #1 cause of death in children in America. 

I did a lot of work to help her “look the part” mostly because I love to shop and because in the next year Ally is going to be interviewing for colleges and jobs and will need some nicer clothes for those. My best find was a royal blue suit. My failure was shoes. We tried over 10 pairs of dress shoes for Ally and none fit. We’ve agreed we need to keep looking for shoes before the next event. But she happily wore her blue Jordan’s which really went with the democrat blue theme. She said got a lot of compliments on her outfit. 

She wore her hair slicked back in a ponytail, and even wore pearls around her neck. 

Such a positive school event. She said she felt she did well. After school she had to get some cavities filled and then crashed in a nap with her cats and ended the day with breakfast for dinner in bed. 

Ally is last in line to comment on a bill.

Presenting her bill on healthcare.

Writing her remarks to speak about another bill. They did not know what other bills would be presented so after they heard it they had the opportunity to comment. But they had to comment as if they were the Senator. 

These cats are the very best. 

October 1-23, 2023

Volleyball club tryouts, some hard school stuff, cold for all 3 of us, Cloey had an accident, movie night with Beth.

Before school picture. Note the early fall foliage.

Ally loves coming home to her cats.





We watched The Meg2 one night.



Ally finished a drawing for her Art Class. 

Homework with the cats.

We are trying something new this year. On Thursdays Ally brings her lunch to school and eats lunch at the Wellness Center in a treatment room with an Eating Coach that we hired to help Ally overcome her eating disorder.



Tryouts week 1

Weekend homework 

I decorated the house for Halloween with decorations from Ally’s childhood.





Saying goodbye to the cats in the morning before school is the hardest part of the day.

Wearing her new varsity team swag.

Our family photographer does senior portraits at Ally’s school. She was nice enough to take this one of Ally.

Lots of compost. 

Driving home from tryouts week 2. She find out later this week what her team placement will be.

Beth came over for dinner and the annual Hocus Pocus movie night. Becky made a witches brew cocktail for them

Beth brought her photo props from last year. I even watched the movie for the first time.

Cloey ripped out one of her nails. She was in her crate at the time and got her mail stuck in her collar. She squealed so loud and pitifully it was awful. Becky went running and called for help because there was a lot of blood. Becky took Cloey to the Emergency Vet and we watched the movie at home. Cloey is ok. On some painkillers and has to wear a cone for a few days.

I got them matching Tshirts this year!



Sunday evening homework.

Monday morning Ally has some spoiled milk with her cereal and it made her so sick she could not go to school. Cloey was happy to have a buddy to snuggle with on the couch.

September 2023

September was a really long month. Becky healing from her accident. Our collective grief about my dad, the start of school, really long volleyball games for Ally, busy work time for me. But we made it through. 

The black eye progression went from bad to worse before getting better. 



Maggie likes to be touching someone.

Don’t worry, Daisy is not far away.

See her perched on the arm of the couch?

Becky mastered coverup for her black eye and start of school.

Ally started off the school year staying ahead on homework.

There’s always time for Daisy.





Volleyball games! It’s been a rough season. Games are going 5 sets and they are only about 500 for the season. 

Happy to be going home.

Volleyball really emphasizes height differences. 

Monthly subscription boxes always brighten up a long day.

Finally cool enough for sweatpants.

Hilarious view of Cloey and Becky’s feet.

We started a new box this month. 

How work with cats. Always.



Sporting a purple hoodie!

Sleeping in the car on the way home from school.

Daisy!

Sunset on my drive to pick up Ally.


Last picture of the month.