Where to begin???? I will start off with the kids! Shane is adjusting really well to school despite the early schedule. We wake up at 6:15 and have to be ready and out the door no later than 7:40. Being late is NOT an option, they make that very clear in all the letters sent home, you are late too many times and you get jail time, that's right JAIL time. Obviously that is pretty extensive but even if you are 1 minute late your child has to go into the office and sign into their computer in there than go to class. Shane was late most of last year and nothing happened LOL, he just ran into class a little late no problem, so this has been a huge adjustment. He loves being in school all day long even though it really tires him out. He is blowing me away with how much he is reading but here it is not nearly good enough. We had Shane's meeting for getting him assessed for speech therapy (he has been doing this since preschool) and talking to his teacher he is at a level 1 for reading and needs to be at a level 6. I googled this and level 6 is a 6th grade reading level. For Utah he is right on but here in Texas education is so much different and the kids are pushed a lot harder. His teacher is fantastic and we are getting him into reading groups and she is sending home books every night for us to read. Here is another crazy thing, NO HOMEWORK!!!!! In kindergarten we had about 30 mins. of homework every night!!! We have "suggested" activities that we always do but they aren't required and you don't turn them in or anything. He is really missing Utah and his cousins there. We will hopefully see them in a few months!!!
Brock is in preschool here which finding an affordable preschool was ridiculous, most places charge $200 plus per month, than his teacher ended up being in my ward and she is really fantastic. Brock loves it, maybe that is an understatement, he lives for it! His first day he kept asking me "mom I get to go by myself right?" "you leave right?" "you stay in the car and go home right?" After about a million times around with the questions we were finally there and I couldn't even walk him to the door, I had to stay in the car (I am the ONLY parent who doesn't walk their child to the door). He loves school and is doing the best in his class with learning letters and shapes ect. It is so funny to have such opposite kids! One who has struggled so much in that area and another right after who is really excelling in the academic area. Brock is jsut such a cute little stinker. He is very confident in himself and seems to really know what he wants and who he is. I didn't blog much about his birthday but he was so excited that he came up to me and said "mom, I like me" .
Blake is my little ray of sunshine that is learning to throw fits already. After that LONG LONG LONG trip to Texas he doesn't want to even consider being in his carseat, he cries almost everywhere we go now. Super fun..... He took his first steps the other night and we were of coarse thrilled!!! He has one of those push toys and he was walking with it today and so excited with himself. He is such a sweet little thing but is definitely going to be stubborn just like the rest of them LOL. He fights getting his diaper changed the most which makes changing poopy diapers exciting to say the least. He says mama, dada, and night night. He has 7 teeth with one more on the verge of popping through any day. The boy really just lights up a special spot in my heart!
Dan is having some great success here in Texas with employment. When things get more settled than I will tell more I will just say that we know we made the right decision and things are really starting to go our way. We have felt this way before than everything falls through but things are really lining up in our favor. That is all I am going to say for now, we are just excited!!!! It is so wonderful to have him home most of the time and to really be enjoying each other and being together as a family. The kids are really taking it for granted, when he isn't around they are so mystified about where dad would be other than home LOL!
I am doing well. I am adjusting and so far really enjoying the people most of all. They are so openly kind and personable. Our ward is amazing. I am enjoying it more than any other ward I have been in. People are so excited to have us and are genuinely wanted to be friends. I have set up play dates and carpools already! I really love it! I have made a list of things about Texas that have really surprised me!
1.the speed limits here are 40 pretty much everywhere, I feel like I am constantly speeding!!!
2.the meat here is so fresh especially beef
3.There are literally donut shops everywhere. I haven't yet been to one but they have to be pretty good if they are all over right?
4.The Texans have a lot of Texan pride, it is serious!!!
5.I LOVE all the different churches all over. It got a but annoying to see how many mormon churches were on every corner
6.the diversity here is amazing. So many blacks, Indians (from India), asian ect. I love that my kids are going to school with all of these different types of people.
7.gas is CHEAP!!!
That is really the most of it! I do feel homesick nut having my sister close has been so much fun. We hang out so much, it is weird still but so much fun!!!
This is all for now! I will post pics!
A few pics of our new apartment
Our new Kitty Sugar Pie, she is a feisty little stink
First day of preschool
Shane pretending to read for picture to take to class LOL
First day of school!
