Hello? My name is Shannon and I've been neglecting my blog. Yes, I know I have tons of stuff going on with the move and school starting, but that's when people are most anxious for updates! So here goes!
We came up to the Dallas area last week for middle school orientation and to register the kids for school. Got all that done, registered for a new church, found out our Lifetime membership is reciprocal. Spent lots of time with the Shoups - our friends from San Antonio that live in Flower Mound now and about three block from our new house! Went back to San Antonio last weekend for Lucas' birthday party (pics later) and a couple going-away parties. Back to Dallas for elementary orientations this week and to get Jacob's schedule and practice walking it! He'll have Art, PE, Social Studies, English, Reading, Science, Math and Study Skills. No lockers...kids will get a set of books for home and not have to carry much around during the day. I hope he makes a friend by lunch time!
We're now living in a two-bedroom hotel room in Lewisville which is about seven miles away from our new house and about two bedrooms too small. There are several perks to living here temporarily: maid service every day, hot breakfast every day, hot dinners Mon-Wed (free!), two full bathrooms, kitchenette in room, pool, nice staff.
Not so good points: Did I mention it's small? $4 per load of laundry; always having to be quiet; not enough chairs, utensils, plates or cups for a family of six; sheets that don't stay on the bed through the night (by morning, sleeping on mattress!).
We are all set for school. Sarah has Mrs. Ryan, an avid reader and bird-owner. "Tiki" is a parakeet (I think) and comes in on Fridays. Sarah will also be switching teachers for math and social studies. She'll go to Mrs. Gustafson for that. Mrs. Gustafson grew up in St. Louis Park, MN, (near my hometown of Eden Prairie) and knows Tim Donahue - someone we shared daycare with when Jacob and Sarah were babies. Ethan has Mrs. Kinney who has a ladybug addiction. They are everywhere in her classroom. Kinda makes you wonder if she had one or two and then over the years got bombarded with ladybug gifts so might as well go with it kind-of-theme.
Lucas will be in a new dual-language kinder program. He'll have an English speaking teacher one day, then switch to a Spanish speaking teacher the next. Unfortunately, his homeroom teacher is recovering from color cancer surgery so he'll have a long-term sub to start the year. Mrs. Herrick is very nice and experienced, but we've heard great things about Mrs. Piper and can't wait to meet her. Mrs. Giraldo is his Spanish teacher. She was born in Peru. She is only allowed to speak Spanish to the kids at school - even in the hallways/playground/lunchroom - so I'm sure the kids will seek out their homeroom teacher for questions for a while! If kids are present, she can only speak Spanish to parents too! I hope to brush up on what I've learned over the years in San Antonio and try to have a conversation every now and then.
I also made it through all the parent orientations and meet-the-teacher nights without signing up for anything PTA-related. I did send an email to the elementary President and ask to chat with her next week though. I can't stay away! Although I won't jump into anything too crazy.
Today we hit the Grand Opening Party at the new NAPA Distribution Center where Mark works. There were clowns, magicians, face painters, an Xbox truck, dunk tank, Dallas Mavericks cheerleaders, Ron Capps (one of NAPA's race car drivers), Dickey's BBQ, and a money booth that you could stand in! Ethan was the only one to get in and he grabbed $5 of swirling money he got to keep. Jacob was completely bummed he didn't get in to try. (Pics later too - can't seem to load from laptop!)
School starts on Monday, so we'll try to go to bed early tonight and get up extra early tomorrow. It will be a rude awakening on Monday, especially because we have to drive a little farther. We'll need to leave the hotel by 7 am. Elementary starts at 7:50 am and middle starts at 8:45 am. Pick up at 2:50 pm and 4:00 pm.
Wish us luck!
