Will it get better?

Just when you think you might have one child under control and content with their new school...the next one starts.

Poor Emma. This is so incredibly hard for her. I'm not saying this school is worse than their old school, they just do things differently, and Emma is having a very hard time with the changes.

Much of her problems don't even revolve around school, it's the bus. There really is no sense of stability in the bussing. Let me rephrase that...In their old school, they were called over the PA by their bus number, if you were on that bus, you lined up and followed the fellow bus riders out to that bus, very orderly. In this school, you are released by grade, you are let free to find your bus! This is hard for her, she worries she will find the wrong bus, that her brother won't get released in time to make it on and the bus will leave without her...she worries. Two mornings now of nothing but tears...it's heartbreaking. Pray for Emma, pray that she has peace about this whole bus thing and that she starts to feel in control of the situation.

Snuggling and Bread

Yeah, I'm ready to relax...finally. Scott tells me there are talks of snow this weekend. I would love to just snuggle my kids after their long and stressful week and watch movies, make popcorn (eh, nevermind, need a microwave for that, we still don't have one) ok, how about homeade bread, I am craving homeade bread. Anyone know if bread that's made will stay good in a freezer? When I make something I like to go all out and make alot and freeze stuff.....have to look that up.

The kids made it on their bus this morning with no problems. First times are rough times here of late with my kids, but they seemed to do well.

Can't wait to hear how it went once they got to school, I'm worried that Emma found her class ok.

Will this day be better?

It looks like it may be. Jacob had no problems saying goodbye this morning and wandering off down the hall to his class, while Emma needed some help, it is a very big school and it will take some time for her to find her way. Luckily I was able to walk her down and help her figure out where she was going.

The kids had an early dismissal today due to no snow falling.......yeah, that's what I said, there is nothing happenin' and the kids got out early. I had the chance to talk to Jake about school, he said it went much better today and that I didn't have to email his Math teacher because he figured it all out with her and things will be fine.

What a relief. Now to take Jake to the doctor and find out if there could possibly be something wrong or if it's just the stress of a new school and new beginnings

Transitions

Today brings about a new transition for us....A new school. No one slept well in our house last night. It was to be expected and we used alot of TLC this morning to coax the kids to eat their breakfast and get dressed with a little bit of enthusiasm. Emma was the complete opposite of herself on her orientation day, she was excited, jabbering away to the point where I could not think! Jacob, again, complete opposite, he was reserved, scared, his belly hurt...and it goes on. We managed to get out the door and drive the 5 minutes or less to school.

Today's day consisted of Scott and I going into school with them, and then it was all new to us as well. We figured we would drop them off and just wonder where they were going for class and what they would do, but we were pleasently suprised.

We left the office to head somewhere, we were not sure where, and there was another student with us and her mother so they were just as confused. As we waited in the lobby for our aide, people started welcoming us and we had no idea where they were, little did we know they were on the big tv behind us! It was two 5th graders doing the morning announcements on TV! That peaked Jakes interest. They also did the pledge of allegience and a song, which was neat, everything stopped for that. Then our aide came back and she hurried us on...we had no idea where "on" was. We ended up at the room where the morning announcements were being done! The kids were quietly moved into the room........and in a matter of seconds they were the announcements! It was really sweet to see Mrs. Kemp introduce each of the kids, tell what school and district they came from, what grade and what teacher they would be heading off to! Scott and I were a little scared that our 4th grader would be so freaked by the sudden camera on him and his belly ache that he would puke on camera, but he didn't, he even cracked a smile! After that we were off to their new classroom, and Mom and Dad were very happy to be able to meet their teacher and see where they were going. First we dropped of Jacob at Mrs. Dobbs class. I instantly took note of the fact that Mrs. Dobbs pulled Jakes desk next to another student so he wouldn't feel so alone, he smiled, proceeded to put his lunch pack aside and his coat, and he was ready for his day, with a tear in my eye, I waved goodbye....
Next was Emma, we walked over to the 2nd grade area and met Mrs. Fehlinger. She was very sweet and Emma walked right in with no hesitation. I called her for a kiss and off she went. After that we walked out of there as fast as we could, I didn't want to have any kids chasing after me!
I know they are doing fine and in about two hours now I'll pick them up and hear all about their exciting day! Thank you to everyone who has kept them in their prayers, I know I'll find out from Jacob later that his belly ache went away and he will tell me that Jesus made it better, like I said He would.

Christmas is over.....

And the real adventures begin. We are finally moved into the house, did that last Thursday the 18th. Moved most of what we need over, have done two trips back and forth from the cottage to the house every day since then.

We endured a very hard last day of school at Truman. This was why I did not want to move during the school year. I knew this would be hard, but not this hard. My little Emma is still a tiny bit upset. She spent most of the last day of school crying. She cried through pretty much all of her testing at her new school and showed no enthusiasm during the school tour. After the tour I made a stop at the post office and she just started crying out of the blue......I took her home, got her in comfy clothes and we just cuddled on the sofa as she cried through endless episodes of Drake and Josh. She did eventually fall asleep, but not without some outbursts of tears. She was in bed by 7 and woke the next morning about 7am. Scott called me that morning to say Em went back to bed at 8 and got up at lunch time. Her heart is very sore......she misses Mrs. Long and Emily...that's all she talks about.

The next day things got a little better, there was actually conversation about the new school.

By Christmas day we were definately showing some excitement about the new school, with a little bit of hesitation mixed in.

Now we are preparing for a day of no bad weather on the 27th so we can move the last 7 pieces of furniture into the new house. I've rented the truck and friends are gonna show up to help. I hope it goes well, that no one gets stuck in the mud and we all stay safe.

I still don't have the computer hooked up at the new house, so my only emails come from work.

Looking forward to updating with good moving news on Monday

We are a week away!

Visit My Photos - 50 Pics December 13th 2008

We are about a week away from moving into our new "old" house. I've uploaded some photos from the weekend that show our newly sanded and finished floors on the second floor, as well as the furniture that was given to us by Bethanie in Jacob's room, and the work we accomplished on the first floor. We are now at the point where we have basically done what we can to get ready to move in. There are certainly details that we need to finish, but, they are small enough for us to finish once we live in the house. The washer and dryer are picked out, the tub faucet is going in today, hopefully the master bed will be moved in tonight (I have actually enjoyed the sofa the past month when scott is working, more than the bed) and we have to clear everything off the first floor because the country stripper is comin' back tomorrow! He does floors.....I know what you guys are thinking. Saturday is the big move........and we know we have friends and family who are helping and are so thankfull for them! This week will be a busy one for us as it's the last full week of school for the kids.......
Tonight-clear out the first floor
Tuesday night-Jakes' chorus concert
Wednesday night-Order a moving truck, get groceries for the move and for emma's brownie party
Thursday night-Emma has brownies and a party
Friday night-run around like a chicken with my head cut off, but before I do that we have to visit the new school with the kids
Saturday we move
Sunday we need to visit Santa, he doesn't know we moved yet!
Monday is the last full day of school
Tuesday I am going to school with the kids.....and I'm taking tissues

Weekend Accomplishments

Visit My Photos - 19 Pics December 7th 2008

This weekend was spent trying to get the second floor paint finished. I only had one day to work due to our annual shopping trip with my sisters and my dad, something he likes to do to make sure he picks all the right gifts for his grandkids. We had a blast, but, I was a little discouraged by not being able to work on the house Saturday.
Sunday I worked hard getting the hallway of the second floor done, Scott rolled the paint while I did the cut in. My uncle showed up and he fixed the master bedroom trim work, looks so much better. I think he will show up more this week to fix the trim in the other bedrooms as well. We have until Wednesday night to get everything painted, cleaned up and moved off the second floor so the floor guy can come make the floors look really pretty on Thursday. Tonight we will get a second coat on the hallway walls as well as a second coat on Jacob's ceiling and walls, and my uncle will work on trim work.
We also managed to loosen up that goofy stove in the kitchen, so now that can come out and the electrician can wire for the new one. Forgot about the rangehood, have to work on that next.
Jacob and Emma got a ton more of the floor out in the kitchen, will have to move the refrigerator to the porch tonight so we can finish the kitchen floor tonight.
I'm sure I'll have more pics to share later in the week.