Why the bus was late

Every Wednesday our school district has a 45 minute early release.  I used to think this was ridiculous, but since on a normal day Thomas gets home from school around 4:40, I'm learning to like his more "normal" arrival time on Wednesday.  Yesterday, however, his bus was over 15 minutes late in arriving.  When he got off the bus I jokingly asked him if the bus had gotten lost and he replied, "Yes".  I was a little shocked!  They have had a substitute bus driver all week, but yesterday's driver was a different one then the first two days.  I heard another boy tell the same story that Thomas told to me.  Apparently while the driver was holding the map (remember, no a/c on a school bus!) and driving, he lost his grip and the map flew out the window.  So this man was stuck asking a busload of elementary students where he was supposed to go next.  My goodness!  Just glad Thomas made it home safely!

This year's beginning of school

  The moving truck pulled out of our new drive way just 35 hours before the first bus pulled up for the first day of school.  Not going to lie...that was R.O.U.G.H.  I was very adamant however, that things would be ready for them.  We had clothes packed in suitcases so as not to get misplaced and their backpacks were a priority in knowing, always, where they were.  And I might even say from an emotional standpoint, that being so unbelievably crazy busy the weekend before didn't leave me much time to dwell on the changes...no time to worry about them.

That didn't stop the tears from being shed the morning of school though.  Don't worry, only by me!  My first huge leap of faith was putting them on the school bus.  Someone else was driving my babies to school???  Then of course, for Catherine and Thomas, was the fact that EVERYTHING was completely new to them...even the lunch routines which were so automatic at the old school...everything.  I was, in some ways, grateful that I needed to drive back to the old house and that I spent the day packing and cleaning there.  It gave no time to be sad or melancholy about the changes.

I picked Catherine up from school (Robert had cross country practice) and she was so excited about her day.  She made a new friend and enjoyed everything about her day.  She was incredibly responsible with all of the forms that needed to be turned in, and overall she just had a great day.  I was so glad to have at least one of my kiddos back with me!  It was another two hours before I could get Thomas off the bus.  When he saw me out the window his face absolutely lit up, and he began to wave.  He almost ran off the bus and ran to me and threw his arms around me for a big hug.  He announced that he'd had a "fabulous" day, and I was so grateful.  Robert also reported a great first day (which as much enthusiasm/excitement an almost fourteen-year-old can muster...and don't be surprised how little that is) and our first week went smoothly.  In all honestly, I think I had more problem with the changes then the kids!

Updated:  I for got to mention...the beginning of our school year was so insane I even forgot to take first day pictures, in spite of making sure I knew where the camera would be.  I took pictures the next day, but still not quite the same!

My love-hate relationship with the school bus

I am not at all in love with the kids riding the school bus.  Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful that they do ride the bus, because the alternative of me driving to and from school each day is NOT appealing.  This is particularly true now that the college students have returned (definitely a post for another day).  However, I'm not loving that we live where my kids can't just walk to and from school.  In fact, in my entire life, I've lived within a block of where I (or my kids) went to school (the exception to this would be high school, but of course by then everyone has friends that drive).  Our first pick up is Robert and Catherine at 6:40 (UGH!).  They only have to walk to the drive way across the street, and their bus driver is fabulous.  Love her!  Thomas is another story.  He has to walk to the opposite end of our block, and with the curve in the road I can't see him.  The bus currently has a 20 minute swing in when it may arrive to get him (hence the reason he missed it once last week), although I'm hoping by next week there is some consistency regarding the time (the neighbors' stories do not give me hope in this regard).  And then there is the fact that this driver is NOT a warm and fuzzy, or even pleasant, person.  As an introvert, I also do not love the fact that I am forced to share 20 minutes of my morning with strangers (could I be more self-centered?!) nor do I enjoy the fact that we don't have control of when to leave for school.  At the same time, I am grateful I don't have to drive them...so yes, I have a love-hate relationship with the school bus!

Adjustment coordinator

Andrew and I have decided that my new job title is "adjustment coordinator".  The pay?  Well, hopefully in the long run it is a healthy and adjusted family!

We are on the path to that.  School has started and everyone seems to be adjusting well.  Catherine and Thomas have already made friends, and of course I've already started worrying about the friends they've made.  Internet, cable, and telephone were FINALLY installed on Saturday, so I'm at a point where I can once again communicate with the outside world.  We can also finally move our furniture into place (we couldn't previously due to a TV antenna to receive one channel) and since the furniture is in place we can actually begin to unpack.  Of course, things like school work, cooking meals, and laundry still need to be accomplished as well!  I'm so grateful to Andrew for not only supporting me not working until at least January, but nearly insisting on it.  His parents are coming to visit in 18 days so that is my somewhat self imposed deadline to make the house look like we did not just move into it yesterday.  Sadly, nine days later, that it still what it looks like here.  We will get there though!

We've moved

Just checking in quickly to let everyone know that we've moved and the kids began school today.  My husband and I are absolutely exhausted because of course absolutely nothing went according to plan this weekend, but we made it through.  I don't have internet at the new house and probably won't for a week (I'm currently at the old house) but I'll post again when I can.  I certainly do have lots of thoughts and feelings to share from the last several days!

Shedding some tears

I'm shedding a few tears this morning, and yes, that is due in no small part to exhaustion.  This was not the best timed move ever, but it will work out in the long run.  I'm trying so very hard to focus on all the positives of this move, and there truly are very many of them.  But I don't like change, and my life has been amazingly blessed up to now...it's hard to imagine that it could get much better.

We were able to meet teachers last night for Catherine and Thomas.  They are even more excited then they were before, and I'm trying very hard to follow their lead.  At Catherine's school I felt a better level of comfort.  I'm familiar with his school, Andrew is more familiar with the teachers (and they with him) and I even saw a few people I know myself.  Everything though is so unfamiliar for Thomas, and he's the one I've always been able to be the most comfortable about which is making it worse for me.  We've suspected for the last year that he has ADD, and because the teachers knew me here in town they were willing to work with me and try some things even without an official diagnosis.  Now though, I know absolutely no one at that school, and they don't know me any differently from any other crazy parent (and trust me when I tell you, the majority of parents are crazy when it comes to their kids!) and I feel like I have to start all over again.  As a true introvert at heart, this is not easy for me.

But as I also keep saying, this is not about me.  This is about us as a family, and I have an absolutely amazing family.  I am looking forward to sharing new adventures with them, and I am convinced this is a good move for our family!

Reflecting

I'm enjoying what is going to end up being my last quiet morning in this house.  Andrew has gone back to work and I realize how much I miss him...how much I am so completely in love with this man who has chosen to share his life with me.  The kids are all still sleeping, and I want to let them sleep.  This is the last quiet, cup-of-coffee morning I'll have here, watching the sun pour in from the east through my french doors in the dining room.  This house is the only house Andrew and I have lived in together, and we moved in right before we were married.  EVERY thing, big and small, that has happened in our marriage, in our lives together, has happened with this house being our home.

I could get all wrapped up in the "lasts" that are occurring this week, and to be honest it makes me glad that we are moving somewhat suddenly.  A year of everything being "the last" would've been mentally exhausting, and it wouldn't have changed how I did anything in the past year.

This next six months is going to find me outside of my comfort zone in so many ways, but this isn't about me, although I might find that I learn a lot about me in the next six months.  More importantly, I am so grateful for the opportunities my family is going to have...and I'm really looking forward to making the new house our home.