Life as I know it now

Life has certainly changed recently from moving into a new home, kindergartener, and many other things. It was an adjustment to go to work this week for teacher workdays and only have one child with me. Drew and I have kept busy surprisingly it hasn't always been going to the gym. It seems like I have been running lots of errands. We have had some repairmen out to the house and I always seem to schedule more than one on the same day. Yesterday was the electrician installing some new lights and the blind lady (Budget Blinds) came to give us an estimate. (She isn't really blind.) We have 2" metal blinds that are bent and some missing a turn rod. Our dream is to buy beautiful shutters on each of the windows. We didn't realize until yesterday there are 33 windows to be covered! Too much money for all at once!

Drew's naps have moved up earlier in the day to allow for a 2 hour nap. Naps are still so important in our home! John David has fallen asleep in the car a few times in the past two weeks as we were running errands after school. I tell you his attitude has changed, too! I can tell he is so tired and is short-tempered after going to school all day long.

Another big change has been John David buying his lunch. The first week of school he took his lunch everyday but buying intriguied him. Tuesday of this week was the first time he had the courage to do it. I had sent a check on Monday not knowing his plans. He doesn't want me to tell him the menu. He wants the teacher to tell him what is for lunch. He explained the standing up and sitting down in the mornings to tell the teacher about their lunch choices. He has loved buying his lunch everyday since Tuesday!!! When we ask what he ate, he usually chooses fruit and chocolate milk but I don't hear of any veggies. He doesn't want my sandwiches which were a hit in preschool! (His preschool teacher even requested his sandwiches.) The menu given to us includes 2 entrees and a third vegetarian entree which I've never seen in a school. It doesn't list the sides so I can't guide him in which choices to make at lunch.

Oh, to be losing control of knowing everything! I have usually had a good idea of what went on in preschool. I learned more about their days when I started working up there. Last year, I saw alot of what activities he did and who he played with at school. This year we know NO ONE in Kindergarten. I know it is a great opportunity to become more plugged in to our school and community. God does have some great plans for my little boy and us!

As we drove to school one day this week, he saw a kid at the crosswalk. "Mom, there's Danny. He is my best friend." Mind you he couldn't remember who he played with at school for the first 6 or so days. I tried remembering names I had seen of people at his table and others on the class list which wasn't over 5. I ask but he can never remember other names.

Today at lunch Drew and I went to Chick-Fil-A. It is the first time he and I had gone there without John David. We have a routine of ordering, eating, and then playing. I can tell you our order is always under $13 for our 2 kids meals & my sandwich. I order one 4 piece with fruit and a 6 piece with fries. For myself, I get a sandwich & drink. We all eat on the fruit before I even begin to pull out the fries with our meal. Today as I drove there, I realized I was only getting 1 kids meal and had to decide fruit or fries. We ended up with fries. I didn't have the heart to make him (& me) eat none of their yummy fries. :) My boys and I always finish our food there unlike my friends who order one kids meal for two kids and they still don't finish it. I can't imagine my boys not eating all of their fast food meals.

David took John David to school one day this week. I stayed home to finish getting Drew and I ready for Meet the Teacher at our own preschool. I explained to David how our routine works in dropping John David off. It really surprised David that John David hopped out of the car and walked into the building without any assistance. David stayed in the same spot until John David disappeared into the building almost getting in trouble by the Safety Patrol for not moving on quickly. It is a totally different actually dropping him off rather than listening to someone else do it. David also got to help pick up one afternoon during the first week.

Things are going well and we are all adjusting to our new way of life. Do I enjoy it? YES! God has given us many blessings and we are very thankful. I hope this post doesn't sound depressing. I wanted to fill you in on little things going on around here.

First Day of School-Kindergarten!!!

This morning was the first day of Kindergarten for John David. He has been very excited and asking about when he could go ever since he met Mrs. Brand on Thursday! She has been at OSE in K for 5 years. She is also an Aggie with maroon all around her desk-won't hold it against her. ;) Old Settlers Elementary are the Stars whose colors are red & silver.



We started the day off early with breakfast, a little TV, and then getting dressed. He tried to get me to change his outift since it wasn't "play clothes." (I may have totally mismatched him but I think it kind of went together.) He was ready to go. I am sad to say we didn't get a new backpack or lunch box this summer. It was in the plans but we have been so busy that it didn't work out. He didn' seem to mind it and David was thrilled I wasn't spending more money. John David didn't know why I had to take his picture outside of our own house but he was very cooperative. Drew couldn't be left out either. I am surprised Boulder didn't jump in, too. :)


I held my own. Two texts from my girlfriends this morning got my teary and Kelli L. tried to talk to me in the hall but I politely said I couldn't talk. The Lawrence's are our Bible Study teachers at church and the only other people we know at OSE. I got teary walking through the halls to his class. Teared up leaving him even though I know he is good hands & is completely ready for this new chapter in his life. I also teared up looking at the picture again just now.

He led the way carrying his backpack because he didn't want to wear it. He didn't mind walking into his room. David helped him find his seat & we put his backpack away. He didn't mind having his picture taken with Mrs. Brand and enjoyed playing with his playdough. Of course, not to compare he did take his playdough out of the container all by himself while others were needing assistance. One kid was already standing next to his chair and talking loudly across the room. I secretly was glad he wasn't at John David's table. (Horrible mom, I know.) I can already tell we will be hearing about M this year.



I have included lots of pictures. I also put one of his "new park". As we were walking in, David was asking him about it and Drew was talking about it. John David told dad he had already seen it and Drew couldn't play on it because it wasn't his school. Yes, it was quite funny.



Before we left the house, John David asked if we could have a popsicle after school. I said sure. When we left the school I told Drew we could go get a snow cone after John David's school. He wanted to go then and has asked repeatedly if we could go get a " 'nocone". His color choices keep changing from purple to purple & green to red & green. Who knows what he will get? John David doesn't know about the treat yet. I'm sure he will enjoy it!

I also forgot until this morning that I hadn't bought him any new tennis shoes. Oh well, I guess the second day of school he can wear new shoes.

I almost forgot to tell you about my morning. My sweet MGM friends & others came over!! I had told them about 4 months ago that this wouldn't be an easy morning for me. So they (especially Lisa) had a "Muffins & Mimosas" party at my house. Lisa sent out evites with a great poem. There were 9 ladies & 17 kiddos here!!! I told David there was lots of squealing. Several of the older kiddos were disappointed and didn't quite understand why John David wasn't at his own house. Knowing the ladies coming kept me busy cleaning the kitchen and mopping until they started to arrive. It was fun to show them our new home & share interesting stories about our previous owner which is another blog post. Julie, one of my teacher friends, also came. This was a big day for her since this is the first time in 14 years she wasn't returning to teaching. We are already planning next year's party since three of them will be sending their kiddos to K! I'm glad Jenny came by, too. She was encouraging since her oldest started 2nd grade today but she also had to run to her own party with others, too!

Tears of joy (I think)

Last Friday I registered John David for Kindergarten. It was very bittersweet. I had put off registering throughout the spring and summer until we knew where we would be living. I found out that there would be new student registration last week. Earlier in the week we had bought all of his school supplies. I hate putting that off until the last minute due to everyone else shopping, too. Thursday night my girlfriends reminded me I had to have his birth certificate. We have already received a bill with our address and I had a copied shot record.



The school was very bright and cheerful still displaying artwork from last spring. I was given a packet of papers with directions on how to fill each sheet out. There was a K readiness questionnaire, health form, and other forms. After about 20 minutes, I had completed everything. Several staff members passed me as I completed the forms. I wondered who they were. As I turned in my paperwork, I asked about an item mentioned on the supply list-GO Folder and location of the K hallway. The next question I asked was, "How do I pick up my child after school?" As I listened I started tearing up.



In less than 10 days I would be leaving him here all day long without me. I called David who was encouraging and then my mom who was also encouraging. I cried as I talked to both of them. Mom cried too. I know he is ready and he will be fine. It still doesn't make it any easier for me. He hasn't shared too much on how he is feeling. I don't think he understands what it means to go to school for 5 days in a row like daddy goes to work. He has always gone two days and doesn't have an older sibling to watch.

Promise of stories to come...

I promise I am working on blog posts from the past 2 weeks. It has been an extremely busy two weeks between moving, cleaning, birthday party, closing and many other things. We have had many "curve balls" thrown our way yet many blessings as well. Pictures and interesting tales will follow.

Stay tuned!
:)
Anna

The WP

The last week of June is when MGM went away for the weekend. Some of us had been saving for this fun weekend! This year we went to a bed and breakfast named The Walden Plantation in Llano, Texas from Friday to Sunday. They had been expecting us for over a month. The wife & owner is also apart of a ladies group that have yearly trips.

Half of us went down early Friday morning to have lunch with Granny in Waco before getting there early evening. The others made it in time to meet us for dinner. The weekend was filled with laughter, talking, more laughter, late nights, relaxing, and some wine. I forgot to mention we didn't change any diapers or have to cut anyone's dinner except our own!

Friday night we met at Cooper's BarBQue for an interesting meal. You choose your meat before walking in the restaurant to have it weighed and cut. For some of our MGMer's, sanitizing is very important and this was a different atmosphere. ;) We laughed and talked way into the morning that night making many memories!

Saturday morning we slowly got up and suited up for a day at the pool. Of course, we enjoyed a wonderfully homemade breakfast first. On our way to breakfast at 9 am, we moved chairs and laid out our books and floats to claim the pool. We got several looks when we walked into breakfast from everyone who had watched us set our stuff up at the pool. I am sure they didn't know what to make of 6 women noisily walking in after rearranging the pool chairs and claiming just about all of the chairs. After breakfast we blew up all of our rafts, read books and visited some more. Mandi even read us her PEOPLE about Jon & Kate and other important stories in the world. We floated and talked until we were ready for a late lunch. After lunch we wandered back out for some more sun time before coming back one-by-one for a shower. (We only had 1 shower for 6 ladies.) That night we found a local Italian place which turned out to have decent food but horrible service! Surprisingly we turned in pretty early that night. We still had fun laughing and making new memories!

Sunday morning was a time of packing and eating a fabulous breakfast before heading home. It was a pretty uneventful day. It was nice to follow the directions of the GPS while visiting the whole way home. We ended the trip with lunch at DQ-a real small town Texas restaurant!

The weekend was fabulous and we have already started talking about next summer's trip! Thank you, girls, for some wonderful memories and laughter! I love you all and am truly blessed to have such good girlfriends!

Shoes

Totally forgot to mention who is selling the house we plan to buy. He is a former NFL player (Lions, Cowboys, & Bears) who was a runner up for the Vince Lombardi trophy('98). We saw his helmets, jerseys, and plaque. David "Googled" him and found out he set at record for heaviest Offensive Lineman when he played at over 400 lbs!

Here is a picture of his shoes compared to my size 8 shoes...

Apartments, Boys, & a house-What a week!

The boys left town last Monday with Mom & Dad to go to Oklahoma for a week. Every summer they take the boys and we have all been so busy with classes, swim lessons, VBS, etc until this past week. I hadn't felt good for about a day but wasn't sure if it was stress or something else. Turns out I had a UTI. :( I had 2 perscriptions and was glad to rest some during the week.

Monday night David and I went to look at an apartment complex near our house. Since we have to be out by the 30th and have no place to go, we needed to check out our options. I thought it was a little disappointing to discover that a 2 bedroom apartment is the same as a mortgage payment!! Plus you still have bills! Prices have really soared in the past 8 years.

On Monday night, we were supposed to see a house that went on the market on Friday. We tried Saturday, Sunday, and Monday night. From the internet description, it checked almost all of our boxes-4 bedrooms, 3 car garage, pool, etc. We were very anxious to see it since we were considering another house that was much smaller but finished out nicer with an awesome pool! Tuesday night we finally got to see the house and really like it. Stephanie had been talking to the realtor who mentioned the home owner could be out by July 30 (our close date for Aspen Way)!!! Was this the house for us working out according to God's plan? We looked at it again on Wednesday night & put in an offer. By Friday, we agreed to a price.

God has worked it out for us to move from home to home at the end of the month! Here is a picture of our new home-Lake Crest in Flower Mound.

We never doubted God but wanted to know His plan for us! There is some work that needs to be done on the house. Most of the downstairs is orange (not terra cotta) tile, orange ceilings, and orange walls. We will initially paint some rooms and then step back to see what needs to be done next.

One of my goals for this week while the boys were gone was to start packing. Besides what is in the storage shed for the past 4 months, I hadn't started on anything else. This week I packed over a dozen boxes including most of the boys toys, china, serving dishes, books, and many other things. Here is a picture of some of my cleaned out kitchen. As you can tell, the top cabinets are cleaned out as well as most of our glasses. I haven't started our dishes yet. There is more to be packed but the boys are home and I am out of boxes. (We are trying not to buy any!)

Another fun thing happened this week-a new baby! My cousin, Jenny, had her third child on Thursday. Nobody but Steve knew if it would be a boy or a girl but Jenny had a feeling she would be having a third son. Brenner Oz was born at 3:12 pm weighing 7 lbs 13 oz. Leah & I got to go hold him on Friday. :)