Closer to normal!

Hi everyone,

We are all glad last week is over. It was pretty stressful for all of us.

Finally last Friday I received a text half way through the day from Keegan that read "I love lunchtime!" Was I happy to see that text. All week long she hadn't found anyone to hang around with. A girl went up to her at the end of her class before lunch and wanted to know if Keegan wanted to join her and her friends. The girl ended up introducing her to about 20 other kids! Today (Monday) Keegan had a place to go and felt included.

Dawson is probably doing better then all of us. He is making all kinds of friends. He's loving his P.E. class, naturally. Saturday he started soccer practice at the YMCA. I can tell he is going to have a lot of fun on the team.

Keegan is trying out for the high school play tomorrow. She's very nervous. I know she will do a good job.

David's job is still going good. He started that new position I told you about last week. I guess he did okay, but I know he would rather just key addresses then to supervise. A lot more responsibility then what he had to do in Phx.

I started Home Depot. I'm in the same dept. as before. The kids were funny when I left for my first day of work telling me the same things that I told them for their first day of school. They did fine being left alone while we were both working.

We unloaded the final stuff out of our storage unit this weekend at U-Haul. So we are officially done moving. Our garage doesn't look like it. I keep unpacking and it doesn't look like I've done much.

Tomorrow is Keegan's 15th birthday. I hope she has a good day at school. Unfortunately we won't be doing much to celebrate. Her friends gave her a party before we left Phx. Now, I'm so glad they had done that for her. Her favorite food is steak, so maybe we'll grill out this weekend.

Nothing else new. All 4 of us like it here. The weather has been so nice. Yes, it has been raining a lot, but we are not sick of it yet. It is still very refreshing to us. I guess you can get tired of triple digits and sunshine day after day! Luna and Nike are not happy with all of the thunderstorms. Otherwise they seem to like our new home. Although Luna is a turkey, she doesn't want to come in when she's supposed to. She loves the big grassy yard.

Take care and keep in touch. Love and kisses to all of you.

God bless you,

Marjie

Busy week for all of us

Hi again,

Just a quick update.

Dawson had a great 2nd day at school. Three good friends already. Loves his classes and teachers.

Keegan also had a better day. Still not a good lunch experience, but I'm sure with time she'll find someone to hang with. Kids are talking with her during each class. "Loves her Drama class".

I start at Home Depot today. I'm happy and a little nervous. Not nervous about the job (same place, different building!) I will be working from 4:30 to 11:00pm. So the kids will have to do homework, make dinner, and go to bed before David and I come home tonight. Not the ideal scenario. Good thing is... the kids are responsible, and we live in a good neighborhood. The kids will probably love the arrangement, right? I WILL be calling home many times!

David was asked to start today and whenever they need him to be standing up as a 204B. (a what?) It is a supervisor position that informs the employees what station they are to work. Past that I don't know how to explain it. I do know he will get paid a little bit more.

That's our busy week. Unless something big changes, I may not be writing too soon.

So bye for now. Hope you all have had a great week. Keep in touch.

Love you and may God bless you.

Marjie

Update on the 1st day of school

Hello,

If you read yesterdays blog, you know I could hardly wait to see the kids after school to get the scoop.

Picking up Keegan was interesting. The school is huge, and I couldn't park anywhere close to where I dropped her off in the morning. Although I did find a parking lot around the other side of the building. I only hoped she would be able to find me. Luckily there was a big "W" on the side of the building, which meant west wing. At last using our cell phones, she found where I was parked. This morning was a whole lot easier dropping her off, since we found our little unknown west side area. Plus her 1st class is in the west wing. Yeah!

All Keegan could say was "I love my Drama class and teacher". She hated lunchtime! She said there was a big mob in the hallway when the bell rang. (The entire school has lunch at the same time!) She went outside to get some fresh air, tried to sit by a few people. One kid got up and left her. Another girl just ate her lunch and stared at Keegan. The rest of the day was average. Her teachers talked a lot about 1st day routine stuff. Keegan did say there were a lot of cute boys in every class. Actually she phrased it differently, but this is my interpretation of it! She is very optimistic for her 2nd day. In her math class, the teacher had a chart up on the wall with every one's name on it. They had to solve the problem in order to find out what chair they were to sit in. The teacher informed them everyday they will get a new math question and different chair to sit in! (Yikes, I would be in trouble!!) She did well navigating herself around to each class. I'm sure today will be better for her. She did pull out a notebook in each class and make personal notes about different kids that she found interesting. (That is so Keegan like, huh?)

Dawson had an entirely different experience yesterday. He was happy about everything. He enjoyed his lunchtime! Made several friends. Even exchanged phone numbers with 1 kid. He was a little concerned when he ended up in an 8th grade drama class. He went to the teacher right away and told her he didn't think he should be there. Immediately they took care of his schedule and put him in his P.E. class. Good thing, because Dawson would have been miserable in a drama class. I was very proud of him for speaking up. His only other dilemma was his combination lock on his locker. He hasn't ever had a locker before. We practiced last night on paper, so I hope today he can figure it out. He did enjoy his first experience of going to a different classroom for each subject. He spoke very highly of every teacher. Although he did say one was pretty scary, whatever that means. He never could explain what scary meant! He was the first on his bus, and the last to get off. He said it did seem like a long ride, but was OK with it.

They both were exhausted and went to bed a good time. I don't feel as nervous today for them. I do hope Keegan's day goes better. She was a bit sad and I think really misses her AZ friends. Thank goodness for texting, otherwise she would be a sad girl if she couldn't continue to communicate with her AZ friends. They were all excited to hear about her day and helped her feel better about everything.

The 1st picture above is a small glimpse of the wooded area behind our home. In about 20 feet is a stream. Kitchen, living room, basement and the kids sitting outside. Our duplex looking from the back is the one on the right side.

I worked in the house all day doing the same thing, trying to get settled in. I have a couple of pictures for you. I'll send more when I can figure this blogging thing out a little better!

Love and kisses to all of you.

God bless you,

Marjie

A big day!

Hello again,

I will be so happy to find out how the kids did at school today. I'm not sure who was more nervous, them or me! Dawson got on his school bus okay. I drove Keegan to school. It took me exactly 15 min. It took me 10 min. to get out of the school parking lot!

On the way home the sky was getting really dark. So I decided to speed up. I could tell a big storm was brewing. Sure enough it was pouring so hard It was tough seeing my exit. When I got home Luna was scared to death. It has been raining ever since. I still haven't found Nike (our cat) she is also afraid of the thunder.I saw a red fox outside in our back yard this morning. It came out of the woods, stared out toward our homes, then ran back into the woods. It was so beautiful. I don't think I have ever seen a fox that close up. We have seen a couple of brown squirrels and some neat birds. Our neighbors said sometimes deer will come out from the woods. I need to think faster and grab my camera next time.

Yesterday our neighbors brought us a loaf of bread to welcome us. This is definitely a lot different for us then what we are used to.

I plan to keep busy so today will go fast. I will keep you all posted how the 1st day of school went for the kids.

Take care. Miss and love you all.

God bless you,

Marjie

Getting ready for school

We are doing all of the typical things this week. Spending lots of money at Wal-mart on school supplies, buying a few new outfits, and getting our time schedule back to earlier bedtimes and waking up before the sun.

Both kids are enrolled and ready for their new schools. I know we are all anxious. I can't wait until I hear those magical words "I love my new school" or "I love my new friends". Keegan is excited and Dawson is wishing the summer would last longer!

I haven't heard from Home Depot yet, so I'm starting to think they are not going to hire me. I have already started looking for a different job. I'm sure what ever happens, I will be happier.

Not much is new today, so I'll just leave some pictures with you to look at.

God bless you.
Love,
Marjie

The beginning of a new chapter in our life

Hello everyone,



I'm hoping to keep my own journal of our experiences and adventures here in Kansas. I know eventually Keegan will not be able to keep everyone posted when school starts and the homework starts piling up.



Sometimes it might just be pictures of our family. You know me and my camera, I never stop taking pictures.



Tonight when everyone has gone to bed, I plan to sneak downstairs to read Keegan's blog. I haven't been able to get her laptop from her. Now that we have our Internet connected, I can read what all of you have been reading!



Have a good day. God bless you.



Marjie