Thursday, October 3, 2013

We have a driver!!

Also in August, T enrolled in Driver's Ed.  Oklahoma has some pretty strict standards for driving, and being in Germany has put T a bit behind on the long process of getting her license.

But the first step was Driver's Ed.  She had two full days of classroom instruction, then three 2-hour driving sessions.  Then a trip to DPS, and she has her permit!!  Woohoo!

Now she keeps her permit for 6 months, and on March 1st she will be a fully licensed driver (if she passes the driving test)!  She's a bit bummed that she turns 16 in November, and won't get her license until March, but there's nothing we can do about that.

Now she is car shopping and job hunting...oh, the joys of being a teenager!

About to go on her first driving lesson...she was a bit nervous!

The student driver sign...

She was so embarrassed that I came out to take these pictures!

Back to School

Another new chapter in our lives...

Obviously the move from Germany to Oklahoma meant new schools for the kids....

I'm pretty sure T is on her 9th school...if you don't count the year we homeschooled.  She's a junior this year, at her 9th school.  That says a lot.  But we have promised her...no matter what...she will never switch schools again.  Our family made big sacrifices to get her here, to this school, so that she can have the stability of the same school for her last 2 years of high school.  She hasn't been in one school for 2 straight years since second grade!  That's a lot for a girl to handle.  And she hasn't come out of it unaffected, for sure.  But she's a strong girl, and she is settling in to her last new school quite well.  We are very proud of her...she definitely hasn't enjoyed this nomadic lifestyle that the Army has provided for us...but she has adapted in her own way at each place we have taken her.

And A...starting middle school this year...6th grade...and her 6th school, I think.  Pretty sad when, as a parent, you aren't sure you can even remember exactly how many schools your child has attended.  But A always settles in quite nicely.  She doesn't have the same insecurities that T struggles with, so the transitions just don't seem to be quite as hard for her.  Middle school has been an adjustment though, lockers and switching classes...and middle schoolers just aren't very nice!!  But she's finding her way...

And Little R...starting kindergarten.  And on that day, I had to put on my happy face and send him off to school.  I don't know why...maybe it's because of the way he came into our family; maybe it's because I've been through this stage with the girls, and I know how life changes from this point; maybe it's because he truly is Mommy's boy...but whatever the reason, I was sad to see him go!  Little R just fits into my daily routine.  And now my routine revolves around dropping him off and picking him up from school.  Don't get me wrong...I want Little R to grow into a great man, and I realize in order to do that, he has to grow up.  But I'm just not so ready for this phase of our life.  Because of his September birthday, I got to have him at home for an extra year, and that was a blessing!  But he was so excited about starting kindergarten...and he really does love it!  When I ask him how his day was each day, he replies "Great" or "Awesome" every time.  So, I'm happy that he's happy.  But I sure do miss having my little guy around during the day.  And I will admit I have considered keeping him at home a couple of times, just so we can have the day together...but I haven't done it yet!
My pretty girls

How big are you, Ryan??

Standing at the flag pole.  This little guy LOVES the US flag!!  He used to point it out and get excited any time we would see one in Germany...now he gets to see them all the time!

Little R and his teacher.  A little bashful at first, but hoping he comes out of his shell throughout the school year.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

A New Family Member...

It's been 3 long years since we lost Sable, the greatest dog ever!!  We have missed her terribly all of those 3 years...and still do sometimes.  But we knew we wanted Little R to know the joy of having a big 'ol lab love you more than life itself...

So on August 9, we brought home the newest member of our family....a 9-week old chocolate lab named Hazel.  She has the sweetest, cutest little face ever.  And we can't wait to watch her grow into the great dog she is meant to be!  And hopefully along the way she becomes Little R's very best friend. 

I think they are off to a good start!



And the girls and I are pretty crazy about her, too!!  And R can't wait to meet her!