Thursday, May 19, 2011

regular life stress, consumerism, settling in...

Trying to establish "regular life" here....May 14th, 2011
We really miss everyone from home, and settling in here and trying to launch our life here is not easy; but we live for being together on the weekends and exploring.  It is not always fun mon-fri (hubby at work and me at home trying to school three kids) but we are getting there and trying to be patient, and for most people that is reality right? - the weekdays are long.  We are feeling lucky to have this opportunity; and yet lots of homesickness, stress, and so much to do.  We got bikes this week (we should have brought ours but did not!).  Should be fun to try them out and begin navigating our way around our neighborhood with them.  We need to get a piano keyboard and a tv and dvd.  Not easy to search a big city for this stuff.  We finally do have most of our electronics (lamps, telephones, coffee maker, toaster, etc).   Feels like we are starting from scratch with so many things.
It sounds like the kids will have school spots in September but not before then.  Again...patience needed.
I did have to call my homeschooling sister for support this week because doing this homeschool thing with all three kids in the middle of this big life change and move and all the work of setting up life here, well, it's just a bit much.  I was glad to hear from her that she also sometimes struggles to balance things with teaching all 3 of her kids.  She's an inspiration, how she does it all, I just don't know.  Still waiting - a bit impatiently - to hear from our relocation specialist about having some tutoring paid for.  The good news is that the private school JD visited was impressed (remember he went for a day visit and assessments) and he is now on their wait list, AD is as well, and JP actually has a place for September.  I need to get more information about the likelihood that JD and AD will actually get off the wait list for this next year.  I felt a secret sense of vindication when the admissions dean called to tell me about JD's results, because they gave me such a hard time about his application and the fact that he has been homeschooled. 
We didn't make it to Paris for my milestone bday (no need to mention which one), however, hubby and I went out to a fabulous restaurant in Primrose Hill called Odettes.  It was delicious and a splurge for us. 
We hope to start traveling SOON because we have not ventured out of London yet!!
We also have been getting to know two families (both American!) in our building group.  They're wonderful and kind.  One family has 14 and 10 year old boys and the other has 10, 8, 5 and almost 3 year old boys.
The people renting our home in MN will move in first part of July.  We are happy to have it rented and they sound like a very nice family.

long live the MN summer...

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