We've Survived the First Two Months!

We've been here two months now...and we are still surviving (I think). 

Joe left two days after we returned from our west coast trip to Galway (now 2 weeks ago). His last day we went over to my cousin's house for a big meal and drinks. The children were sad to see Joe leave but this time there would only be 4 weeks between our next visit. So basically in two weeks now we will all fly into Paris around the same time to start our 10 day trip around France. This is the children's fall break week. Yipee!! No school! You all know I hate the school routine and would so much rather have the children at home. Maybe I really do need to homeschool. Just kidding Joe! 

K has won her last two soccer games. Last Sunday she played Shelbourne FC and scored a goal! She was very excited to score again. K still does not feel like she fits in yet with the team. I keep telling her to just give it a little time. She really misses her old coach and teammates back at home. Honestly I do too!! 

K seems to be adjusting well at school. She still has a hard time with Gaelic but that is to be expected. She has not been able to ride her bike lately to school because it has been raining every.single.day! She HATES sharing a room with Timothy and wants her "big" room back. Ha! This is all good for her and she will so appreciate the space we have at home in the US. 

T is doing fine at school too. He has a hard time with mental maths but he is catching up quickly. In Ireland they are ahead in math so he has to catch up but on the bright side he is ahead in reading then most of the class. I guess it evens out in the long run. On Thursdays his class does swimming lessons during the school day. They take a coach bus down to the local indoor pool, change, have an hour lesson, change back into their uniform, and then go back to school before dismissal. Every student goes and it was only 50€ for 3 months of lessons. Thursdays has now become Timothy's favorite day of the week along with Tuesdays (gym day!). The teachers have also been good about letting T spell works the American way instead of the Irish (e.g. favorite vs favourite, honor vs. honor). 

L has been doing much better at drop off for preschool. No more tears or anything! She loves her teachers. This past week I let her go to school for 4 mornings. I missed her but she loves school! Usually her last sentence before she falls asleep is, "I miss my Daddy and my grey car." She is such a hoot!

The weather is definitely starting to get colder here..mid 50-60's. You really don't see a lot of leaves falling or turning color yet. But we have had a lot of rain lately so everything inside and outside just feels damp. I also can not ever get warm! I miss my central heating and fireplace. A man knocked on the door the other day and asked if I needed to buy any coal. What? Coal? Are you kidding me? He then said, "for your fireplace." Ohhh...I see. After he left I realized I should have asked him for three pieces for my children's stockings. 

Occasionally you will see a pile of leaves...but that is it

Now the answers to all your questions:

1. How am I really doing? Honestly I am doing ok. At first I have to admit I was a little depressed with the whole adjustment. I am not a person that likes change. I really miss my family at home and all of my friends (especially my social life). Lately we have fallen into a better routine. So things have been much better. I am not looking forward to the winter where it gets dark at 4.30 in the afternoon. What do I do with the children inside a small house when it gets dark? I need to think about that...its not like there is anything remotely like a Michael's here where we can go and buy crafts and there is no basement. 

2. How is it living with my Mother? I better be careful how I answer this question. Ha! Good thing no one over here is reading this blog. At first it was rough and I felt like I was being haunted by my childhood. My mother is 70 and VERY set in her old ways. This is a huge change for her too. Remember I have not lived under my mothers roof full time since I was about 14-15. But I have to admit she is very good about giving us our space especially during the suicide hours when the children come home with all their homework. Overall it has been ok and I just keep telling myself this is a gift I can give her of "us" being together for a year. 

3. Do I miss Joe lots? Of course! At first though I have to admit it was fun just doing my own thing and not having to answer to anyone and make my own decisions. But now that novelty is getting old and I do miss Joe lots! I'm definitely looking forward to France and doing a family trip just the 5 of us. 

4. What am I doing while the children are at school? I've been working on the house a lot trying to get things organized for my mother. I have already started a collection of black sacks in the backyard of junk that needs to go to the dump. I've been getting estimates on a number of things that need to be done outside of the house. I stained the back garden gate that was built by my cousin. I only have the first coat done. Joe and I were laughing at all the stain cans in the store because they all advertised how long it took until the stain was rainproof (e.g. 1 hour, 2 hours, etc). Only in this country would you have to worry about that. 

Anymore other questions? ;-)