Starting the kids in School

by jcastles | Apr 25, 2013 | Family, Moving, Uncategorized

Well Jayson’s school needed all kinds of information and can’t start until we have a meeting….UGH!  He’s driving us crazy wanting to go to school.  I’ve given them everything they’ve asked for so I really hope they get this done asap.

Kennyth on the other hand was easy peasy!  The schools are so laid back that it seems totally wrong!  There is no paper to put in your window to pick up your kiddo…they just find you and get in the car!  Like it was when I was little.  They have an awesome schedule and they act like it’s a really long day for the kids…..they get out at 2:30…that’s the extended time so they can get out at 12:10 on Wednesday’s!!  Totally bizarre!

When I was getting paperwork to register Jayson I was trying to go in the wrong door (cause the hubbs said it was the front–no, it wasn’t)…well there was a custodian outside and asked me if I needed inside!!!  I was like um, no I just need to find the front of the school.  So it’s kinda nice that it’s that laid back but yet WTH?!!  Kinda scary!!  Luckily that’s NOT the school he’ll go to it was just where the paperwork was, but still.

Kennyth’s first day of school was pretty good.  As I left him in his classroom this morning I saw the fear and tears in his eyes and wondered if we’d made a mistake by moving here.  I’m so glad that when we picked him up he was in good spirits and seemed totally normal.  And since it’s a Wednesday he had a short day so it was a quick meet and go kind of day.  Thursday they have their test that’s equivalent to the STAAR’s testing in Texas.  He’s been preparing in Texas so we’re all pretty confident that he’ll do just fine.

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Downtown Seattle

by jcastles | Apr 24, 2013 | Family, Moving, Uncategorized

So our 2nd day here we ventured out to the big city of Seattle.  Wow was I wowed!!  I know that pot is legal here but to see people just smoking it on the lawn and walking around with bongs was quite surprising!  Homeless people on corners asking for money or weed was also a site to see.

As we walked through the Public Market we saw many flower shops all selling my favorite flowers (Tulips!!) for cheap cheap!!  As we continued we saw something we’d ONLY seen in the movies a fish toss at a fish market!  They said something, tossed a giant fish to a person behind the counter, then yelled something else.  It all sounded so fun!

We also got to witness a bicyclist crash….real hard!  I don’t know what the deal was but he was coming down a hill so fast he yelled out “Oh Shit”, ran the light, nearly got hit by a car, then crashed at the bottom of the hill.  So many people ran to him we couldn’t even get there to help so we just went on about our way but wow!  The hubbs thinks the guys breaks went out but who knows.  All I know is it sounded like his timing was off.  He did get up btw and seemed somewhat ok.

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Our first few days in Seattle, Washington!

by jcastles | Apr 22, 2013 | Family, Moving, Uncategorized

So now we’re semi settled in Seattle, Wa.  It’s Monday April 22nd and so far things are getting back to normal.  We let the kids have a few days off school but we plan to register them tomorrow.  I think that will help with my 8 yr old’s attitude about moving from his home….Texas.

Even though we’ve only been here 3 days we’ve done a lot!  We’ve driven around just looking at the scenery….OMG it’s beautiful!!!  I’ve never seen such gorgeous flowers!  And the tulips are absolutely beautiful!  It’s my favorite flower and they are so many here.  And for a dozen it’s only $10!!  I just might have to get a vase to have some at our temporary housing, lol!!

So I was worried that we’d forget stuff in our gazillion bags we brought….well we haven’t really forgotten anything we need but a blanket.  I love to cuddle on the couch with it in the evenings so now i’ve got to talk the hubbs into getting a blanket.  We’ve had to go buy a few things to make life easier (stuff that wasn’t really necessary, but we can’t seem to live w/out).  Like a pizza cutter, measuring spoons, laundry baskets…basically stuff I couldn’t pack on the plane but didn’t think I’d miss it so much, lol!!  Luckily there is a Target, Walmart, Big Lots, and  a Dollar Tree so I was able to get stuff pretty cheap.  But you know how they say “Everything’s Bigger in Texas”….yah it’s true!!  Even the kids were like this is a little Walmart, lol!!!

I can’t wait to do more exploring but today we’re staying close to home to help the kids get back into a routine for school and so they’ll stop driving us crazy about wanting to go home….they’re not really the adventurous type, lol!!

Here are some pictures we’ve taken so far!  Jayson showing his “Monkey” the clouds, Kennyth chilling on the iPad, the pets made it, Jayson on the shuttle (he thought it was cool he could stand), all our luggage, lots of scenery, the Ferry (neato!!), weird little house and playhouse we came across, some downtime at the park, and more scenery!  So much and so much more to see and do!

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Moving Day

by jcastles | Apr 20, 2013 | Family, Moving, Uncategorized

Today is moving day!  We spent last night at a good friends house and shortly after we woke up I got word that the movers were at the house.  That’s when I went “shit just got real”!

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I wanted the kids to experience seeing their stuff go on a big 18 wheeler so we rushed through getting ready and boy were they surprised to see it.

Remember when the trucks were all green with a big yellow stripe down them with Mayflower written on them?!  What a nice logo change, lol!!

It’s so strange seeing your stuff go in a big ole truck knowing you won’t see it for a month.  You wonder if you got everything you’ll need for that month or not.  You wonder if something will happen to it and it’s goodbye!  It’s just crazy!!

So tomorrow morning April 20th we fly to Seattle!!  With the bombings going on in Boston it does make you worry.  But i’m sure we’ll be fine.

Well more pics to come later!.

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Tears of Joy and Sadness

by jcastles | Apr 14, 2013 | Family, Moving, Uncategorized

Today I cried tears of joy and sadness.  I made a trip to my home town (only an hour away) to see my second Mom Arlene (close friend of my Mom/family).  When I got to her house and saw her I literally ran out of the car and hugged her so tight and cried cried cried (these were the tears of joy)!!  I hadn’t seen her in 4 years and before that it was 3 years at my Mom’s funeral.  1.5 hours is NOT enough time to catch up with someone you hadn’t seen in 4 years….just incase you were wondering.

When I left her house I went to the cemetery to put some flowers on my Mom’s grave.  I don’t know when I’ll be back to do it again so I wanted to make sure I did it one last time.  I also put a rose on all my family members graves while I was there.  Here is where my tears of sadness came about.

After that I went to the funeral home office to visit my Aunt Mary (she works there).  I hadn’t seen her in a while and every time I go to the cemetery I always check to see if she’s working to give her hugs.

It’s so strange leaving the state you were born in let alone leave the state you’ve lived in for 33 years!  Although I’m ready for it it’s still hard to leave what you’ve known for as long as you’ve been alive.

I will deeply miss my family and friends but I’m so thankful that facebook will keep us connected.  So if your ever in Seattle let me know and we can meet up for lunch or something!.