Update!

We have had a lot of firsts and first day's since we got here.

Chuck had his first day of law school. He is doing great, and really enjoying it. He is up every night until about 1:00 am reading, and we don't get to see him very much. Me and the kids miss him, but I am so proud of him for working so hard. We are all hoping that it will get less intense once he has adjusted to the reading and how to write his briefs, etc... His professors all love him and he has really gotten involved with the IP society. He really likes a lot of the elders in our ward and has made a few friends that he really likes. He is always overwhelmed, but always happy!

Cayden started 1st grade. He was so excited to ride the bus and get to have lunch at school. I am homeschooling him half day, and he goes to school in the afternoon. He has had a harder adjustment than the other kids. All the kids at his school already had friends from last year, and I think boys are less warm to new kids than little girls are. The first couple of days at school he couldn't find anyone to play with him at recess. He had a boy tell him this week that he was going to beat him up the next day at recess. I asked him if he wanted to stay home that day, and he told me "no mom, I have to learn how to deal with this stuff, I bet he will forget anyway." I was more worried to send him to school that day than he was to go. My heart was breaking for him as he cried and worried about it. I feel sick that he is having a hard time. Things are getting better though and he is starting to make friends. He has made a few friends in our neighborhood that are also in our ward, so that helps for him to have people to play with when he gets home from school. And these kids have tried really hard to include him and make him feel welcome. He also started soccer, which he is really good at and he loves. But there is a boy on the team that has singled Cayden out and has been picking on him. Cayden is new on the team and the rest of them played together last year, so when Cayden was doing better than this boy it made him mad. Anyway, he punched Cayden in the nose at practice on Saturday. It was really upsetting to Cayden, he has never had anyone ever be rude to him, let alone get violent with him, until we moved here. Anyway, I am so proud of how brave he has been. He keeps trying everyday, but I know he is having a hard time. Keep him in your prayers! I can't believe how hard it is for me to see him having a hard time. I literally feel like my heart is being ripped out every time something happens and he is sad. I have prayed a lot about it and I know we are in the right place. I know that he will become stronger and better at making new friends. His prayers have become more heartfelt as he begs Heavenly Father to help him make friends and to be with him as he goes to school. I know it will get better and that he will be happy here. It is already starting to get better.

My handsome man, I love him so much!

Me and my baby!

Emma also started school. She is going to a Christian preschool across the street and I love it, so does she. She has the best teacher and a little girl in our neighborhood and ward are in her class. I think little girls are a lot more accepting, and she has made 4 little friends that are all her age, in our neighborhood, and in the ward. They are all really cute, sweet, and kind little girls and I am so grateful that she loves them all so much, and that they have all been so sweet and included her. She is so happy and loves it here. She still misses her friends at home, and she misses Grandma and her Auntie's. But I am so happy that she is adjusting so well. I think she has a little bit of a hard time in the mornings when I am teaching Cayden, cause I can't pay attention to her, but I try to make up for it in the afternoon while he is at school. Emma also started Gymnastics, and she starts dance next week. They have so many poor college students here that they have scholarships for everything. Which is so nice cause then I can still put my kids in lessons and activities.

Emma and Jenna.

Gracie has started running all over the place, Started teething (YEY), and has been a lot more vocal since we got here. She is so cute and fun, but really feisty and independent. She definitely lets me know if I make her upset. She also gets really mad when she wants something and I can't figure out what she wants. She is getting a lot better at communicating her needs to me and keeps picking up new words all the time. She has been so good to play with Emma while I teach Cayden in the morning. Her and Emma play so well, and Emma is so good with her. I can't believe how fast she is growing up, I am really enjoying her so much. She is so loving and affectionate to all of us.

Her favorite thing is to lay on Cayden and Emma's lap and cuddle them.

I am doing good too. I have felt super overwhelmed at doing Cayden's school. It has taken a lot more time and effort than I thought it would to prepare my lesson plans. I really feel like the spirit is helping and guiding me though. And of course we have the constant struggle of trying to get Cayden to stay focused and keep a good attitude. Kids don't have tantrums when their teachers try to give them a spelling test, but they do when mom does. I know it is the right thing for me to do and I have already seen growth in him, especially spiritually. I love being able to incorporate the gospel and the scriptures into every thing I am teaching him. I think maybe it's good that I am so busy with it, cause then I have to prepare my lessons at night instead of just missing Chuck, being sad he can't spend time with me and watching TV all night. It's good that I have something productive to do while he is studying. I am learning so much and I love that my mind is expanding. It feels good to use that part of my brain again, and to be challenged. My afternoons are filled with baking, laundry, cleaning, and most importantly reading and playing with my girls. I haven't had a lot of free time, so sometimes I feel like I am going to go crazy if I can't just watch one TV show and turn my brain off for a minute. I am happy though. I really love it here, and have met a couple really good friends, and lots of really nice woman. Everyone has been so warm and welcoming to us.