Back to school...

Dear Everyone,

Our guests left last week on Wednesday. The house seemed very empty and lonely for days after they were gone. :O( They made it back home safely...thanks for coming, Fiedlers!!

We went to the state fair last week in Douglas which, I'm sorry to say, was a really big disappointment compared to our high expectations of state fairs. We did enjoy looking at lots of cows, pigs and sheep and this fair had a WHOLE room full of hay bales that were judged, not just a few bales like the fair in Casper. We had good food and the kids got to ride lots of rides. However, we will probably pass on this fair in years to come and focus our fair energies on the Casper fair.

Speaking of fairs...it's been a roller coaster ride for the Sandberg family for the past few months, but I think we are finally to a quieter, more routine time once again. With Todd being in Casper for six weeks before us, packing, selling the house, moving out here to the camper, buying a house, unpacking and having house guests life has been pretty nuts. But yesterday something happened to slow it all down and force us back into a more "normal" lifestyle...school started for Brennen. My "little" boy is in second grade!!
It was crazy at the school yesterday morning! Todd was able to come with us, and we all parked a couple blocks away to bring Brennen and all his supplies in. The parents were welcome to stay for the first half hour. It was good to get to see the other kids in his class and meet his teacher briefly. Some thoughts from Brennen and Me:
1. Dress code requires shirts to be tucked in and belts to be worn if there are belt loops present. This was a struggle for Brennen - we have to fight with him just to get him to wear a shirt with a collar. He really doesn't like stuff being "itchy." (Bad)
2. Unlike his previous school, he is allowed to wear camouflage here (note what he picked to wear for the first day). (Good)
3. Two seats away, there is another child with the same name only with an "a," B-r-e-n-n-a-n (Good)
4. He played with the other Brennan at recess and was happy to have made a friend. (Good)
5. There was no opening prayer or scriptures posted anywhere (obviously not since it's a public school, but a big change for all of us and kind of hard). (Bad)
6. His teacher was super organized which works great with Brennen's personality. (Good)
7. The new facility is top notch and gorgeous. How fun to be the first kids to get to use the gym, library, playground, cubbies etc.! (Good)
8. Kindrid's days just got a lot longer with no Big Brother to play with. (Bad)
9. Mommy's days just got a lot longer in some ways and shorter in others. (Good and Bad!)

Letting go is a major theme of parenting that starts for mommies the day the baby is born. Suffice to say I'm not getting any better about it! :O(

BTW...Kindrid is on a waiting list for pre-k where I'm really hoping she gets a place.

Todd's in Albuquerque for today and tomorrow so I'm hoping to get a few projects done. We've had quite a few things go wrong with the house since we've moved in. I'm trying to keep a positive attitude about it because I adore this house, but it really has been a lot of things. The latest involved a plumber, a part of a closet ceiling being removed and yet another repair bill. (This was the plumber's third visit - we've also had visits from the window repair guy - he'll need to return to fix few more - and from the evaportive cooler guy). Dad, when are you moving to Casper??? :O) Anyhow, now the closet really ought to be painted so I hope to do that and the garage remains an absolute disaster that I need to attack.

During the final days of the Fiedlers' visit, we visited the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center here in Casper. What a cool museum! When you come visit, we'll take you there!
http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/NHTIC.html
I got caught up on my friend's blog, "Chez Wilkes," earlier this morning and nothing I post can possibly compare with the history and adventures she and her family are enjoying in Europe, but I am content that we live in a pretty cool place in the good ole USA right now. There is much to see and do here, and we love house guests...hint hint to all you potential visitors! :O)

To my friends J. and J. who nag, nag, nag...thanks for reading!! Glad I keep you hanging from time to time. Really, though, now that we've been here a while, there just isn't as much to report. I refrain from posting as often as I did before more out of a desire to not bore you than from laziness. :O)

Hope all is well in Peoria, Fort Smith, Minnesota and beyond!!

Love,
Christy