The three oldest were starting new schools this year anyway and Jace is still in preschool. Here I was, stressed about managing schedules at 4 different schools, early morning seminary, sports, scouts and everything else and now we'll all be together doing school at home. At least that's the new plan. Be careful what you wish for! They will have the option to go to school there, but I love the idea of not having a strict schedule and being flexible to go explore and do what we want. I see lots of fieldtrips in our future curriculum!
We're in the thick of preparations to make this happen. I'm actually surprised things haven't fallen apart--so far things have been (nearly) seamless and approved in record time. Good thing we submitted our visa application a day before the government shut down! It's daunting what is required to move to another country (passport pictures, passport applications, visa pictures, visa applications, doctor visits, hours and hours of paperwork, biometrics for fingerprints and facial recognition, etc...). And that's just the start of it. Carting the boys around to all of this is making me second guess whether we're ready to be seen in public amongst more proper and mannered civilization. Hopefully they'll pick up a few things there in that regard.
Researching curriculum for homeschooling, updating all 4 with their immunizations, well check visits, orthodontist and dentist appointments, supervising Tyler's online high school progress, shopping like crazy and getting the house ready to leave while managing the rigors of our normal crazy lives means I haven't packed a single thing. Have I mentioned at least one of my kids has been home sick everyday too? Well, this is real life. It'll all come together eventually I hope. As for now, we have no idea where we'll be living either.
Lynn will fly over on Tuesday to find us a place to live, as well as get started out there. We have an agency helping us, but it's nearly impossible to understand the area and trust the pictures of what's available. Those wide angle lenses make reality a bit shocking! It'll be a miracle if we can find something furnished with enough space for our group that's within a 20 minute tube ride from the office, but we'll see. It'll be quite the adjustment. He'll head home just in time to turn around so we can all fly out together on October 29th or 30th. Yes, I feel like a horrible mom not letting my kids enjoy trick-or-treating this year. At least they have the trunk-or-treat party at church and my parent's annual Halloween party too. I'm sure they'll be sugared up just fine!
I'm looking forward to getting all the logistics behind us and immersing ourselves in the culture there. It's bound to be one wild ride!
