Here we are heading into April and the year could not have gone any different than we had planned. Upon leaving Fort Worth to pursue my career as a teacher/coach, we ended up in Kingsville, Texas. From the beginning we should have noticed the signs by touring the town, but blinded by the almighty dollar and the prospect of my first job, we went ahead and made the move. Looking back this may not have been the best decision for us, though some valuable experience was gained and we have been able to grow as a family.

So back to Fort Worth we go at the moment, barring any job opening between now and the end of the school year in the coaching ranks across Texas. We both put in our resignations after it was made evident to Amber that she might not be asked back next year and the school district let us know of the fact that they were looking to release around 80 people at the end of the year. These resignations were worth $2000 dollars each, which should fund our move back and keep us afloat until we find something for next school year. This is an ongoing situation though, and one that I will do my best to keep you up to date on as the days go by.

On to T-ball. Gavin started his first season in organized sports when Amber signed him up to play pre T-ball with the local league here in Kingsville. He has now played his first two games and is up and down on wether or not he is enjoying it. He is doing well, playing right handed because that is the way he seems to do best at the moment, which surprised us a bit. I have included a picture of him at the top at his first game in his Diamondbacks jersey and cap. He looks super cute as Amber would call it in his uniform, and has surprisingly left his hat on at the moment. I will do my best to keep you updated on this as we go through games and practices over the weeks to come.

My first season of track is nearing it’s close, and though I did not have a hard assignment, distance runners, I do believe I want to stay away from track in the future if I can. The days are long and the meets are even longer, sometimes not getting home until well after midnight after waking at 5 AM. Sunburns weekly make me look as if I am from here and the tan line becomes more obvious daily, but it is almost over and I cannot wait.

This post is taking longer than expected as I type this on my IPhone due to another Internet outage with the wonderful CMA Cable company we have here in Kingsville. Hopefully we will be back up and running tomorrow though as it makes it more difficult to look for jobs when you lack the proper tools to operate effectively on the weekend. Until now I never realized the important place the Internet holds in our lives, but it is becoming clearer by the hour of our inability to function normally without it these days.

So enough rambling from me for now, I will try to do better about keeping you updated as we move forward with the events to come.

Gavin is looking forward to going home next week. He has planned trips to the museum and the movies and Tia Amy’s house. I don’t know if we’ll be able to get to everything he wants to do, but we will certainly try.

We went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows today. It was good, but I definitely would have preferred to sit through a 5 hour complete movie. I understand that that is impractical, so I’m glad they broke it up so we got the complete story. It was really well done. I just can’t wait until the next one. Also Gavin REALLY did not get why the movie was over. Even though he has seen all of the others, he’s of course, too little to remember all of it, so he felt kind of let down at the end and confused on what was going on. I told him he could watch the next one too. I think I’m going to start re-reading the book tonight, because I had forgotten a lot, and I kind of want to hear the end now to go with the beginning.

Two days of work next week and then we will be on our way home!

Wray asked Gavin yesterday morning if he wanted to go buy a truck, and his eyes got SO BIG. He is really excited and he was very patient yesterday through the three-hour process required to purchase a truck. I feel good about the purchase, though, because I feel like Gavin may drive this truck as his first car. It is really beautiful. When we go to Fort Worth for Thanksgiving we are taking family photos, and I want to take a few with the truck, which Gavin has named “Truckie”.

Things are improving at work. My students are great, and my boss seems to be warming up to me. It will be fine, even if it has to go on for more than one year, although we still hope to move back north after this school year.

We hired a new preacher at church. They went with the candidate that Wray and I were the most comfortable with. They will start the first Sunday in January, so we are looking forward to that. This morning at church they recognized our veterans, which was nice. There are quite a few, since there is an NAS base here.

After church this morning Wray cooked hamburgers for us, and I announced that I will never be the one cooking hamburgers, since his are so amazingly delicious. Then I took my “mandatory Church of Christ nap”, as Wray calls it, while he cleaned the living room. He earned major points today.

Keep prayers coming our way, and I will try to update this blog more faithfully.

Thanks,

A

I haven’t updated in quite awhile, and for that I apologize. Part of the reason is that I am really struggling lately to find positive things to say. I would hate to get on this blog and just complain, so I’ve opted for silence. I am HOMESICK. I miss Fort Worth, I miss my family, and most of all I miss my old job. I was walking to my car today, not quite completely broken down after another day in kindergarten, thanking God that my day was over, and I sadly realized that this used to be my favorite part of the day.

When I worked at Castleberry, walking to my car I always felt tired in a pleasant way, proud of what I’d done that day, and looking forward to what I had planned for the next day. There were frustrations that I remember vividly, just so you don’t think I’m romanticizing, but I loved virtually everything about that job. Were there kids that drove me nuts? Absolutely. Did my coworkers annoy me sometimes? You know who you are…But even with the frustrations, I had no plan to go anywhere. I liked what I taught and who I worked with.

Now I cannot say the same thing. My kids are sweet, and they are learning. They really are lovable, and despite my feelings about being here, I will remember them forever. But I am bored to tears in kindergarten. And I’m pretty sure that the majority of my students only understand about 3 of every 5 words I say. And my coworkers are nice enough for the most part, but this is a small town and everyone has known each other for 30 years. Also, I am the only new teacher on the campus and everyone else just magically knows how things are done, and so people just forget to mention that certain things need to be done. So people are forever showing up in my classroom asking if I have X,Y, or Z ready, and that will be the first time I’ve ever heard of it. It makes me feel completely ineffective and unorganized, even though it is not my fault. And there are other SERIOUS problems that make me hate my job. Everything I do is wrong. Wray was extremely romantic and upset for me. But as I saw in a movie recently, the internet is written in ink, so if you want to hear about those, message me on Facebook.

Everyone was supposed to come to our house for Thanksgiving. Then about a week ago (coincidentally, when my serious problems started at work), Wray started to say to me, “We can go home to Fort Worth for Thanksgiving if you want.” I told him, no it was fine, we would stick to the plan. But he kept saying it, so I finally got the hint that maybe he was homesick too. So I finally just asked him if he just wanted to come home, and he said yes. Since we have changed plans and decided to come home, we are both much happier. Nothing has changed except that we have something to look forward to.

Gavin is also homesick, but we are trying to keep our attitudes positive for him (also, because this is a really small town, and he has met some of my coworkers on multiple occasions. All I need is for him to ask certain people why they hate his mommy. He is enjoying school immensely, even with his new glasses. He got glasses a few weeks ago, and I was so proud because he took the eye test with the letters (my kindergarteners, some of whom are 2 year older than Gavin, took the E test today). He got his glasses and he looks adorable, but hates wearing them. He is doing well academically, even though he is in a combined pre-k and kindergarten class and he is the youngest student in the class. His teacher tells me that he tries to listen to everything the kindergarten kids are doing. He is reading easier words and counting and adding up a storm. As I said, he is homesick too. The other night he had a nightmare that we never went back to Nana and Papa’s house. He apologized for having the bad dream, so I tried to explain to him it wasn’t his fault, that his brain was just afraid of that so he dreamed it. His definition of subconscious? “Maybe it’s the Devil laughing at me.” Love it. He was Wolverine and Johnny Cash for Halloween this year, the latter was decidedly more popular among the crowd, but Gavin enjoyed being Wolverine more.

Our church family here has been a bright spot. We are currently in the process of a preacher search. I really liked the candidate that preached Sunday. Our elders and their wives have been looking out for our family, and Gavin asks literally every night, “Do we get to go to church tonight?” So even when I get down and don’t want to go, Gavin keeps me honest. Things are improving, and hopefully, we won’t be here too much longer. We are both planning on starting the job search after Christmas. So if you hear about anyone needing a coach/ Social Studies teacher, or ANY kind of teacher K-8 (I’m taking the 4-8 generalist later in the schoolyear), let us know.

Keep the Grier family in your prayers.

Only 10 more school days until Thanksgiving break!

Gavin is getting so big. He’s having a few minor issues with his behavior at school. He is just trying to be funny. The other day he repeated everything his teacher said to him. It was during naptime and she was trying to get him to lay down.

“Lay down, Gavin.”

“Lay down, Gavin.”

“It’s naptime Gavin.”

“It’s naptime, Gavin.”

You get the idea. A few weeks ago they had a presentation on bullies. He spent the rest of the day operating under the assumption that his teacher is a bully. He shouted, “No” at her and walked away anytime she told him to do something. I did not laugh, which I considered a major step in my parenting ability.

He turned into a big four-year-old last week. We had to get all of his shots, since he already started school. That was unpleasant, but he got through it quite bravely. Of course he did cry. And he kept crying for a really long time. I said, “Why are you still crying, little man?”. He tearfully replied, “Because I cried when I got my shots, so I’m not brave enough to be a fire fighter when I grow up.” Nana was on the phone with mommy at the time, so we quickly corrected that notion, and since then he talks a lot about when he is a fire fighter. His birthday party is next Saturday, because Daddy had a Saturday game this week, and he is not going to miss Gavin’s party. We have Iron Man cupcakes ordered and are planning on a park party. Of course, it would have to stop raining. It has rained EVERY DAY this week, and nonstop this weekend, so I guess it’s a good thing we had to move Gavin’s party. Hopefully things will clear out Saturday.

I am not designed to be a kindergarten teacher. In an effort to keep things positive, I will say that I have some very sweet students, am planning to take the 4-8 grade certification test sometime this year, and I only have 32 weeks to go.

Hope all is well for all of you.

A

Then, Mom and Dad came back to Kingsville with us for a little more than a week. We had planned to take a vacation all together during that time, but our move kind of derailed that, so we had a “staycation” in and around Kingsville and Corpus.

We all went Deep Sea fishing, and Dad managed to reel in a 21 pound Red Drum (which is an odd name for a fish. Always makes me think of the Shining), and he hooked another one that he let me try to reel in. It broke the line JUST as it got to the boat. I had to fight that sucker for like 10 minutes once it was hooked though. It was HARD work, and exciting. I now understand why fishing is considered a sport. It can be super exciting.

We took Gavin to Schlitterbahn this weekend. That was the one thing he begged to do on our vacation, so we made that happen. He saw “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” a few months ago and LOVED it (before you judge, the only seriously inappropriate part is that their favorite number is….well, you know, but like Gavin gets that. I didn’t get it till I was like 15). In the movie, Napoleon sneaks off and goes to the “Waterloo” water park. Gavin became obsessed with “Going to Waterloo” (He’ll either be horrible confused in World History, or he’ll get it right away). It was a good time, even if I did get burned to a crisp. Thanks to the Lazy River though, only on my front side.

Now we are just settling in. Gavin went and visited his new school today. He is starting Pre-K this year. There is a private school here who has moved their cut-off date back to his exact birthday, so he’ll be the youngest kid in his class, but he will be starting school, so I’m excited. Wray has started coaching and two-a-days are in full swing. I am officially a football season widow now. Wray will also be teaching Government and Economics and Geography, which kind of makes me laugh, because he’s never been particularly interested in either. He doesn’t hate them, either, so maybe he’ll learn to love them this year. I just got a job today. I am moving to Kindergarten!!! Big change, but it will at least let me know what to work on with Gavin, and when it’s time to move to public school I’ll know if he’s ready for first grade or not. I bought a calendar today, since I’ll actually have to display one. I’m seriously considering getting my doctorate while we’re here. Now I have to go and force Gavin to eat his dinner. Fun times. Hope all is well with you. Stay Positive.

A

Wray and I (More Wray than I) organized Gavin’s toys and bedroom a few days before Christmas, getting rid of all of the toys he’d outgrown or had too many of, and finding places for everything he already had. It was a great gift to me, because once he opened all his presents on Christmas morning, we already had places planned for everything. Now he can play a lot more in his room, whereas before there were so many toys that he couldn’t really even decide what to play with. It’s muh less overwhelming now.

This was the first year that Gavin has really been into the whole Santa thing. It was a blast. I think he saw Santa four times. (We’re going to have to watch that. At one point, before he’d even seen 4 different Santas, he asked me, “Hey, Mommy, who is that guy in the Santa costume?” If we’re not careful he’s going to be finished with Santa WAY too early). He asked for one new thing everytime he saw Santa, so his list that started as “Up and a Fire truck” at some point added a Handy Manny Motorcycle, a puppy toy and a piggy bank (He didn’t really care that he already has the last 2). He got lots of presents and loved them all. It was a great Christmas for us because of how much fun he had.

Wray and I got the chance to see Avatar in 3D at the IMAX. It was pretty awesome. I think we’re going to have to take Gavin to see Toy Story 3 there when it comes out. Oh, that reminds me, have you seen the trailer for that movie? I almost cried when I saw it: Andy is heading to COLLEGE! I know it’s been long enough, but when that movie first came out I was 15 and in high school, so I wouldn’t have cared about the kid going to college, but now I’ve got Gavin, so it freaks me out that Andy has gotten that old. I still plan to see it though. Gavin would never allow us to miss an opportunity to see Buzz Lightyear.

New Years was great too. Wray and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary by hangoing out downtown listening to live music from The Josh Weathers Band, a local group of whom we are big fans. It was a good time, and we are very glad we married each other and are as happy as ever!

Here’s a list of my 5 favorite things from 2009:

5. Our Summer trip to Colorado.

4. Gavin learned all his letters, a memory verse, and to count to 20 in Spanish.

3. Taking Gavin to Central Market.

2. Wray passed Spanish!

1. Watching Gavin get excited about Christmas!

We have a lot to look forward to this year. Here are a few I’m looking forward to:

Wray is starting student teaching this week.

Wray will graduate in May!

We are planning a summer trip to Seattle.

We are finally going to move to our own place.

Gavin will turn 4 in September.

As far as resolutions go, they are pretty standard: eat better, work out, keep everything organized. Hopefully we will be successful in everything we try this year, and we wish the same for you in 2010.

Living with mom and dad is stressful. They’re great, and we’ve had it as easy as anybody could. But there’s something depressing about constantly cooking in your mother’s kitchen. After awhile you start to feel like you’re not a real wife and mother, like you’re still a kid in your parents house. Which, technically you are, but who wants to be reminded of this? Wray’s schedule is crazy, and we don’t get to spend that much time together. And when we can be together, it’s not like I want to be cooking. So we go out a lot. In the restaurant, it’s easy to forget all that other stuff. While we’re there were just as normal as any other family. I know that all of this is fairly irrational and we, of course are a regular family, we’re just real-estate challenged. We like to go out though, and that’s why I think we do it so often.

I was cool with this facet of our lives. Then I saw our family pictures. I’d straightened my hair for the pictures, and I was wearing a blue top and jeans. The photographer is WONDERFUL, but she likes to take pictures of moms holding their kids hands and walking away. So there are these pictures, basically of my butt. And with my long hair hiding my neck, I look like a big blue Grimace. You remember Grimace, the huge fat triangular purple guy that is a McDonald’s Character. If you’re reading this, I’m sure we’re friends. At least polite acquaintainces. So I know that you are thinking, kindly, she’s crazy. I promise, now that I’ve mentioned the Grimace thing, that if you saw the pictures you’d have a hard time keeping a straight face. Your mouth might say, “No, you look fine.” But your face is going to say “OMG, she totally looks like a blue Grimace.”

THEREFORE, We are going to try it. 30 restaurant-free days. That doesn’t mean health food necessarily. But I think that if we’re cooking at home we can do at least a little better. Of course there will be a few times where social obligations will require us to GO to a restaurant, especially with the holidays coming up. But we will not eat there. We’ll see if we can develop better habits. They say it takes 21 days to develop or break a habit. We’re building in the extra 9 days just in case. Wray and I are stubborn. We’ll see how this goes….I’m off to cook.

I am watching Daddy read “Good Night, Gorilla” to Gavin right now. It is one of our favorites. Gavin is really turning into a reader. Obviously he can’t actually read yet, but he loves to point out letters in books, and he is exhibiting a lot of the characteristics of early literacy (dorky teacher words). I am very proud of him. He is so very smart. He will find two books and point out things in them that are similar (like monkey characters). It is so interesting to see how his mind works.

I think Wray is finally getting it right in Spanish. He got a 94 on the paper he wrote all by himself last week. He will probably graduate. YAY! We are definitely counting down the days until Thanksgiving break.

Hope all is well with all of you.