"Life is full of disappointments"

Don't be scared off by the title. Things are going well here in the Land of the Hot. The title, a quote from one of my favorite movies (guess which in the comments!), sums up how I'm feeling about two things:

First, for those of you who are anticipating the kids' coming to KC and offering lengthy dissertations about their life in Vegas, adjust your expectations. I get so excited to hear about the kids' school days, maybe because I have very little social life of my own? But it's really the same old things. "Good!" "I played puzzles." "Math was fun, kind of easy."

Sam did say that they went to science today, and he asked "Do we get to make something explode??!" "Not today," was the response. That's my boy.

Second, I can't help but be a little disappointed by the news from work. I decided about a mon ago, when this adventure started, that I would try to make my job from omemwork remotely. Lots of people virtual PM, and I had 3 projects underway to prove that it works. My projects have gone well, I've been complemented by the management and clients, but I wa told yesterday that they don't have any new projects for me. Now, this could be temporary. And honestly, the time zone thing is not very fun. But I can't help feeling that I complicated is whole transition with work that is leading nowhere.

When we were at church Sunday, it occurred to me how much I've given up on lately. I'm not sure when this started, but I've basically begun thinking that things are as good as they can be, so much better than for many people, and I shouldn't really anticipate great improvement. That's really e very opposite of my typical world view, that everything can be better, more efficient, more something. I'm ready to expect more from me too. Why not expect more from work too?

Starting over in Las Vegas wasn't really what I aspired to or planned, but it may be just what I need.

First day of School!

Sam and Kate both started school today. Not many stories really, but I did get some pictures. Sam loved it and liked math best. Kate said all they did was puzzles, but I'm not too sure about that. I hope not!

Our kids on the balcony of our temporary apartment-- Looking good, right?!

Walking to the school. We had to park about 2 blocks away-- it was crazy!

Sam with school supplies in tow. Can you see all the people? Chaos!

Kate's first day at preschool Nothing as cute as the mural at Stepping Stones to take pictures in front of, but here she is anyway, dressed in her favorite purple with purple shoelaces in her (required) tennis shoes!

After school... happy boy = success!

Road Trip Pics



They started happy... this is in Lee's Summit McDonalds.

Scenic Hays Kansas (we made a lot of scenic stops, ha). Subway, Sam's favorite. Still happy!

Day 2: Rest Stop in the Mountains on the west side of Denver

Amazing scenery! I 70 from Colorado through Utah is lonely, but truly scenic!

Ghost Rock overlook in Utah. Amazing! (Day 3: Still Happy!)

Dad does not approve of the dancing on the rocks!

Beautiful

My New Las Vegas Lifestyle

I sit here, at 5 pm, Pacific time of course, lounging poolside and writing this post. We are thankfully shaded here, and I hate to admit to you that is pool is much more plush than ours will be, once built. But then again, we're staying in a million-dollar condo high-rise, so I guess there should be perks.
The kids are playing eith 5 other kids in the large pool, various ages and ethnicities, but all getting along as if they'd been friends for years, or at least weeks. Kids are remarkable in this, the ability to find friends and forget friends easily.
Our day started rough, despite my pep talk. Prayer would have been a better start, but ad it's not on any of my lists, it was forgotten. Kids woke too early, i even earlier. I had a dream about old friends, which seems the pattern. Last night it was a Colorado football game with Jolie and the girls from League. Colorado, I thought. It's not even in the Big 12!
I did manage to work. More than I thought when I added it all up. Kate is still impatient (I know where she got it) and restless, and who can blame her. It's like the first day of the next month of our lives... Too temporary to be more or less.
Stu is gone overnight. Adjusting to his schedule seems totally different when my expectations are of the perfect, nuclear family. I'll readjust when life gets more of a pattern.
We went to a park, which took me at least twice as much drive time as it should have because I was trying to find other parks, but ended up back up in Highlands, near our house and the school. Got a call from the school nurse about immunizations missing (need a pediatrician already???), so ran up there. Good thing is we ran into Sam's new teacher totally at random (thanks God), and she gave Sam a big hig and was great. Yea!

We went to a mall. Boring, like most malls, and with expensive food and no Hallmark store. (Do people still buy cards at hallmark stores?) Ended up at CVS instead.
Registered for library cards. Our first official Vegas identification. Establishing quiet reading time each day for the kids' benefit, to balance out screen time and for my own peace.
People here are fantastic. Really, I do not exaggerate. Even the hoopty 20-somethings in the building are nice to the kids and smile or introduce their dogs (sniff sniff). I'm so glad to find this aspect of Vegas totally different than Albuquerque. Hallelujah.
Now here, poolside, typing and reading a book. Bliss. They are working out their energy and can be as loud as they want without splitting my ears! Later dinner, and more glamourous unpacking. Beautiful.