Back to school and one year in Canada!!!

Well, it's back to school time! The kids started back to school the Tues. after Labour Day. There was the usual excitement and anxiety about what teachers they would get & if they would have friends in their classes from last year, etc. After being back in school for a week now, everyone has settled back in nicely.

PJ (10th grade) likes his classes, and has some friends from his classes last year. He is also enjoying his guitar lessons & is thinking about doing piano again (in addition to guitar) beginning in January, and maybe joining the school choir. He will hopefully be finishing up his Eagle Scout project this year (we have been able to contact an LDS scout troop in Buffalo, NY that he is now connected to, so he can finish that, to become an Eagle Scout).

Tessa (7th grade) loves all of her teachers & was excited to have several friends in her homeroom class, and several more friends in her art class. Tessa is enjoying clarinet & sounds amazing! She is also hoping to join the art club, maybe the choir, and possibly being in a school play.

We didn't know Jonah's teacher (4th grade), but heard she was great, and she seems wonderful. Jonah also has several friends in his class that he met last year, and he is looking forward to being on the cross country team again this year, as well as playing drums (his first lesson was on Saturday), and then doing swimming again in the winter.

Clay (2nd grade) was excited to get the teacher he has, because he knew her from last year & she is really nice (her room was right next door to his last year). He also has several friends in his class, and is looking forward to joining the school's Junior Choir again this year, as well as piano lessons (his first lesson is today after school). And Clay will also do swimming again during the winter.

It's crazy how much has happened in a year! The past 12 months have FLOWN by!!! It's funny to think back to this time last year, and all that was going on, all the changes, the stress, the blessings, trying to get settled, taking that leap of faith to change jobs, move to another country, & hoping it was the right decision, etc. The kids all adjusted well & we feel very blessed that everything has worked out as great as it has. Neil loves his job & his boss is awesome! Neil taking the position with Sobeys was definitely a great move! They have treated Neil (and our family) so well & have been wonderful. And this area is a good, friendly community, and the ward has been nice too. It has definitely been a change, moving to a much smaller ward, with a lot fewer primary kids & youth, but our kids have done well & have a few friends their ages at church, and have fun at the Youth & Primary Activities, and PJ LOVES early morning seminary every day, as well as the stake & regional dances that they have every month or so.

It's been a good year and we feel very blessed to be where we are, and look forward to another wonderful year! :)