We went and visited Monkey’s school yesterday. They have a very nice principal, he was a spanish teacher in the district for a while before going to Guatamala to teach. Now he is back as the Principal. He was very interested in welcoming us. The school had a little presentation, which bored the hell out of Monkey. Then we had a tour of the school, during which Monkey ran around with another kid. Finally we all had cookies and “juice”, which was the only time Monkey was really into the experience. However, she made a new friend, a little boy named Timor, and I met several nice moms. We are feeling better about school already.

They have a computer room that the students visit once a week for instruction, a music room, art room, library, gymnasium, and outdoor recess area. They focus primarily on reading and literacy, writing, math skills, communication and social skills. However, they have five special classes and the student do one each day. Art, Performing Arts, Computers, Science and technology, and physical education. Monkey’s classroom is the only kindergarten room in the pre-school wing, but that’s actually kind of neat because the pre-school wing is decorated a lot more colorfully than the other wings. Her teacher’s name is Ms. Diamond, and her room is really nice. It is a small space, but she has set it up really well and Monkey is very excited about starting school.

It seems like a good school, they have a G&T program for 1st – 3rd grade. (The primary school only goes to 3rd grade, as the middle school is 4th through 8th.) They have the funding and capacity to handle IEP’s if the students are having any problems and the ability to provide higher level education if the students are advancing. Overall I am happy.

So wednesday of next week she will go to school for the first day, and I will come home and do…. whatever I want to. It will be odd to have so much freedom. Hopefully I will find something valuable to fill it with.

Well, I am off to start another day!

Your Denver Girl in an East Coast World.

Well, we are in the market for a rain slicker for Monkey. We have had day after day of beautiful rain. It is odd because the rain is generally light and mellow, but at times gets fairly torrential. We were at the craft store the other day and while we were there we heard this thunderous pounding on the roof. It made it the noisest shopping experience of my life.

I had a cardboard box outside the house from setting up Monkey’s splash pool, and it got left out during the rain. I went out back to remove it and an entire ecosystem objected. There were frogs, teeny tiny ones, and crickets, and beetles, and worms, red bugs, black bugs, spiders, etc. I shrieked like a cheerleader and jumped out of reach, but then just watched them all. I REALLY need a pet bat, and more frogs.

We have not seen more fireflies in action, though we saw a couple on the wall but without any lightup butt action. We will have to have some hot cocoa and watch for them soon. Summer seems to be over here, which is odd. In Colorado, as you know, summer lasts until at least February, so having it over before September even hits is unusual for us. I had visions of many more hot beach days, and have had to revise them to be many more cold beach walks.

On the upside, there is plenty of moisture and I don’t have to water. On the downside, I always feel a bit damp, and Lee is a bit grumpy without his sunlight. However, we are trying to put the best light on things, and it seems to be working. Devon came over last night with a new recipe off “Good Eats” and filled our bellies with damn good chicken fried steak. Marlena and I hit the craft store this weekend and I taught myself two new crochet stiches and am in the process of making her a back to school sweater. Monkey got a new computer game and has been holed up in her room playing it for a while.

So despite some rain, a little morning sickness, and lots of home sickness, we are doing all right. I apologize for not calling everyone back this weekend, we got pretty busy putting the house in order, I will try and call this week!!

Love you all!