Up Hill Both Ways

We are almost through our first full week of school and so far it's going really well. Ben is coming home tired but happy at 3pm. He's enjoying school and has made some new little friends. How cute does he look with his uniform and huge backpack? It only has a lunch and hat in it but he's proud to carry it around, especially with the Texas patch that Grammy sent for it.

I'm happy with his school but it's very different from a US elementary. There is no bus service and no drop off point. I have to take Ben and pick him up every day and take Alex along through the entire process since we have to go all the way to the classroom. I'm trying to use the morning drop-off as my daily workout since it's over a massive hill and definitely gets me sweaty. Here's how it usually starts out - one happy to ride in the stroller and one complaining that he has to walk.

We start our hike up the hill into the hot morning sun.

I ward off the whining while pushing Alex and dragging Ben (who's usually holding onto the stroller) and we finally make it to the top and start down the other side. Have to allow a few extra minutes for the flower-picking.


Then we conquer the next big mountain, the pedestrian overpass that crosses two busy roads and the train tracks. I ignore the requests to be carried (Alex) and the request to drive next time (Ben) and we finally get into the school yard.

It's a lovely school with lots of different buildings and the pre-primary tucked right into the middle.

This is completely fenced off from the big school and has its own playground for recess.

Alex enjoys a few minutes on the playground every time we're there.

Once I've hugged and kissed Ben and extracted Alex from the playground, we head back over the bridge and towards home.

Back up the hill.

I do enjoy looking at all of the beautiful houses on the street, like this one that has been lovingly restored.

Some are the old original bungalows. Many of these have already been torn down to make way for more modern houses, and usually two narrow ones in the single lot.

And there are a few running in the $10 million+ range that can't help but catch the eye.

Finally, back at the top of the hill and the view is always rewarding.

Back down the big hill to sit inside and cool off for a few minutes before we're off to our other activities. Whew!!

It's only been 4 full days so far but Alex and I have enjoyed spending some one-on-one time together.

A couple of other fun pictures from the week...
We had a valentine's party with some of our American friends and the kids enjoyed all the candy and cards, since they don't do anything at school here.

Alex was more interested in the apple juice. This kid never gets tired of it!

Smart, Ben! Let your woman do all the work.

I've tried to start waking up at 6am to enjoy a few quiet minutes before the boys are around and to try to work on my Bible study. This has been the result on many of those days - lots of company and their entertainment.

We had a swim playdate yesterday in our new inflatable pool. It's pretty great but kind of a pain to drain and clean. Still not sure it's worth it but the kids love it. Notice that Alex went back to his trusty old bucked in the background, though!