School updates

First Day of School - 2016 - Hawaii

Let's back track for a minute. 

The summer flew by and the kids started school at the beginning of August. This year brought about a few changes. It seems like this is the year for change! Abigail started fourth grade, and Austin transitioned to middle school for the start of seventh grade. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL! 

I can't quite wrap my brain around that one. The transition to middle school has been a little bumpy, but he's learning to navigate changing classes during the day and the increased responsibilities that middle school brings. I'm hoping that he will adjust by the time we move to Kentucky. Most schools on the mainland transition to middle school in sixth grade, so his classmates will have an advantage over him and the whole middle school experience. I don't want him to get lost in the shuffle. His school has a very odd schedule, they only attend certain periods on certain days of the week. He recently started attending the after school program three days a week. During the first hour he does homework during the "tutorial" period, and then he transitions to robotics for the last two hours. The extracurricular activities are a motivator when it comes to getting his homework completed and because he is still in school, in a learning environment, his mind doesn't wander like it does at home. Overall, I think he's enjoying middle school and my heart is starting to accept that he is growing up.

Abigail has adjusted seamlessly to attending school without her big brother there. She's fiercely independent and excelling just as she has the entire time she's been in school. She has been doing some testing for the enrichment program at her school for the past week. She has an interview today and she'll know if she get's into the program on September 30th. Her acceptance into the testing process, and possibly the program, was based on her grades from last school year and recommendation from her teacher. She is very confident in herself and will be anxious to hear if she gets into the program or not. If she is accepted, she will break out from her regular class during the school day and attend the enrichment class. In addition to work due in the enrichment class, she'll also be responsible to complete all of the work her regular class completes while she is out of the classroom. She was also selected to be her class's student counsel representative with another one of her friends. She had to prepare and give a speech to her class on why she would be a good representative. She was then nominated with the top number of votes. She's looking forward to moving, adjusting to her new school and running for student government.

Michael and I are also working hard to continue our education. Michael is just finishing up his last class for his bachelor's degree. He'll graduate at the end of the year. He's hoping to work on a master's degree once we're in Kentucky. I have one final math class to finish this semester before we move, and as I posted in my last entry, I'll be starting nursing school in January. We're getting smarter over here in the Ringman household!

Two short months, and it all changes again

It's that time again. Time for another move. Two months from now a moving company will enter our home and start packing up our belongings. Our fifth move with the military will take us back to the continental United States and closer to those we love the most, our family. After living so far away for the past five years, we're really looking forward to seeing our family more than once or twice every couple of years. A six hour difference will allow for quick long weekend trips and the ability to meet up half way to exchange our children with their grandparents. Something I think the grandparents are really looking forward to.

There are so many different things that are changing along with this move. A school change for both of the kids, job responsibilities for Michael and the beginning of nursing school for myself. Our kids are very resilient and I have no doubt that they will adjust just fine with all of the upcoming changes. I am always amazed that how resilient they are. The number of schools that Austin has attended always astonishes me. He's in seventh grade and has attended six different schools. Abigail has only attended three different schools, but that doesn't mean that she's any less resilient than Austin. I'm sure the ability to spend more time with their grandparents will help with the transition also.

Nursing school. It's the goal that I've been working towards for the past two years. All of my hard work has paid off and I'll finally get to fulfill a dream. I already know that it's going to take some juggling. My time will be limited on extra curricular activities and will mainly focus on handling my family, housework, laundry and studying. Studying, studying and more studying. As I've prepared to apply to the nursing program here in Hawaii, it has set me up well for school in Kentucky. I have already taken a handful of classes that would otherwise be required to take during nursing school there. For that, I am grateful. I can focus on my current schedule and clinical rotations without having to worry too much about other outside classes. I'm welcome to the challenge, and I'm so glad my family will be close enough to help celebrate once I cross the finish line.

But for now, we'll continue to soak up the sunshine while our time is limited in paradise. Three months left until we leave for good, and we're hoping to make the most of it. Maybe I might even blog about it...