Texas School Days

So the day finally came. The boys have been back in school for 3 days now. Isaac loves riding the bus and has fit into the new routine seamlessly. We finally got E's bus situation figured out today. The bus was apparently coming 15 minutes earlier than it should have so we missed it the first two days. He's pretty emotional but says everything is going well. It's a big transition for him to move to a new state, ride a bus with 5-8th graders, have a locker w/ combo and adjust to rotating classes all at once. He's being a trooper and staying positive on the outside even though I know it's a little stressful for him. He has baseball tryouts this Saturday and will soon be playing fall baseball and hopefully making friends that will be in his school. He's totally bummed about missing football this season but next year he'll play on the school team on a gorgeous field at a beautiful school. The schools here are a lot stricter than in Colorado. Yes Ma'am and yes sir's are required. Late assignments can only receive a max of 70% grade. You have to have a school issued window permit to pick up your child. If you miss school for anything other than illness (which has to be proven with a Dr's note), you're ability to do make up work is very limited. Dress codes are strict and heavily enforced (no short shorts, spaghetti straps, flip flops, tanks, earrings that hang below the lobe, etc). Hair can only be natural colors (brown, blond, red, black). I know I'm missing many more criteria. That being said, the schools are awesome. I know they'll get a good education. Elias tested into the Gifted Program and has most his classes with the gifted community. The band started in 5th here so he would have to have private lessons to catch up to them. Piano isn't an option in band or orchestra so he's going to do choir instead. We don't have time to maintain two instruments. Getting him to practice one takes a herculean effort in itself. We gave him the choice of band and no sports or choir and sports. He of course chose the latter. But if anyone tries to tease him for choir he has the excuse that his p's made him do it in exchange for sports. I think that's acceptable. He's a pretty good singer (when he turns off his opera voice) and has a good ear for music so I'm hoping choir will be cake for him! I think I found a piano teacher for him who will come to OUR house for lessons! Can NOT tell you how this excites me. Also think I found a violin teacher for Isaac right here in the subdivision. Also, his bus driver just got a SWEET,new, pimped out bus with AC! E's bus is still the old Sweaty Betty. All in all I think we're beginning to wrangle this here state (knock on wood).