My son, the next Al Roker?

The following conversation happened Monday morning on the {VERY LONG} drive to Harrison's school:

Me:  What a pretty day we are going to have!

Harrison:  It is going to rain.

Me: No, I don't think so.  Those clouds are pretty, happy clouds, not rain clouds - unfortunately. {I love rain!}

Harrison:  Those clouds are rain clouds.  It is going to rain.

Me:  We'll see.

Soon after I dropped him off at school and went on my way.  I stayed indoors the entire day.  We had friends over for a birthday party and then my visiting teacher stopped by.  Then it was time to pick Harrison up.

As soon as I got on the road, I noticed something.  A giant, black wall of clouds due south of me.  Harrison's school is due south of us,  many, many miles away.  Then it started to rain.  The further south I got, the rain drops grew in size.  It felt like hail was pelting the car.  I couldn't see in front of me for a while.  I admit it, I was scared.

Thankfully I arrived to the school unscathed.  It was pouring and windy.  My dad, the principal, and his teachers kept the kids inside the front hall.  My dad and his teachers would run out to the parents' cars, ask which kids belonged to each cars, ran back inside and got the appropriate kids  - covered with an umbrella - to the appropriate cars.  By the time I got there, my poor dad was soaked.  It was quite a site.

After Harrison was heralded into the car he immediately said, "I told you it was going to rain."

Yes, Harrison, yes you did.   

Back to School

Harrison started school last week.  First grade!  He has is going to Quartz Hill Elementary School and Mrs. Morris is his teacher.  His principal is Mr. Hallock, but Harrison calls him Pappy!  That's right, Harrison is going to my Dad's school.  

I really wanted Harrison to go to this school, for many reasons, not just because of my Dad.  For one thing, the hours are better - 8:53am - 3:40pm.  It is also brand new with brand new technology, equipment, etc.  All of the teachers are superb.  At Harrison's previous school it was hit and miss. I would talk to parents and they would say: "Whatever you do, don't get Ms. fill in the blank for this grade or Mrs. fill in the blank for this one and on and on".  Also the student pick-up/drop-off was a mess.  I could go on forever.  Bottom line, it wasn't a good fit for me as a parent and more importantly, it wasn't a good fit for Harrison as a student.  Admitedly the best part is that my Dad is there to keep an eye on him.  It is nice to see him every day when I drop off/pick up Harrison.   Plus he plays kickball with the kids every lunch recess, so Harrison can play with his Pappy everyday if he wants to!  

There is a downside, it is a 30 minute drive.  That means I am in the car 2 hours a day.  

But not for long.   

Our tentative move-in-date is September 29.  After September 29 it will take 4 minutes to get to school.  That's 16 minutes in the car a day for me.  I can't wait!

I am excited to be moving back to Gilbert.  We are still not too far from our family and friends in Mesa - about 20-25 minutes - so I am not too sad about leaving the area.