Fall is upon us...wow. I started this post when school started... One line into it, I quit. Oops.
Anyway, indeed, the seasons have changed. Emily commented that she could tell it was school time because it was chilly in the mornings. ;) In all fairness, it had been chilly in the mornings for some time, but of course, she wasn't awake to know that. Anyway, September has ended with a new pair of gloves for Emily. She was complaining of cold hands in the morning. All of her American family will laugh to know that the coldest it's been in the morning is probably around 65º-68º F. She's a little Andalusian, what can I say.
School has started wonderfully this year. She has a new teacher, which may or may not be part of it, but I think mostly, she's just matured. There are no more tears at night before bed or in the morning at the gates when she has to go line up for class. She has done a full 360º and I couldn't be more relieved! Last year she always came home bubbling about what she'd done, but she would cry nearly every night well into the second semester of the year! This year, it's nothing but joy. :)
Other exciting news is that Em is taking horse-riding lessons. She has ridden on every visit to the States since she was 8 months old. ;) But now, she's the one holding the reins. This last visit to Ga and Papa's really did it for her. She has been totally horse-crazy since we got back. When we said we'd sign her up for riding lessons, she was so excited she forgot to ask, "Will you stay, too?".
Separation anxiety has been a big problem for Emily since the beginning of formal schooling. She loves to dance and loves ballet, yet even with her dance lessons, we were virutally forcing her to go in Granada! The fact that she just jumped in with both feet to her riding classes, is a testament not only to her maturity, but also to just how much she really LOVES it. We went to the stable to see the horses and meet the people before she was signed, up and she was chattering away to the woman who runs the place and even introducing herself to other kids!
For those of you who have been with Emily, you may know that she never stops talking (and I mean never). However, with new people, or when she's not feeling 100% comfortable, she is very shy and quite. I was so surprised by the way she was so herself the very first time she interacted with the people at the stable, I wanted to cry. Since then, she's gone to three official classes, and loves it more every time.
...They say third time's a charm. Yet again, I was interrupted mid-post and didn't hit send. Another week has come and gone since then. :(
I think I'd better wrap this up and sign off before something else happens and you're left yet another week + without news from Seville. ;) I'm sure you've got the bottom line, by now: school's started with a bang and things are just getting better. I do promise another post soon.
