Bye, Bye Aberdeen!
Almost a year has passed since I updated our blog. How’s that for keeping you informed!? We’ve been in Scotland for almost two years, and now it’s time to leave. At the beginning of July, Steve was offered a job teaching Hebrew at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies. He has a two-year contract. The second year is pending the successful completion of the first. Naturally, we’re hoping to be the there for two years. ☺ Steve will still be a student of the University of Aberdeen but he will probably have to put his dissertation on hold for a year.
As you can imagine, Sierra and Austen have grown a lot since we updated you last. Sierra was slated to start P3 in Scotland but will be in Level 2 instead in England, which is the same as second grade. She lost her first tooth last year on Christmas Day, which was also her sixth birthday. This past week, she lost her third tooth. Her gappy smile is very cute!
She relishes reading and has become fond of swimming too. She is very keen on climbing; she and Austen literally climb the walls.
She gets to start gymnastics in England immediately after being on a waiting list in Scotland for over a year. She is feeling pretty positive about the move although she will miss her friends and especially our downstairs neighbors’ kids whom Sierra and Austen both love to play with.
Austen will be starting with Foundation Stage in England and will be in school full time. Depending upon their school placements, I may elect to home educate them for a year. We’ll see. This past year, Austen abandoned the stroller. The year before I got wise to his tricks. Every day on the way to retrieve Sierra he would get tired and insist on being carried and I would end up toting a sleeping boy - until I began bringing the stroller with me. After he turned four, he decided he was too big for the stroller. Now, he is almost 5! This past year, he learned how to ride his bike without training wheels and learned to climb walls too – all in an effort to keep up with Sierra, whom he rarely calls “Sissy” any more. This past year he went to nursery for a half day five days a week, except Tuedsays when we went to Bible Study Fellowship. Leaving Mommy each day was breeze. He loved it!
For my part, I will miss Aberdeen, including our church, Bible Study Fellowship, my book club, and the friends I’ve made. I regret not doing any hiking in the Highlands or flyfishing while living in Aberdeen, but I’ve taken advantage of other opportunities living here, so I won’t pout too much. Living in England will present us a whole new host of things to see and do, so I am excited.
One of the best things about living in the UK is the chance to travel in Europe. That will be even easier when we live near London! This past year, we have gotten to see a bit. My parents came in December and watched the kids while Steve and I went to Rome. In the Spring, we went as a family to Stirling and Edinburgh and the Lakes District in England.
Edinburgh is a fantastic city, and the castle in Stirling is amazing!
Then in May, Sierra and I visited my parents in Amsterdam where they were touring.
Another great city! It was fun to have some mother-daughter time and time with my folks too.
This summer has been spent casually preparing for our move and visiting parks, the cinema, pools, the zoo, the Chinese Circus, and attending Holiday Bible Club.
With just over two weeks before we go, it’s time to start preparing a little more seriously!
On September 8th, we will be moving to a cottage on the grounds of the centre where Steve will be teaching. Unfortunately, we can only stay there through the end of December so we will be looking for another place to live.
We love to have guests. Please come and see us! Oxford is much easier to reach than Aberdeen, so no excuses! (Exceptions: We will consider the economy, small children, the distance, jet lag, lack of vacation time, and health considerations as reasonable excuses, but only with great reluctance! ☺)
I hope this wasn’t too long to wade through, but after a year, we had a lot to say! Please let us hear from you soon!
Love, the Herrings
As you can imagine, Sierra and Austen have grown a lot since we updated you last. Sierra was slated to start P3 in Scotland but will be in Level 2 instead in England, which is the same as second grade. She lost her first tooth last year on Christmas Day, which was also her sixth birthday. This past week, she lost her third tooth. Her gappy smile is very cute!
She relishes reading and has become fond of swimming too. She is very keen on climbing; she and Austen literally climb the walls.
She gets to start gymnastics in England immediately after being on a waiting list in Scotland for over a year. She is feeling pretty positive about the move although she will miss her friends and especially our downstairs neighbors’ kids whom Sierra and Austen both love to play with.Austen will be starting with Foundation Stage in England and will be in school full time. Depending upon their school placements, I may elect to home educate them for a year. We’ll see. This past year, Austen abandoned the stroller. The year before I got wise to his tricks. Every day on the way to retrieve Sierra he would get tired and insist on being carried and I would end up toting a sleeping boy - until I began bringing the stroller with me. After he turned four, he decided he was too big for the stroller. Now, he is almost 5! This past year, he learned how to ride his bike without training wheels and learned to climb walls too – all in an effort to keep up with Sierra, whom he rarely calls “Sissy” any more. This past year he went to nursery for a half day five days a week, except Tuedsays when we went to Bible Study Fellowship. Leaving Mommy each day was breeze. He loved it!
For my part, I will miss Aberdeen, including our church, Bible Study Fellowship, my book club, and the friends I’ve made. I regret not doing any hiking in the Highlands or flyfishing while living in Aberdeen, but I’ve taken advantage of other opportunities living here, so I won’t pout too much. Living in England will present us a whole new host of things to see and do, so I am excited.
One of the best things about living in the UK is the chance to travel in Europe. That will be even easier when we live near London! This past year, we have gotten to see a bit. My parents came in December and watched the kids while Steve and I went to Rome. In the Spring, we went as a family to Stirling and Edinburgh and the Lakes District in England.
Edinburgh is a fantastic city, and the castle in Stirling is amazing!
Then in May, Sierra and I visited my parents in Amsterdam where they were touring.
Another great city! It was fun to have some mother-daughter time and time with my folks too.This summer has been spent casually preparing for our move and visiting parks, the cinema, pools, the zoo, the Chinese Circus, and attending Holiday Bible Club.
With just over two weeks before we go, it’s time to start preparing a little more seriously!On September 8th, we will be moving to a cottage on the grounds of the centre where Steve will be teaching. Unfortunately, we can only stay there through the end of December so we will be looking for another place to live.
We love to have guests. Please come and see us! Oxford is much easier to reach than Aberdeen, so no excuses! (Exceptions: We will consider the economy, small children, the distance, jet lag, lack of vacation time, and health considerations as reasonable excuses, but only with great reluctance! ☺)
I hope this wasn’t too long to wade through, but after a year, we had a lot to say! Please let us hear from you soon!
Love, the Herrings
posted by Steve and Lara | 1:27 AM
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