The Arrival

Yesterday Steven arrived into Lincoln after a long journey beginning in Berlin Germany.  There was a flight delay and he missed a connection into Chicago and ended up spending Saturday night in Chicago.  Emma, Xavier, and I picked him up at the Lincoln airport while Michael napped and Melissa finished up Sunday chores.  The kids were so excited when I pointed out his plane.  As soon as Steven approached us they both hid behind me.  As Steven and I began to visit while waiting for his bag they immediately began to warm up to him.  We drove through downtown Lincoln so I could show Steven where I worked, the University and football stadium, and our state capitol, Emma was asking many different questions and has most of the weekends filled up with her ideas of places to visit.  Xavier fell asleep on the drive home and Steven helped take him out of his car seat and carry him inside.  Once inside we showed Steven our home, the kids showed their rooms and toys, and Steven was shown his room.  We welcomed Steven with a Husker t-shirt as he will need to be converted to a Husker Fan since that is our fall tradition.  Steven brought chocolate for Melissa and I (although I doubt Melissa will share since it was her favorite kind) and candy for the kids.  Xavier didn't know whether to play with his chocolate tractor or eat it.  He also brought them all three small bears that they held onto all day.  Steven quickly changed out of his sweatshirt and jeans and into more seasonal shorts and a t-shirt.  He thought it was hot, although Sunday was a very mild summer day with a cool breeze.  He missed the 110 degree heat index days in July...  The kids drug out their board games and puzzles and kept Steven busy playing.  We then all went outside to play ball and so the kids could swing.  Our friends from Lincoln came out for a quick visit and a chance to meet Steven.

We then took a drive around Bennet (it does not take long) and showed him the Elementary School and Preschool that Emma and Xavier attend and where he will catch his bus in the morning to go to Palmyra.  We then drove to Palmyra (10 miles East of Bennet) so he could see the High School.  That evening Steven, Xavier, and I walked up the street to meet the other exchange student attending Palmyra.  Lucas (Lou) is from Brazil and has been at school for about a week.  He and Steven quickly began visiting and while they kicked around a soccer ball with the neighborhood kids, Lori & Steve Lindeman (Lou's host family) and I could visit about details of shuttling both to and from school.  Xavier wanted to go home and Steven quickly volunteered to walk him back.  They both held hands as they walked home and after Steven returned, Melissa said that Xavier became sad at home wondering when Steven and daddy were coming back..

Lori works from home and is going to be able to help with Steven and Lou when they return from school.  Lou enjoys riding the bus and prefers to walk home after school from the elementary school and will like having someone to walk with.  Lou said in Brazil it is a great privilege to get to ride on a school bus, something very different than what we are use to..  Most US kids do not like the bus..  Also Lou said that most of the girls at school are very welcoming and will stop and say "Hi" or waive..  Apparently in Brazil only when you are dating a girl will they give that kind of attention; I told him to tell all his friends at home that he has all of the girls at school wanting to date him...

After Lou and Steven had a chance to show their skills to all of the neighborhood kids that had gathered, we walked home for a welcome supper Melissa had made.  Steven did not hesitate in the least to try the meal.  He learned quickly the circus and noise that comes with feeding 2 children and 1 toddler...  Although ciaos to him, routine for Melissa and I and I'm sure he will become use to it.  With it being a school night baths and bed for the 3 lil Apels and then Melissa, Steven and I would visit about the upcoming week.  At the kids light-out, Emma and X asked if Steven would be here tomorrow, we said yes and Emma is already sad that at some point he will be leaving.  We told her there is a long time ahead before she needs to worry about that. 

Steven has enough supplies to get him going the first part of the week, but we will plan on a shopping trip as soon as he knows his class schedule and the need for school supplies.  With Walmart being less than 10 minutes away it will not be a problem.  We asked Steven for any special treats he likes and the chocolate spread he likes on bread is already regularly stocked in our cabinet..  He also shared his like of morning cereal which is also stockpiled in our cabinets...  So far we have many similar likes and are off to a great start.  Berlin is around 7 hours ahead of our time and with one day in the US already under his belt, he had a little adjustment for sleep already.  At 10pm he was ready to try his new bed eager for his first day of school.