A Bit Like Homeschooling

After nearly a week off from school (due to weather...not snow, like is typical with Weather Related days off, but high winds of 75+ mph), I have entertained my children in several ways that aren't typical of traditional education. I think many experts in education would be loathe to approve all of these excursions. Monday, we went to the Louisville Zoological Gardens. The zoo had done a very good job of clearing debris and preparing for visitors in less than 16 hours. It was a fun day. And it was cute to see Davey and Josie holding hands as they observed the animals. We saw an 8 ft. tiger being trained and fed horse meat. Max does a fantastic impression of the tiger "going ROAR!!"

Tuesday, we cleaned out food from the fridge and freezers to throw away and then played with the sons of my friend Ronda, who had electricity, and therefore television, internet and Wii. That afternoon, as soon as JCPS decided there would not be school on Wed., we headed to Bowling Green again, with laundry, a cooler of a few bits of salvaged food, and us.

Wednesday found us enjoying oatmeal at Googey and DadDad's and then off to Jackson's Orchard for apple cider, pumpkins, apples, and fall fun. Later, we went to the mall to help my mom find some pajamas for the trip to Italy that would be easy to hand wash and line dry on the trip. We were successful. My triumph was completing the phone interview with the Louisville Social Security office while keeping 2 boys relatively calm, corralled and quiet while in Macy's. The call went well. Lots of questions about birth dates, when we got married and where, any previous marriages, when we moved into our house, did David serve in the military, etc. All I have to do now is review the forms that will come in the mail as a result of the call, sign them and enclose a deposit slip for the bank account for direct deposit of the checks. The boys will each receive a monthly check until they graduate from high school. I receive a one time payment of $250.

Last night, we took the boys to the Ringling Brothers- Barnham and Bailey Circus, right there in Diddle Arena (Western Kentucky University's basketball stadium). We all had SO much fun, perhaps the adults having more than the kiddos! After the show, we all compared notes on our favorite act. The elephants and the tigers were highlights, but the clear fave was the clownish guy who ride a bike that keeps coming apart and getting put back together incorrectly, yet somehow functionally. At the end, he rides an approximately 4 inch high bike through a ring of fire. Large amounts of clapping coming from the under 6 set in our row!!!

Today, we went to Target to print photos dating from last February (including a business trip David took to NYC, Easter, the Pegasus Parade at WRBC, our annual trip to Mexico Beach, first day of kindergarten, picking pumpkins and the circus). Then, since St. Margaret Mary was back in session today, and I have verified electricity at our house, we came home to Lu-A-Vul. Upon our return, we were greeted with our neighbors past and present (Chitwoods and Crosbys) and shared the food the church Mom's Group has shared over the past couple days.

Tomorrow, both boys return to their typical routine (for A DAY!) and I will finish with the house and visit a local shop guaranteed to offer several wardrobe ideas previously unconsidered.

This weekend will find us working on Davey's "All About Me" project and having soccer photos. I hope we can return to a normal evening routine, so the boys are in bed before 9:00!! We will see. October is shaping up to a remarkably busy month filled with soccer, visits from family, marking birthdays (a party for one, a visit to the cemetery for the other), a couple costumes to create and continuing to attempt to create that "New Normal" that has been very elusive in September with storms and 4 day power outages. My friend Amy referred to the blackout as "pretending to return to Little House on the Prairie days"- she gets frustrated without her TV, Internet, coffee machine and air conditioning.

Again, we are thankful for neighbors who have helped with food storage, tree removal, company, information sources for school closings and reopenings. Everyone should be as lucky with their friends and neighbors. Forget Green Acres, LOUISVILLE is the place to be!!