Change

 Welp, apparently my 'year of change' had plans beyond the 12 months I allocated. Timmy's school, where he has been thriving, is closing at the end of this term. I felt like the rug was pulled from me when I read the email. Everything that I had planned for him next year (and in the subsequent years) went up in smoke. Yet again, I find myself struggling over the boys' education.

We moved to West Virginia without regard for their public schools because we were secure in Timmy's placement. Now we are in an area which ranks 50/50 in education and offers few choices. What are we supposed to do now?  Sigh. I guess today I start evaluating virtual schools.

Any recommendations?

Creatures

 Our new home, although still set among trees, is considerably closer to 'civilization' than our previous house. Because of this, neither Scott nor I anticipated wildlife intrusions.  It turns out that it doesn't matter how far you are from a Waffle House. If a bear smells your trash, they will come to your house.

Last week we heard a loud crash outside our back door. After investigating, Scott discovered that the trashcan (which was nearly full) was knocked over.  He picked it up and went back inside.  About 30 minutes later we heard the crashing sound again. This time the trash can was on its side and the trash was missing. It wasn't strewn around the yard, it had just disappeared. It was strange!

About 20 minutes later, while settling back into bed and discussing the missing trash, we heard more sounds. Scott took off running towards the back door. By the time I arrived (it took me a few seconds longer because I had put on my leg) I heard the bear snorting at the glass door before running away. In the morning we found the trash bags about 50 feet into the woods, opened and strewn in circles.  

We've never been so close to a wild bear. Although scary, it was also exciting! Our trash is now kept securely in our garage, so hopefully he will not be tempted to revisit.

Unfortunately, the bear was not our only unwelcome visitor. Yesterday afternoon I decided it would be nice to enjoy my lunch on my porch swing. I went outside, set up my audio book and set down. I looked to my left and saw a huge black hose laying down the driveway. It took me about 10 seconds to realize that we do not own a black hose, and that I was looking at an enormous black snake. 

Preparing to move the snake, Scott and I realized that there was another one curled up close by. He moved the biggest one but the medium one went back into a hole under the porch. We set up the camera and waited. 

Throughout the afternoon snakes slithered out from under a small hole in my cement patio. So far 4 snakes have been evicted but we have seen the head of another. Any ideas? Because snake wrangling is way out of our comfort zone!

 

Fun Escape

After a rough week with "really hard math" at school and uncomfortable weather all week, both Timmy and I needed a happy break on Friday. To his surprise and delight, he logged out of school early and dutifully hopped into the SUV for an unknown destination. Timmy is my adventure kid and is always up for a surprise, so I knew it wasn't going to be difficult to convince him to tag along.

We first drove to Red Robin, his new favorite restaurant, where he consumed a double cheeseburger without inhibition. (He witnessed his brother tackle the triple two weeks ago and is pining to keep up.) After lunch we strolled through the mall and spent about 30 minutes picking a new book from the bookstore. At the end of the mall we found a movie theater and his Aunt Sheri! 

He was over the moon to see the Minecraft Movie. Apparently it has been quite the point of discussion among his classmates and Timmy was hoping to see it soon. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was chocked full of nostalgia and was a delightful movie. If you had kiddos who played Minecraft, I will tell you that the movie will probably jog a lot of core memories of the game being constantly played in the background of life.