Band Begins

Today is a big day for my not-so-little Koopa. He has his first rock band practice tonight, and he is filled with both excitement and nervous energy. Robby has been working diligently since his guitar lessons began and his music teacher feels that his skills are up for the challenge. I know that he will have a wonderful time, but I can't help but feel nervous for him. 

More than making music, I hope that Robby has a lot of fun and forges friendships with his new bandmates. It is always difficult walking into a new situation, but I know that Robby will do a great job. Even though he has only been playing for a little over one month, I have to believe that his music teacher would not have graduated him to performance band prematurely. It is hard for me to release my worry, but I need to trust that his skills are up to the necessary level. 

Wish my Koopa luck tonight!  Hopefully he will be grinning from ear-to-ear when I pick him up after practice.  I'll report back tomorrow!

CyberSchool

Yesterday my little Ghostbuster and I were stuck inside because of the weather. The temperatures were high and the air was muggy and bug laden. Today we are supposed to top near 100, which for October in Northern Virginia is unseasonably high. I'm ready to put my shorts and sundresses away, but it seems that I have to sweat out another few days before autumn really arrives. 

While Timmy and I were busy catching ghosts, Robby worked for nearly six hours on his Algebra assignments. Algebra is not easy for him, and I am so proud of how hard he is trudging through the lessons. We finally found a tutor and her instruction has become a godsend for all of us!  

Last year was one of adjusting and trial and error. Robby and I were both experimenting and figuring out the best approach towards his cyberschool curriculum. Although the work is still challenging, this year has been considerably easier for both of us. I feel like we found our groove, and watching him take more responsibility for his classwork and assigments is empowering. 

I don't often reference Robby's cyberschool status, primarily because I am not interested in hearing the uninformed and uninvited opinions that always follow whenever I bring it up. I realize that cyberschool is not for everybody, but it is definitely working for Robby. He is highly social through his extensive extracurriculars and is thriving academically. Since he started his cyberschool program I have witnessed him grow academically while his confidence has soared.  

There is so much turmoil in this world. I really wish that we would spend more time working and supporting each other instead of casting judgment.

Halloween Ready

I am so happy that September is finally behind us. Nothing dramatic happened during the month, I have just always found September to be stressful and exhausting. Between Scott and Robby starting back to school and the return of extracurricular activities into our calendar, I spent the majority of the month chasing my tail. Things are finally starting to settle down and normalize, just in time for Halloween.

Timmy is all in with Halloween this year. He spends hours each day crafting decorations for the house. We have spooky skeletons, happy pumpkins and scary skeletons hanging from every wall and doorway. He is determined to transform our home into "Spooky Town," and his dedication to his vision is only growing.  

I am constantly walking into spider webs, spiders and skeletons, but I know that Timmy comes by his love for Halloween naturally. Robby loves the holiday as well, although his decorating efforts have certainly waned as he has edged towards being a teenager. Even though Robby is no longer enthusiastic about hanging pumpkins and ghosts, he loves scaring me whenever possible and Halloween is the perfect opportunity.

In fact, all of the males in my home (Scott included) have developed an affinity for scaring me. The boys love nothing more than throwing a plastic snake or spider onto me when I am relaxing, causing me to shriek. Occasionally they have frightened me to the point of incontinence. Apparently it is hillarious watching Momom pee her pants.

The next month will be filled with autumnal adventures, spooky outings and lots of Halloween crafts.  Since I don't see the boys stopping their spooky antics anytime soon, I will probably be doing a lot of laundry this month.

Fall Festival

While Robby was in class on Friday, Timmy and I headed to a local Fall Festival. The temperatures were beautiful and the sun was bright in the crisp blue sky, which made it the perfect day to spend outside playing. As a bonus, Friday was considered a "value day," so admission was considerably discounted.

Usually packed with hoards of people, the farm was sparcely populated. Timmy and I were able to enjoy every slide and activity without waiting in line, allowing us to play on every structure and adventure. Needless to say, we had a wonderful time.

Fall Festivals are often difficult for me to transverse, and Friday was no exception. Typically built on a farm, little to no thought is given to accessibility. Slides are often plotted at the top of steep dirt hills without the benefit of handrails or steps. Obviously, corn mazes are not not always clear of obstacles, and the haunted paths through the woods are often riddled with branches, holes and other possible hazards. 

While not impossible to enjoy, I do find myself hyper aware of my the position of my prosthesis as I played at the Fall Festival. I'm grateful that I was able to still walk and enjoy the event. I saw several people sitting sullenly at the bottom of the hill in wheelchairs or with crutches. Going to this event without the ability to maneuver safely would stink!

Even though I had to remain vigilant to prevent falls, Timmy and I had a wonderful time playing at the festival. It was the perfect day to play and to just have fun, and we definitely succeeded with both objectives. 

GhostBuster on a Bike

My little Hamlet continues to be all in when it comes to reenacting Ghostbusters. First thing yesterday morning he donned his uniform and went to work, clearing the house of ghosts and other spooky apparitions. After I had sufficient coffee we took the ghost hunting outside so that we could keep the neighborhood safe.

Before heading out through the neighborhood, Timmy took great care to afix printed logos over the HotWheels emblems on the frame of his bike. He was delighted with the final result. We rode up and down the street and through our neighborhood for hours, chasing down ghosts and zapping them with his proton pack. I adore his imagination!

Riding for several hours through the neighborhood, but the adventure would have been far more laborious had I not been gifted an electric bike last Christmas. To be honest, I wasn't entirely thrilled with the prospect of using a pedal assisted bike when I unwrapped it last December. I viewed the motor as somehow cheating, and vowed to ride without the motorized help. After experiencing the pedal assist boost, I quickly changed my tune.

I love my bike! Yesterday I was able to keep up with Timmy as we rode for nearly six miles. I still felt tired, but not overwhelmingly exhausted after our ghost busting adventure. I would highly recommend a pedal assist bike if you are in the market.

OPAF Needs Help

I am beginning my third year as a Board Member for OPAF (my second as Board VP). OPAF, the Orthotic and Prosthetic Activities Fund, provides adaptive sport and recreation experiences for the physically and mobility challenged. We bring "First Clinics" to towns and cities across the country, and our events are always free for participants.

I was delighted when I was accepted onto the Board of Directors. I have always believed in the mission of OPAF, and I have experienced and witnessed the benefits that come from participating in their events. We do great work, and I am proud to be affiliated with such an amazing organization.

As with many nonprofits, OPAF has been facing a financial crisis. Corporate sponsorship dollars are dropping as manufacturers search to diversify their reach. Even though our operating costs kept to a minimum, the organization is struggling.  

We recently launched an online raffle to help raise funds. We are offering an impressive pellet grill (purchased collectively by all members of the Board of Directors) for the prize. Please consider supporting this amazing organization by purchasing a raffle ticket.

We appreciate your support!

Ready for Fall

We were granted a reprieve from the unseasonably hot temperatures, allowing my little Ghostbuster to work tirelessly outside clearing poltergeists from our yard. He spent the entire afternoon running around the yard and riding his little bike up and down our street, blasting ghosts that were hiding in his path. My goodness I never realized so many spooky ghosts were living with us! 

While Timmy was busy blasting ghosts, I spent the afternoon picking up sticks for our firepit and readying the yard for winter. I stowed his summer toys and cleaned off the sleds. (I realize we have several months before we will need the sleds, but I would rather get them out and ready instead of wading through the heavy snow to pull them out of our nook.) 

I ended up logging 20,000 steps working outside, which has caused my leg to feel sore this morning. I know that I didn't cause an injury, but I am reminded of my activity with each step. The end of my limb is red and angry, which I find incredibly frustrating. I hate sore leg mornings!

It was nice being able to spend the day outside, completely away from technology and the news. We are supposed to have one more nice day before the heat returns, and I plan to enjoy the autumnal temperatures while we have the chance. After the sweltering summer, the cooler fall weather is a welcome change.