Canton (Georgia) Homeschoolers ROCK!!!!!!
We spent a great 10 days visiting our "peeps" in Louisiana. We surprised the family, who were not expecting us until the following week. Our visit was three-fold----of course to visit, but also, we were making our almost annual trip to the church fair of the family Catholic church, which is a huge 2-day social event that brings people out from all over the area. Thirdly, we were implementing Quadson's first school project, about Louisiana. As we crossed the Mississippi-Louisiana border, Quadson hopped out of the truck for a quick photo-op at the "welcome" sign. We had a virtually bug-less ride, UNTIL we crossed the border. It was amazing. Quadson, in this picture, is surrounded by a swarm of "love-bugs," which are two fire-fly looking bugs attached to each other, flying around aimlessly and wildly in droves. They are a part of the air people breathe for a good week or so at the end of the Summer. Very annoying! Your entire car window can be blanketed in blackness within minutes.
The kids love their visits.
We went out one night to a great and popular Italian restaurant in Baton Rouge that is owned by a cousin of one of Monique's students. Leslie enjoyed her pasta.
Monique, who is one class away from her hard-earned BA in Culinary Arts Management, had homework to do for an online class, and the "internet-in-the-home" is not a popular necessity in her rural area across the river from Baton Rouge, so after our Italian dinner, we stumbled upon a Community Coffee store (although they have Starbucks all over, Louisiana is famous for their own coffee brand, so there are a few Starbucks-looking Community Coffee stores in Baton Rouge). This one had wi-fi and we had one of our laptops with us, so it was homework pit stop time. Trudy was out with us, so she and I hung out with kids. An older man walked into the coffee shop wearing an eye patch, and Quadson shouted, "Oh no, a PIRATE!!!!" Trudy almost lost her dinner and had to go to the restroom in tears. Not so much because of Quadson's outspoken comment, but because the man replied back in true pirate spirit, "Argh!" So, Quadson and his sister had a great time going back and forth with this gentleman until Mommy was done with her assignment.
Quadson officially does not have to be "homeschooled" until he is 5, but we decided to go ahead and get acclimated. We are a part of a homeschool group in Canton, GA and that group organized a geography fair, where the kids come together in "science fair" fashion, and present a project. Quadson covered Louisiana. We made many tourist stops on this trip, starting with this 200 year old home in Monique's hometown of New Roads. Most New Roadians have never been here, to include Monique, so it was a learning experience for all. I suppose the culture unknowingly was with us since Quadson was born. Both our kids had netting over their cribs, so Quadson was very familiar with this site. Of course, the netting 200 years ago was to save the baby from mosquito bites, not for decor.
Quadson sweeps at our house, so he was very interested in this strange looking broom. The apparatus to the left is a mop which folks made out of corn husks. Fascinating!! Everything had another use.
Quadson enjoyed learning about the "corn grinder" to the left, because he understood that it was the beginnings of one of his faves, cornbread. We also enjoyed learning about the tall furniture piece that stored freshly made foods that were about to be eaten. The white saucers at the foot of each leg, served as a "drowning pool" for ants, so they would never make it up to the fresh pies, or that hot cornbread. Fascinating!!
Sugar cane was processed in this huge "bowl." The house sits on the banks of the famous, False River.
On another occasion, Quadson enjoyed a firetruck joy ride.
Quadson displays all the flags that "flew over" Louisiana.
In the old museum home, this lizard slithered up through the beautiful cypress floors. Quadson was pleasantly surprised. Monique was terrified.
To show how walls were insulated, they have plexy-glassed one area, which shows insulation of mud, dirt, spanish moss and horse hair. Fascinating!!
Adults were much smaller than they are today. Quadson was tickled to know that he could sit easily in the adults' chair of that time.
The padding and mattress construction of this trundle bed was quite interesting.
We visited a wildlife display in Baton Rouge. Among the snakes and gators vying for our attention, Quadson was more mesmerized by this iguana dragon.
We had a great visit...always eating.
Quadson and his cousins chow down on Pawpaw's AMAZING seafood gumbo.
For the first time in 14 years of being a part of the Porche family and only after we saw a lizard IN that old 200 year old house museum, have we ever been greeted by a lizard/geico IN THE HOUSE. I was so glad Monique was out running around town. We managed to jar it and it was Quadson's pet for 15 minutes. I explained how much better off it would be out of the jar and he was quite excited to set it free.
10 days of time with their babies, made these grandparents very happy.
The main event of our visit was our attendance at the church fair. Big event. Like a community family reunion. Tasty food. Great venue to show grandkids off!!! Monique and Leslie pose with a cousin back home for a visit from London, England.
Quadson and his English/Bayou cousin "break a leg."
Leslie checking out the moves on the dance floor.
Quadson was really getting into it!!
Leslie and cousin, Trent, touring the fairgrounds.
Quadson and his cousins, Peyton and Lucas.
Quadson and an older cousin are in the vessel on the far right.
Go big boy Quadson!!
Now they have a little demolition fun.
The grandparents look on with pride.
Quadson and cousins, Lucas, Taylor and Tyler. One day the four of them will be riding off in a real car. YIKES.
Quadson and cousins, Taylor and Tyler rode everything they could.
Pawpaw "pimped up" this wagon, adding the wooden sides, and Leslie really enjoyed it.
Leslie cutting the rug with her grandparents to some good ole zydeco music, as the band took their break. Behind them watching their every move is about 200 people seated under a pavillion. Leslie was not phased and loved the attention.
Quadson and I, about to take our potato sack ride down this tall slide. 
Leslie and her cousin, Zoe (AKA Quadson' s twin), who was born a few hours after Quadson.
Mawmaw takes her hot, sleeping grandson over to the big fan. 
The noise at the fair was incredible, so he was definitely tired to have napped there for over an hour.
Good food out on the bayou. Along the back of the fair on the banks of a green merky river that looked like it could be walked on, were a line of these stands, where with tickets you purchased, you could buy all kinds of great creole, cajun creations from etoufee, to crawfish pies, to turkey legs, fried chicken and fish, to french fries. Ca c'est bon!!
Pawpaw is back there somewhere, volunteering on fried fish duty. 