Home?

The day before Thanksgiving we packed up the car and headed north to Cincinnati to explore areas, neighborhoods and schools where we might move to this coming July. Rich will start his neuro radiology fellowship on July 1, 2010. While the new school and hospital is 100 miles apart from our current home, I think it would be in everyone's best interest to move for one year. Rich would be spared the long drive to Lexington to visit us and we could be together on a daily basis instead of only a few days a week.

Besides the issue of being separated from Rich, our other huge concern was finding a great school for the boys. It would seem impossible to find a school better than the one they currently attend. Plus, with the boys being in accelerated programs, I didn't want to change schools and simply loose everything they had worked so hard to achieve. It will be hard to be 'the new kids' two years in a row, but I know they can still flourish in these new environments.

We know relatively little about Ohio, but after living in Kentucky for nearly a decade, we know quite a bit about our state's educational system. We started searching areas in Northern Kentucky and found two amazing schools that are six miles south from the hospital and across the Ohio River on the Kentucky side. Ruth Moyer Elementary school is in the top 5 of Kentucky and Johnson Elementary School is #21. I think either would be great for our kids.

Our next test will be when we attend church up there this coming Sunday. It will be great to get an LDS perspective and opinion and get a few contacts that could help answer questions, like finding a good preschool for the girls. I've got my fingers crossed that they will speak highly of the areas we looked at.

The next hurdle will be to sell our house. I think I will put our home up for sale in mid April. I would not close sooner than July 1 because the boys would still be in baseball and swim team.

Our next issue will be finding a rental home. I think we would be able to find one, but I might just be naive. Here's what a realtor sites said about the Fort Thomas area we are looking at.

Fort Thomas, Kentucky, known as "The City of Beautiful Homes," is over 120 years old. In 1877 the United States Army selected Fort Thomas as a site for a military post because of its lovely rolling highlands and location overlooking the Ohio River.

You won't find industry here, but you will find a closely-knit community. Virtually all prices and styles of homes are offered. They share the common trait of being well-kept.

Most Fort Thomas streets are tree-lined and many have houses which offer highly sought after river views or city views. There are few through streets; most are cul-de-sacs providing safe places for children to play.

Fort Thomas has prided itself over the years on its clean government, low crime rate and high degree of community involvement in various projects. It's no wonder that a sizable proportion of its youth remains in town. Highlands High School has a strong tradition of both academic and athletic excellence.

Ruth Moyer Elementary School. Top 5 school in Kentucky. Veterans Park Elementary School is also in the top 5.
Johnson Elementary SchoolHighlands High School. They have the #1 football team in the state.
View of the city. Rich would cross the yellow bridge everyday to get to work.

We'll just have to wait and see what our future holds!