Well, I just survived another scout overnighter. This one was with Scott's Webelos scout troop at the Maryland Science Center. I took my girls many, many years ago for the girl scout sleepover. We had so many girls signed up, we took up 3 floors of the science center! This group of boys all fit on one floor. And we actually get to sleep on these type of activities. Or at least lay down and close our eyes! I knew my girls had such a wonderful time that I asked our troop leader if the boys wouldn't be interested in participating. Everyone thought it sounded great. Most of the boys are not as familiar with the programs that are offered for scouts. I spend most of my free time searching out scout programs, so I certainly was aware that this program existed for 4th and 5th graders. The boys really seemed to enjoy it, along with the parents that came. The theme was for myth busters, and if you have ever seen that show, two crazy guys try to prove or disprove certain myths, legends or basically old wive's tales. Our program was broken up into 3 different types of experiments-home experiments with everyday objects, laws of physics and nature, and some adventurous experiments revolving around pirates. We spent Friday night rotating from class to class as well as a planetarium show and then to bed at 11pm. I was so excited to be sleeping on our second floor as it is much darker and quieter, and has the outer space display. The boys also enjoyed down time since they got to explore the hands-on section of the museum, and tour the dinosaurs. I made life easy for all of us too by preordering pizza at the science center cafe for dinner on Friday. On Saturday morning after a light breakfast, we all enjoyed an IMAX movie about the human body and sports/dance/and rock climbing. It looks like everyone had a great time, but we all decided we could use a nap Saturday afternoon!
Scott definitely got over his bug from last week and went back to school better prepared for his states test. If they did not have to mark where the capital is located within the states, he would have done very well. However, he lost points for that and not remembering to capitalize all the states or their capitals, not to mention he switched one or two capitals . He just finished his marking period at school and I spoke briefly to his teacher. She let me know he is doing quite well. We like to keep track of the kids grades online, but the Catholic Diocese has been having problems with their computer program not reporting the data correctly. They are having other problems here in Baltimore that forced them to close about 13 catholic schools in the city. They said the 50s and the 60s were the heyday of catholic education. Lots of families living in the cities and lots of nuns(free, cheap labor) teaching the schools together with big catholic families. But that is not the case anymore, and most of the buildings are in disrepair, have very limited enrollment and the majority of the city kids attending are not even catholic. Most people here in Baltimore are very upset about the decision to close schools, but it makes sense. Less families can afford catholic private schools these days and most people feel pressed in covering their own families education, let alone subsidizing schooling for children who are not even catholic. Even though the church supports sharing the catholic/christian faith. They will need to find another way to pay for it! The Baltimore Catholic Diocese also spent a bit of their income on the child abuse law suits and remodeling the Baltimore Basilica. So you could see why catholics who now have to search out a new school might be a bit upset. Our school is pretty well at capacity. We have 2 classrooms per grade, and added preschool this year. Each grade has 25-30 kids and parents don't want larger classrooms. We had a school board meeting last tuesday night and many parents voiced their concerns that our school class numbers would increase with the school closures as many struggle to find a new school to attend next year. We are quite a bit out of the city, so it does not look as if we will get many transfers. And Forbes magazine once again rated Howard County, our county, top 10 in the nation for income, behind Fairfax and MontgomeryVA/MD county. Boy I would like to see some of that money!
I was glad Scott was feeling better since his class went on a Field Trip last week to DC. They were scheduled to attend the showing of the Chinese clay statues at the National Geographic museum. This was the display from china of the clay statues recently dug up by farmers several years ago near an emperors grave. Life size clay statues of soldiers were buried with the emperor, including horses and wagons to guard the emperor in the afterlife. The kids had tickets for the event, but also added a tour of the White House! One of Scott's classmate's Dad works at the White House and set up a tour for the kids. Sadly I did not get picked to chaperone. The kids really enjoyed their trip through the White House-Scott has never been. Of course it took them about an hour to get through security! Guess they just can't trust those 4th graders! And Scott had Weds off for end of the marking period so I ended up staying home with him. It worked out well since Allison had her last orthodontist appt. that afternoon. I also picked out a new dentist for the kids and took them in on Monday. I decided I was not too crazy about Tom's dental plan Cigna, so I picked up Met Life from my work(more dentists to choose from and the same monthly fee). So far they both look pretty good teeth wise. Soon it will be our turn for dentist appts. And Cookie had her last series of shots at the vet. They give them over several weeks time since it is a pretty big dose. The rabies shots now last 3 yrs though. But after her first appt, she was so sore, she was limping and crying when anyone tried to touch her for a few days. I asked about baby aspirin since I remember Mom Bozyk giving some to our dog, Buttons. Apparently it is still a good idea-Cookie seemed to feel a lot better after I crushed up a pill and mixed it in with peanut butter, but her stomach did not seem to like it too much! I had to make sure her shots are up to date as it looks like we need to find a boarding facility for her while we travel to LA in the spring. We were wondering if Matt and Di would be able to watch her again, but they now have a dog and they were concerned about the how the two would get along hanging out together. So this weekend Allison and I are off to search out doggy day cares.
Fortunately we did not have to march in this years St Patrick's Day parade. We usually sing in the parade with the girl scout choir each year, but they cancelled the parade due to bad weather. We have had several days of non stop rain. I wasn't too sad since I would have had to run home from the museum sleepover, change and run back downtown to the parade to sing The Rattlin Bog and Tura Lura Lura and march for about an hour.
Instead, I got to take a nice nap before Tom and I headed out to dinner and a concert Saturday night. We were supposed to go with our neighbors the Zarlengas, but Dan ended up visiting his mom in Ohio over the weekend. So Tom and I enjoyed a nice evening out together. And it looks like it will take all day today to recover from the Spring Ahead time change. I certainly prefer Fall Back!
So I hope you all have a great St Patty's Day! Laura hope you are doing well recovering from that broken arm! When do you start rehab?
Congrats to Stacey and Matt on their house purchase. We have quite a few homes for sale in our neighborhood but they seem to be selling. Tom has been busy patching drywall cracks in our place over the last few weeks-we had a few water damage spots and some settling from our kitchen addition over the years. At least it seems the leaks are all fixed, but we would still like to replace our skylight. We still have not heard back from the two builders that came out over the winter to inspect it. We had price quotes but I know the weather has not been cooperative to do any actual work. However, you would think someone would call giving us a tentative work date or let us know they are still thinking of us. Guess work must be pretty good if they don't need our business?
Happy St Patrick's Day! Think Green! Kathleen