(June 21-June 27)Well, we survived finals week! Allison had two tests every day from Monday to WEds. She also had some projects to turn in-test review packets that the teachers ask the kids to do to help study. My favorite was when Tom tried to mentor her in Geometry over the phone and computer late Tuesday night from Charlottesville, VA. Allison ran into a few complicated problems and needed his help, but he was having dinner with the coworkers early in the evening. She had to wait until he got back to his hotel around 930pm. They were at it until 11 and then she just had to call it quits! I got her through a Spanish and Health review, as well as History over the weekend. We ran out of time to study together for her second piano test and the Science test. She ended up getting some pointers from her geometry teacher before the exam. But all her hard work paid off again this year and she brought home all As. I can't believe she just finished her freshman year in high school. This is sure going fast!
We also finished with her Spring Field Hockey league. Her team played a college freshman group and the high school Varsity and JV Coach came to watch and give pointers. Allison worked very hard at goalie, and did a great job, but those college girls were pretty good. Still, it gave Allison some one on one exposure for the goalie experience and in front of the Varsity and JV coach too. They had a team meeting after school to talk about next year's season(which starts August 14th). Right around the corner! We decided Allison could use some extra training so she will be attending a Field Hockey Camp for goalies in July before we head to Michigan. I think it will be a lot of hard work, but a very good experience. Plus it is right here in Baltimore. Many of her teammates are heading to Massachusetts for World Camp this summer(maybe next year). I really didn't have time to plan that trip out!(and it is rather expensive). I think she will benefit just as well here at home.
Now she is just happy to plan and prepare for our upcoming Twilight Movie Night. The Girl Scouts were sponsoring a premiere release of the new Twilight Movie, Eclipse. We decided to combine the outing with a sleepover Birthday party for Allison since the movie is at midnite. (Tom picked the right week to travel to California). Allison has been busy putting together goody bags and making up a Twilight Bingo Game. We even found a Twilight Video Game for the Wii for the girls to play before we go to the movie. They are actually showing all 3 movies that night, but we opted for staying home and eating pizza and red velvet cake! And I took the next day off of work! I am sure I will need it!
She also started her summer piano lessons-a lot less stressful though. Only 8 lessons all summer.
I ended up putting in a half day of work on Friday to help out the Home Health Therapist who was on vacation. She wasn't expecting much work, but it turned out to be a very busy week. They even bribed me to come in on Saturday, but I had too much scheduled already. I was supposed to go to training for Cub Scout DAy Camp next week but the time was changed and myself and several other parents who showed up at 2pm missed out. They had changed the training to 9 that morning. We parents just didn't get the message. Oh well, we tried. We decided they could fire us if they had to-I am just signed up to help with Scott's Den for one day on Friday. This will be his last year of Cub Scout camp. Again we are going to car pool with our neighbors whose younger son is also in scouts. And thankfully they are letting Scott sleep over during Allison's Twilight Night party.
Scott spent his first week home at the Y camp. Since school was still in session for the county, they had to move the camp to our Girl Scout property. The weather hit 100 degrees the first two days of camp, and the kids stay outside all day. It proved to be too much for Scott. He had a bad headache on Day 1, and only made it to about 2pm Day 2. I got a call from the camp and the counselors told me he fell asleep in the air conditioned nurses office. I left work early to pick him up. At least I made up my work hours on Friday. The rest of the week went pretty smoothly and at least the temperature dropped into the 80s.
I did spend some time off on Friday morning seeing a movie with Tom and Allison. We all went to see the new Tom Cruise movie, Knight and Day. Allison and I laughed the entire time. Tom managed to get home early from his trip to Charlottesville. I was glad he returned a day earlier since that area had a big storm and their power was knocked out over the entire city. He had to leave on Father's Day last Sunday. And on the 27th of June, he had to travel to California which just so happens our Anniversary. Since he was traveling that day too, we decided to celebrate our 23rd year of marriage on Saturday night. We had a gift certificate for a steak restaurant in Baltimore called Flemings that we needed to use so it made for a good choice for dinner. The place was very similar in menu to Mortons or Ruth Chris Steak house so we opted for the 3 course dinner special. Although the restaurant was a bit loud, we still enjoyed our complimentary photo and box of chocolate truffles. We also enjoyed our wine tasting, salad and key lime pie for dessert. Surprisingly, we were not impressed with our steaks, although it may be due to the fact that they were cooked in a puff pastry. Anyhow, it was fun to try out a new place, and we also got to see a newer section of Baltimore that we hadn't explored yet.
Tom was just happy to be taking a break. He had spent the day shoveling mulch since I was finally able to get an order delivered and we were home long enough to start spreading it. Although we first had to trim all our shrubs. With the wet spring we had a massive growth spurt in all our plants and lawn. However, now that we are in the 90s with a lot less rain, everything has turned brown-especially the lawn. Tom didn't get too far in the mulch process however since our air conditioner apparently died and he was talking with a repair man in the morning. Looks like we are getting an air conditioner for our anniversary(or at least a repaired one we hope). Tom also decided to take me cell phone shopping since my old phone was dying. We spend a lot of time texting each other and my key board was wearing out. We upgraded my old phone and even picked up a new one for Allison for her upcoming birthday. Tom even met with our friend John who was recently laid off from Northorp to have lunch and to look at other possible options at the company. Before we knew it, the day was over and Tom was packing for San Francisco! Once again I'm on my own for the week. I will let you know how it goes. Kathleen