So we were all back home in Baltimore. I had picked up Cookie from the doggie day camp on Weds night after work. I had to drop her off Palm Sunday before church since we left so early on MOnday morning. She also picked up a cold and is currently getting over another ear infection.

Unfortunately we have all been battling colds and hayfever since we got back from Florida. My cold was so bad I lost my voice and had to spend the weekend whispering to Scott(not alot of fun since we were studying for tests and preparing his science poster). And Scott wasn't feeling too well. I know he is getting old when he said "I can't get sick, I have too much to do"! And his hard work paid off(at least for the science poster). His teacher was so impressed with all his hard work(and his mother's suggestions for creativity) that they took a photo of SCott and posted it on the school website while he was giving his presentation to the class.

And speaking of pets, we had one more week with our little gerbil Yoshi after returning from Florida and he passed away on the 6th of May. Scott and I buried him in the backyard with Gwen. We had the gerbils for 3 years. And I just got through reading a book I found very enjoyable called "The Gerbil Farmer's Daughter" (true story). Now I am reading about Dewey the Library cat-the sequel. It is all short stories about people and their cats and I have to stop reading it in public cause I can't stop crying when the cats and the people die. I had to wear my sunglasses on the plane cause I couldn't stop crying.

Anyhow, we were back to a crazy schedule. Allison with Field Hockey, after school High School Assessment prep, piano. Scott with gymnastics classes and Boy Scout meetings and swim lessons.

He and Tom went off WEds night to take their Boy SCout swim test. Allison and I had to reschedule. I had my last GS leadership meeting the same night for the school year. Now I have to sign up my GS troop online for next year before the end of the month.

Allison and I had another GS event/dinner and gala to attend. Allison and I are GS Board Members and we have two meetings a year and then the end of the year dinner. We had a wonderful formal dinner and then listened to the yearly awards ceremony. Afterwards they formally voted for the candidates being sent to Houston TX in November at the National Convention. Allison was voted in so it is a definite. And I plan on going with her(as a chaperone). Allison is so excited and can't wait to see all her cousins(we hope to squeeze in a quick visit).

Congratulations Allison!

Believe it or not, I was a little worn out by now on all the Galas and formal dinners! I am still recovering from my cold, and Tom and I both went to a gala on Friday April 29th when Kate and William were married.

OUr friends from MSU, Matt and Di invited us to the Gutterball GAla put on as a fundraiser for a Dyslexic School. Matt is on the board as the Accountant. He is trying to get Tom to have Northrop donate money for a new school. Ha! But it was a fun night with some actual bowling, lots of eating and drinking, live and silent auctions(we didn't get anything) and all around the theme of the Royal Wedding(if that makes sense). Some people came very formally dressed with fascinators and everything. WE even had wedding cake for dessert(very good too by a famous local bakery featured on the TODAY show when they sponsored the yearly wedding contest). And it was fun to see Matt and Di. Matt introduced us to the schools Principal and her lawyer husband who invited us all to his summer home in Maine(probably the beer talking). Diana and I are pretty sure our ex Governor Ehrlich was there too.

And speaking of famous Governors, our Maryland Governor and Mayor of Baltimore, the ever famous Governor William Schaefer passed away at my retirement community during Spring Break. They had lots of stories about him featured on the news. I did not realize he was the reason we have an INner Harbor, Orioles stadium, National Aquarium and Convention Center in Baltimore. When he took office, the waterfront was just a bunch of old shipping piers. NOw it is a major tourist destination including a port for Cruise ships like the Carnival line. Feel free to visit anytime! Some of you have already!

As this was Mother's Day Weekend, I decided to spend my Friday off putting in my flowers. I spent all day at HOme Depot picking out my choices for my various pots, including my tomato plants. I don't usually plant things this early since it can still get chilly at night. I think my tomatoes are suffering for it. But I was afraid if I waited to Memorial DAy weekend like I usually do that everything will be sold out(like usual). So I spent the day after my doctor appointment digging in the dirt. I also spent a day raking up dead leaves and trimming bushes, and cutting down dead plant stalks. And I only scratched the surface! I can't keep up with the jungle. And the jungle is taking over the house. I see a bunny family had babies in the garden-I found their empty nest. Sadly I also disturbed a wren's nest in my flower pot and she did not return to her eggs. I have never had a nest in that pot before so I wasn't expecting it.

On Mother's Day the kids treated me to a wonderful mass where they both altar served. It was just the two of them. Scott got to try out a new job by carrying around the water from the baptismal font while we all got sprinkled by the priest. He was pretty proud of himself and he made up for tripping over his rope belt on the altar when he first arrived! I think he was still getting over his cold and very tired. Especially since he stayed up late the night before while Tom and I went to a Spanish Wine TAsting party at one of Tom's coworkers house. I enjoyed swapping teenager stories that evening with all the experienced moms and sampling Spanish food.

Scott was also still pooped out from his volunteer work the weekend before. He helped run the games at the Nursery school fund raiser for the Presbytarian church where his scout troop is based. He did a great job working with the little kids(he was very patient and explained all the rules). And very formal in his scout uniform. He also liked getting free food and prizes for his work hours.

So the family took me to see Thor for Mother's Day(wasn't my first choice but I enjoyed it anyway).

A huge Happy Birthday to Mark Seitz who shared his special day with Mothers Day.

And Congrats to our friends the Hejza's back in Michigan whose daughter Katelyn made her Confirmation on Mother's Day. Congrats Katelyn. It seems all the church activities were later this year as the second graders were making their First Communion on Mother's Day weekend as well.

By the way, while we were on our Florida expedition, Mark Seitz was halfway around the world in Tanzania on the African continent completing a work project for his company Lily Pharmaceuticals. He was sent as an Ambassador of sorts to work at a sch00l for two weeks teaching English. Sounds like he had an amazing trip! He even got some running in to prepare for the Indy 500 Marathon. OUr advice to Mark was to run faster than the lions!

More exciting activities to come! More photos of Florida too including Disney and HOgwarts at Universal! Look how tall Allison has gotten(and how short I got!).

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