I just bundled Scott up in my snow pants so he could go out and take Cookie for a walk in the snow. It is really coming down. Tom is out snowblowing our driveway and the neighbors.  I was scheduled to participate in the Baltimore Mayor's parade with the GS choir this afternoon, but I really did not want to deal with trying to drive and park in northern Baltimore in the middle of a snow storm. And then try to get home again. This evening it is supposed to turn into sleet. Scott is hoping for a snow day tomorrow or at least a late start. If you caught the Ravens game, you could see what kind of snow we are having. The parade would have been fun, but not in this weather!

Instead, Scott and I volunteered with his boy scout troop for a 5K run raising awareness for arthritis. The Jingle Bell Run has been going on for many years here in our local park. I know a fellow GS troop used to run it every year. Scott and I were out the door by 6:45 am  Saturday morning to help with set up and parking. About 3,000 runners participated so it was a bit hectic getting everyone parked and giving directions. We stayed for the whole event and helped clean up. I was pretty tired and sore and cold. It felt like SCott and I walked the whole course ourselves several times as we ran back and forth between our parking lot and the registration area. Fortunately we did not have all the snow like today. I really enjoyed seeing all the creative ways the runners dressed up for Christmas, including their dogs! Lots of dogs participated as well. Too bad Cookie couldn't have joined us but we were busy working. And of course Mr and Mrs Claus were there as well! This was the first time Scott's Troop helped out and they did a great job. When I got home I had to call into work to see if they needed me. Fortunately they did not so I got to take a nap! Normally we would be helping serve pancakes at the Breakfast with Santa program at Scott's school. We skipped it this year since Scott could not use his volunteer hours for scouts or his confirmation program. Our pastor has moved the confirmation program to high school, so Scott has to wait until next year. Sucks.

Meanwhile, Tom was home busy getting up the last of the Christmas lights on the outside of the house. He had hoped to do all the work on his Friday off, but it rained all day. I finished cleaning up a few piles of leaves that enjoyed hiding in our bushes near the front door. I also started putting up decorations in the house including working on the tree.  I still have a bit of work to do in order to get ready for our neighborhood party next weekend.

We also hosted a few neighbor boys on Saturday night as we cheered on MSU against Ohio State. How wonderful! Tom and I were in LA the last time MSU went to the Rose Bowl. I enjoyed going to the Rose Bowl parade that year. I also had to put out my MSU flag-I think it helped! We still have our Rose Bowl tshirts-hopefully we will be able to get new ones this year!

While Tom was sitting in the rain on Friday, I was off to my yearly doctor appointment. Looks like I am plenty healthy except for my blood pressure issue. I am back on the last drug I was taking since it bothered me the least. I hope it works. If not, we may try adding a drug. How annoying.

I also picked up our family Christmas pictures except they made a mistake and gave me 4 poster sized family photos! So I had to redo the whole order(Tom and I thought it was too expensive!). I also had to get my refund. At least our Christmas photos are done so I can start my cards. I also tried to do a bit of shopping but it was very busy on Friday.

Especially when we started out our morning celebrating St Nick's Day. We decided to give our stockings on St Nick's Day-mainly because we had so many Christmas items like our ornaments and earrings/tshirts that we wanted to enjoy before the holidays. Allison got her stocking last weekend. Tom, SCott and I enjoyed our special surprises. Tom got me tickets for the whole family to enjoy The Blue Man group in January when Allison is home. Tom missed the show last time they were in town and I told him it was worth seeing. Tom was busy opening lots of Star Wars and Star Trek ornaments. Scott loved his root beer and hard candies. And we actually won a few bucks on our holiday lottery scratchers.

We also enjoyed a  School Christmas concert at a fund raiser at Barnes and Noble for Scott's school. The kids sounded great and they have added some latin pieces and more harmonizing this year. Scott was also busy this week with his lego club as the tournament is coming up next weekend. He was just happy he did not have to sit through his religious boy scout badge as the other kid was busy. I do keep Scott busy with his badges! I want Tom to work on the Home Repair badge with him. Scott did some soldering at his meeting on Weds towards the badge. He also is finishing up his pets badge. And Tom is the Engineering counselor so Scott will earn that badge in January at the Naval Academy along with the electronics badge.

So I need to get back to Scott-he has a few tests and a paper coming up this week and needs review. He did bring home a very nice report card but was just shy of getting into his school's Nat. Jr Honor Society(they have stricter requirements than the public schools).

Here is Scott singing with the choir and after volunteering at the Jingle Bell Run

Allison is busy at school with finals. She will be done on Thursday and will head home for a long break on Friday. She said the school is on quiet lock down. She wants to be done and back home.