Happy Valentine's Day! Happy Lent!(Seems like both of those Greetings should go together! Nothing worse than giving up desserts during the Lenten season when Valentine's Day falls in that time frame. Maybe we can make an exception? It is a religious holiday celebrating St Valentine, isn't it?  That is what Allison thought when she and her roommates opened up their goody boxes this past week. I thought the girls needed something to kick off their Spring semester and celebrate surviving Winter term.  Sunday evening I treated Tom to a modern jazz concert. There was a jazz group from the Monterey Jazz Festival performing during the Columbia Winter Arts festival that I thought he would enjoy. And it was closer and cheaper than traveling to California. The musicians were all excellent, even though I am not a huge modern jazz fan. And the concert was sold out. Afterwards we headed over to Tom's favorite italian restaurant, Maggiones. I had a gift card of course and we enjoyed a Valentine dinner for two complete with wine, appetizer, main meal, dessert and chocolates to take home! Overall, a wonderful dinner and good deal too. Especially since they were running a bit late and we had an extra glass of wine on the house.

Congrats to Allison for making the Dean's list again in the fall. Scott also brought home a very good report card. Although Spanish seems to be his downfall. Therefore, no plans for a foreign language next year. Even though his Spanish teacher recommended he take German next year(yeah, no). Just because he has the German name, and his Spanish teacher primarily teaches German. Not going there. Looks like guitar class will be taking its place. Even Tom gets a major congratulations for being first in his online class! He was given a $5000 scholarship for making top honors! (or at least Northrop will get the money).

And so Scott started his first guitar class last week. We just signed up for a half hour class. He really does have a very busy schedule. And he agreed that the classes really make a difference. So something else added to his weekly activities. Last week was shorter as school was closed on Monday for the teachers to wrap up report cards. Then we had another small snow storm that first delayed and then cancelled school for the day. Fortunately Tom was able to flay back from Denver on Tuesday-the airport did not get as much snow as out west. And he missed all the crazy in Downtown Denver with the Bronco's Celebration parade.

 The high school kids also had to meet with their counselors last week to verify next year's classes and make sure they are on the right path for college. (sounds like they are already in college!). Scott also put together another very successful boy scout meeting on Weds. complete with a guest speaker who is in charge of the Hopkins Robotic Lab. He brought in a very cool little robot(and very expensive) to the meeting. Tom and I both attended as well for the yearly Merit badge counselor training. I was finally able to sign up as an official merit badge counselor. Oh no. Scott got a little bit of time off after school as his  Video Club mentor called out sick, so they had to cancel their session. And he has another 3 day weekend with school closed for President's Day coming up!  Hard to believe they can get anything done. At least he had some extra time to spend with the Robotics Team on Saturday before going to work.

I decided to peak in on their progress(along with Cookie) when I picked Scott up Sat. afternoon. When else can your dog visit the classroom? The kids and adults thought it was awesome! Cookie was running around all the computer labs.  It got some of the adults thinking that they may bring their  own dogs to their work sessions in the future. Cookie of course had to run around and say hello to every kid. We just had to watch that she did not step in any of the metal shavings from robot building. The girls on the team were especially excited to see her. And Cookie was especially excited to beg for the pizza! One of the boys said "She is making me feel guilty!"(for not feeding her). She has those eyes! Works on Grandma too!  I was amazed to see that the kids have already assembled the robot's base(even though they are a bit behind schedule with the school closings). Looks like Grandma's scooter base without the seat and handle. The adult leader's told me it was sturdy enough to go up stairs! Scott was excited to see that the team decided to use some of his design ideas to make the robot's arm used for picking things up. And he was busy working on the tshirt design for the team that day.

He was enjoying his time but had to leave after a few hours to go see the Deadpool Movie with Tom. I really don't need to run out and see it-a rather violent movie based on the Marvel comic book about an anti hero renegade. But Tom and the kids were excited to catch the new movie since they all enjoy the video game based on the character. Allison even had a Valentine movie date with her boyfriend Tyler to catch the new release. Nothing says Love on Valentine's Day Weekend like a crazy, violent movie!  Except Tom and Scott did not get to see the movie on Saturday afternoon. It was sold out! Must have been the frigid, cold weather and really bored people! Instead they had to settle for Kung Foo Panda! Tom got in a good nap and woke up in time to catch the ending. Both boys agreed it was actually better than they thought it would be. Afterwards, Tom had to drop Scott off to work after getting some dinner. Instead, Tom and Scott caught the Deadpool movie on Sunday morning before Scott headed to work. And even that movie was packed! And so was the skating rink. Scott was worn out!

Meanwhile, I was doing something constructive. I picked up my mom for church Saturday afternoon after dropping off her laundry and Valentine's Day gift. Afterwards she joined me for dinner at home. I made a big pot of chili(good for those really cold days) and we enjoyed chili dogs and fries as well some apple crisp(had to finish off the last of our frozen apples we picked in the fall). Fruit does not count as a dessert by the way! Plus I was trying to make up for Fat Tuesday. I really did not do it justice this year. I really miss those polish Paczkis!  The incredibly delicious jelly and cream filled donuts that Laura H. got me hooked on during our OT school days in Detroit. Laura, I see they even have a Paczki Day Parade in Detroit? Is that so? Is it similar to the Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans? I would not mind someone throwing donuts at me during the parade rather than beads! Instead, they celebrate Pancake Day here in Maryland. Not as exciting to me.

Anyway, I kept mom entertained watching Avatar(the blue people movie). She had never seen it and we needed to fill some time until dropping off mom and picking up Scott from work. They are both in the same area. I enjoy having mom come visit on the weekends. She would like to spend the night if able. I just don't have a space to put her in at this time! We gave our guest bed to Allison for school. And you can't even get into the guest bedroom-Scott cleaned out his room last week by dumping everything he didn't want into that room. Maybe one day I will get it cleaned out and make room for mom(maybe when Scott goes away to college!)

For now I stayed busy this weekend reorganizing the Christmas and Halloween decorations up in the attic(it is way too hot to do this in the summer). Although a bit chilly in the winter. Still better. I also had to pick up more medication for the cat's pancreatitis and do some shopping and make some returns. I also have been spending quite a bit of time on the computer, especially working on Scott's summer schedule! Yes, summer camps. I have already signed Scott up for Boy Scout camp and a week long SAT study class. They have changed the SAT and Scott's class will be one of the first to take the new exam next year. Turns out one of my neighborhood friends is teaching the math portion in Scott's summer class. She said she just got a huge, new training manual that she has to learn. She thinks the new test will be a lot more grounded and make more sense. A bit more like the ACT.  Which Scott will probably also take next year. Scott is also trying to  get signed up to join his friends on a week long Church Work Camp in PA where they help rebuild homes. They usually take up to 50 kids each summer. This year there were so many kids signed up, they had to open up a second week-100 kids volunteering! Looks like we still have some good high school kids in our county, huh? Scott is currently on the waiting list. He'd rather try this out then repeat working at Cub Scout camp which he did last summer for his high school volunteer hours.  And then we may squeeze in a guitar music camp.

By the way,  a Big Happy Birthday to Eric Seitz!(didn't I tell you I was running behind!). I am guessing he got a few presents that involved household projects as Sarah and Eric are busy working on their newly purchased house. Eric I never did find out what finally happened with the new fridge hook up! And I am jealous of Susan and Tom who just enjoyed the first oranges off their very own Florida tree. That brings back memories of the Bozyk family as kids enjoying fresh OJ while on vacation at my Grandparent's Florida house from their very own orange trees.

So no new photos this week. Scott would not let me take a photo of him at his guitar lesson(yet).