Here is last week's blog:

Happy Spring Ahead! We survived our great Snowquestrian Storm that wasn't last week. Even so, schools were closed last Weds as a monster snow storm and rain storm came together over the eastern shore. Here in Baltimore we were lucky to receive mostly rain and wind. Although we started out with snow, slush and sleet that morning. At work we were concerned about making it home in the afternoon since the worst of the storm was supposed to arrive around 4pm. We pushed our patients into the morning slots and made our supervisors nervous as we all hoped to get out early. The work community offers us a cot to sleep over in case we think we can't get back to work. They don't want us cancelling our patients. As you can imagine, none of us therapists really want to spend the night! It usually means no sleep and you are put to work in the evening with the nursing staff after treating your patients all day. And no extra pay! Sounds great huh?  So all the drama was for naught. We all made it to work and home and all the patients were treated.

And the kids were able to go to school on time the next day since the high winds dried up all the rain and we did not have to worry about freezing streets. Looks like most of the snow stayed out west and south in Virginia as well as north up the coast. Our big news was a truck that blew over the edge on our Bay Bridge.  So I was happy not to have to work on Friday to make up for any lost time.

Instead I spent Friday afternoon volunteering at Scott's school, matting the kids artwork for an upcoming Art Fair. Myself and a few other parents spent the afternoon matting the Kindergarten and Pre K classes work. What fun! The biggest challenge was trying to read the kid's names on their papers so we could label them. We also had a big laugh with one of the kids renditions of a giraffe. Looks like he had too many body parts. I am just saying. We considered censoring his art work. Should be an interesting night!

Scott was just happy I was there to pick him up right after school. Allison sometimes brings Scott home after her internship. She is busy starting her research project with the kids-comparing regular paper/pencil testing vs computerized testing. Her Kindergarten mentor is very excited about the project and is using Allison's results for the kids' report cards. Allison had spent an afternoon going over her research proposal with her mentor, but missed getting one last signature. I ran Allison's paperwork over to school for her and grabbed the teacher on her way in for a signature.  She told me how much she enjoys having Allison and what a wonderful job she has been doing. How independent and mature. It is so nice to hear. Makes us feel more comfortable about her going off to school this fall. I am just happy she has started her actual research since the results are due the beginning of May. And time is flying by!

Fortunately Allison didn't have to work Friday night although they would have loved for her to come in. Instead she asked me to run out and pick up some supplies with her for a physics project she was working on that night with her classmate. I also wanted to check out some denim clothing at Kohls since Tom and I decided to go to Scott's school gala on Saturday night. They had a Blue Jean theme this year, so I thought it would be nice and casual. I did not think it was going to be completely Western, but that was pretty much the theme. I didn't find anything new that I liked. I really just wanted to get home since I had been on my feet for 3.5 hrs matting the kids work and I was exhausted.

I am still not feeling too great, adjusting to my new medication. I can't believe how tired I get at night and I haven't had much of an appetite. I was hoping to feel better if I rested on Saturday and that Tom and I could enjoy an evening out. Sadly I did not feel too well, but we still made it out to the school gala Saturday night. Although I did not eat or drink much of the party food, Tom and I enjoyed the silent auction and watching people actually ride the mechanical bull they set up. We opted to save our backs and necks and declined a ride along with the line dancing. I was just not into it. We also did well with the lottery wheel of alcohol! Too bad we did not get in the long line sooner since the choices of the alcohol were quickly dwindling. But after a few spins of the wheel, Tom and I brought home a 6pack of Killians beer, a bottle of Canadian whiskey and a light up cowboy boot mug for Scott! And I won the silent auction for a $100 Silpada necklace for $35. We tried for lots of restaurant gift cards and even a gift for Scott=Art Teacher for a Day with a limo ride to lunch at a local restaurant. But sadly we were out bid.  On everything but the necklace. So we tried not to stay late since I had to get up early and pick up Scott from Boy Scout camp, and we lost an hour of sleep.

The Boy Scouts have a themed weekend camping trip that Scott went to last year and seemed to enjoy. I thought he should go again, especially since his classmate was going and his mom was driving. Her son was in the county spelling bee so he couldn't go on Friday night, but she was driving him up to boy scout camp Saturday morning before all the activities started. Scott was a bit burned out from scouting every weekend. Plus he had to go to a planning meeting last Monday night for new Patrol Leaders. And Tom thought he needed a break, but the weekend weather was supposed to be nice and I thought he would do better getting out for the day rather than sitting on his butt in front of the computer all day. Instead he spent the day shooting rifles and throwing axes! Much healthier activities don't you think! I got up nice and early Sunday morning(6am) and headed out the door by 7 to arrive at 845 to get the boys. They were happy to see me. Then I came home and slept!

Allison had to work Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, and then had her last indoor field hockey games. I think she will miss it, but not enough to sign up for the spring season. She has a hard time breathing outside in the cut grass, especially with all that equipment on. She prefers the fall season, although that can be tough too on the breathing(hayfever).

I spent Thursday night at a meeting at church to discuss the upcoming Confirmation program. Our pastor decided to move the kids confirmation program to high school. We parents are not too thrilled. This means Scott will have to attend Sunday night youth group since he won't be at a catholic high school. He also has to go to 10 confirmation classes, do Service work and attend a retreat. The kids can do it over 3-4 years time, but they have to be in a religion program the year before and the year during(which could mean 2 years of Sunday night youth group if you miss the classes, retreat and service work. We are going to shoot for 9th grade confirmation. I am sure Scott would much rather make his confirmation with his friends as well. We did request that the priest consider allowing the kids the opportunity to attend their retreat in 8th grade as well as complete their service work. He was very open to those suggestions. I also had the opportunity to let him know that Allison was "fired" as a peer minister from the retreat program after 2 years by the coordinator because she felt Allison was not dedicated enough to the program. Amazing, other activities get it the way like sports or work, and we have to make some changes. But Allison got all her programs completed and did a fabulous job. Not only that, it was a volunteer job that I had to pay for! The woman running the program is no longer in charge. The priest had given her a new responsibility and he was shocked to hear about Allison. Another religious ed teacher begged Allison to come help her! But I told her it was too late, Allison was going off to college this coming year. Our pastor thinks moving the confirmation to high school will keep the kids more involved with church. We think they will lose more kids. We'll see. Apparently other parishes do this. I made my confirmation in 8th grade and never had time to go to any religious ed programs while I was in high school-too many other activities got in the way(sports, piano, work). Looks like we are going to be even busier!

Gee, what a surprise!