100 Day and a Women's Retreat

This week we had 100 Day!  We've actually done school more than 100 days, but Lyla's 100 chart didn't get started until 2 weeks or so into school.  Consequently we didn't exactly celebrate 100 days of school, but that Lyla got to the number 100 on her chart.  She's been putting a straw in her 100 cup everyday for 100 days and finally we filled it to 100.  Of course, Gwyn and Celee wanted to do 100 day activities too so we had a 100 Day Party.  We counted out 100 cheerios, made a 100 paperclip chain, made 100 Day glasses, and 100 Day crowns.  We times ourselves to see how many of certain things we could do in 100 seconds.  100 seconds is longer than I thought it would be!  The girls drew pictures of what they think they'll look like when they're 100 years old.  I even found a neat-o math activity for Gwyn and Celee all centered around the number 100.  They kept trying to get me to make 100 cookies, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

I got to go to the Women of Grace Retreat this weekend in Gettysburg, PA.  It was a much-needed time to focus on God and what he's doing and wants me to do.  Lisa Whittle was the speaker and her message about how God wants us to thrive was very timely for me.  The worship music was great!  The workshops were all poignant; I even got a new perspective on Nehemiah's story of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem that was particularly meaningful to me.  I ate way too much good food!  It's nice to be pals with self-confessed foodies who steered us to great food all weekend when we weren't eating the yummy food at the retreat.  I kept being surprised by seeing people I know, not from church.  It is a small world.  It doesn't seem like we've been in Baltimore long enough to keep running into people I know, but I do!  And it's nice.  I got to hang out a lot with some of the ladies from our small group.  I must say that Jason and I, and the girls, have been truly blessed by these women and their families inviting us into their circle and making us really feel a part of their "house church."  I came away from the weekend overwhelmed by how sweet God is.  I just kept getting a feeling throughout the worship services like when someone gives you a "happy."  I don't know if people outside of the South call it that, but when a friend gives you a little gift or token for no particular reason I've always called it a Happy.  That's what God gave me many times this weekend.  Little Happies, which just kept reinforcing to me that God does see me, He cares for me, and He desires me to be well.

 A big Happy God gave us this weekend is also that we now have a contract on our house in Illinois!  Yay!  We don't close until May, but it is so nice to have that at least scheduled.  Barring anything going wrong with inspections or banks, we will soon be able to stop worrying about paying rent on top of the mortgage!  As the girls said, "Then we can do stuff!"  In other news, the girls had a busy time this weekend, with each girl needing to be more places than usual and with Jason in charge of it all.  He did good!  He's a keeper!  ;)  I did get to go to Celee's girl scout meeting when I got back home from the retreat.  She is so funny!  They were making paper crowns because they are studying England for World Thinking Day (I know technically that was Feb.22nd, but here they aren't celebrating it until late in March).  They also colored pictures of Queen Elizabeth.  So Celee decided to cut Elizabeth's face out and attach it to her crown so she could impersonate the Queen.  And of course this started something, so a lot of the other girls started putting poor Queen Elizabeth's face on their own too.

I think they get all this silliness from their daddy, who decided we needed to all arm wrestle after dinner tonight.  As if it wasn't enough with Jason and me holding the girls' elbows down so they'd do it right.  He decided to arm wrestle for Lyla by putting his arm out the arm of her shirt.  She was not amused.  And that wasn't enough.  Then she put her arms out of his hoodie and this is the picture we all left the arm wrestling match with.

A Week of Holidays

 This was a week of holidays!  Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Valentine's Day and President's Day all in one week!  Always before this year I made King Cakes (or bought one when the dough didn't rise) for the girls to take to school on Fat Tuesday.  This was kind of special to them because it seemed like an exotic holiday because no one in their classes knew about Fat Tuesday.  I guess it's not that different here.  The girls and I decided we would still make a King Cake and celebrate, so we invited a few friends over to have a Mardi Gras party with us.  They made their own masks, played pin the mask on the float-rider, and of course ate the King's Cake.  Lyla even found the "baby."  I told her that meant she had to make the cake next year and she just gave me a look.  The girls knew that I actually had burnt the first attempt at the cake this year and ended up spending most of Tuesday morning making another one, so I think to Lyla making the cake didn't seem like much fun.  It sure did taste good though!

Wednesday, the girls and I had planned to go to a mid-day Ash Wednesday service after we got done at church that morning.  I had called around to about eight different churches looking for one that had a service during the day because we have small group on Wednesday nights and didn't want to miss.  I found one, but I must say that my scatter-brained-ness got the best of me that day...again.  In all of my callings, I got the name of the wrong church in my head.  So we turned up at an empty church right on time for the service, which was a good twenty minute drive away from the one we were at.  Bummer.  We decided to think on what Lent is and what Ash Wednesday is meant to make one think about on our own.  So that prompted some nice conversation and thoughtfulness on the girls' and my part.  Celee had been worried about what she should give up for Lent, and I think our talks helped her understand that it is the intention behind whatever you do or don't do for Lent, not some legalistic accounting of a ritual sacrifice.  Proverbs 21:3 says "to do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."  He desires our attention, not some checklist of whether or not I ate chocolate for the forty days before Easter.  I will say though that I did give up chocolate one year for Lent, and it helped me greatly to focus my thoughts on God and to give God control over my desires.  This year though, that isn't where my heart needs refocusing, nor does Celee.  So we are focusing non-food-related offerings.
 Thursday we woke up to fresh snow and we decided to go play of course!  It was supposed to get up to fifty that day, so we knew it wouldn't last long!  So the girls sledded, and made small snowmen, and snow angels, and large balls of snow which got named, drug back to our building and hidden under a bush.  (where two of them are still visible four days later)

The weekend was a bit less exciting.  Gwyn had a sleepover with a friend, but came home sick Saturday morning.  We all went swimming Sunday afternoon after church and no rude people interrupted our fun.  Sunday night Lyla had her Girl Scout meeting.  Her troop is learning all about Poland for World Thinking Day and they got to learn a Polish dance and make a headdress for a folk costume.  Daisies are so stinkin' cute!

 I had inadvertently found out that admission to Mount Vernon is free on President's Day and Jason had the day off so Yippee!  We took off for Alexandria on Monday!  It was such a nice day!  It was a little cold (as you can tell from the big coats, gloves, hats, etc.) but we had a lot of fun there!  We did a self-guided Scout tour along with some of the the activities that they had for George Washington's birthday going on.  The girls had to answer questions from around the estate to figure out the words to complete a quote about Washington, "First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen."  We even go to see "The General" himself tell stories about his life for the crowd.  I knew that George Washington was an exceptional man, but today made it more poignant for me.  No person is perfect, but Washington was such an incredible leader, innovator, and all around honorable man.  The estate is amazing, even in Winter.  It was interesting to think of men in the Revolutionary War enduring bitter cold day after day, while we only stood it for a few hours while touring the grounds.  And we had on good shoes!   And today was a bright and sunny day at least.  The girls learned a lot, not just about Washington but colonial times themselves.  They watched a blacksmith, Celee rubbed coal on her face for some reason, they tread on the threshing floor of Washington's self-designed threshing building, saw how people made paint, spun cloth, washed clothes, and a lot more.  It is crazy to think of how many people it took to run an estate the size of Mount Vernon.  And what a beautiful place.  I had forgotten how gorgeous the view over the river is.  The girls kept saying how they want a house like that with a view like that. Yes, me too.  But I don't think I want the bill, or the manpower needed to own and run it.  I'll settle for my 3-5 acres one day.  :)

We Braved the Stadium

The answer to last week's question was yes.  We got up Tuesday morning, I saw a post from a friend that said "Parade??? I hope so."  So we went.  All it took was your small urging LaJuan!!  The parade was supposed to start at 11:15 at City Hall and end at the stadium with free activities there.  So by the time we all got up and got dressed, we got to the light rail station at 9:30.  That's when I knew we were in for trouble.  The entire parking lot at the Timonium light rail station was full.  I don't ride it often, but I have never had to look for a spot to park.  We did find a spot, but then saw a crazy long line at the platform.  All in all we stood on the platform for over an hour (it took us 45 min. just to get to the ticket machine to purchase our tickets)  Then every train that came through was so full no one could get on.  People were crossing over to get on north-bound trains and ride all the way up to Hunt Valley so they could stay on and make it south.  Finally they sent an extra empty train up to Timonium, which we completely filled up and made no other stops all the way to Camden Yards. The conductor announced that everything had been backed up 30 min. to allow more people to get downtown because of all the public transportation problems that morning.   It was pretty crazy.  We were crammed on and Gwyn and I had to stand up.  Two lovely college girls sat in each other's lap so that Celee could sit down and Lyla sat in her lap.    After all that, I really didn't know where exactly to go to "see" the parade.  Also by this time we heard people saying that the stadium was so packed they had closed the gates and wouldn't let anyone else in.  I was still expecting a "parade" so we searched for somewhere to see it.  It was not to be.  There were so many people that we couldn't see anything and there was no where to go to get a better view.  We knew the parade started because people started screaming, but we couldn't see it.  I took turns picking each girl up on my shoulders for a little while so that they could at least see what was going on.  I paid for that the next day too.  Anyway, it wasn't a real parade, just the players and one band.

After that was over, I still didn't really know where to go.  (Keep in mind that I don't really know where anything is in Baltimore yet and had no idea what to expect from this event in any case)  So we followed the enormous crowd of people toward the stadium.  We knew the gates were closed, but people packed around them as if they might open so we headed for the gates.  I kept telling the girls, "If this starts to look scary or people are being inappropriate, we will have to leave."  They were pretty disappointed when it was clear that no one was going to get into the stadium.  We could hear the program going on, and I could see it on a tv screen over people's heads, but the girls couldn't see anything.  I think they had secretly held on to some hope that they would get to meet Ray Lewis (the one player whose name they know), but alas, it was not to be.  I decided that we had come this far, and it was certain to take us a long time to get back home, so we might as well wait it out and get into the stadium when the program was over.  When else are we going to get to go on the field in Ravens' Stadium?  I doubt we'll ever even get to go to a game, because Lord knows I'm not paying that kind of money to watch a football game.  Finally, it was over and yes!  the gates did open.  We went in even thought one of the stadium people was shouting for everyone to just go home, that it was all over.  Um, no.  We came that far, we were at least going to go in.  So we went in and the girls did get to go on the field.  They even got their picture with Natty Boh in a Ravens uniform.  By this time it was 2oclock and we hadn't eaten lunch.  (Lyla chose to tell me when we were at the gates that she forgot to eat breakfast)  So we again followed the crowd to the Harbor to try to get something to eat.  This all took a very long time.  I heard it said that some 200,000 people were downtown for the festivities, and apparently no one, public transportation or restaurants, were prepared for it.  Thankfully the police were everywhere.  I never did fell unsafe, and people were much more well-behaved that I had expected.  So yes, it was crazy, and no we did not see a parade, or a Raven, but we did have fun and now the girls have at least been in the stadium.  

Compared to that day, the rest of the week was cake.  We did a cool science experiment about skunk/otter fur and blubber.  The girls got to wear an otter glove (baggies stuffed with shortening) and stick their hands in ice water.  We all agree.  If I'm ever to swim in cold water, I would prefer to have thick fur and a layer of fat to keep me warn like an otter.  As an aside, I never knew that skunks eat bees and wasps.  Their fur is so thick that the stings don't hurt them.

We went back to the Sweet Air gym and got to play soccer with some other kids.  That was fun.  Even the mom's got to play.  Unfortunately, I was the only mom not to make a goal.  I got awful close several times though, I even hit the frame of the net, and earned an honorary .5 points.  It was fun for the girls to play a team sport like that again.  Now Lyla and Celee have decided they are interested in playing soccer again in the future, so I think that's kind of cool.

 I got to go to breakfast on Saturday with the ladies from our small group.  We went to Miss Shirley's in Baltimore.  It was pricey-er than I usually go for, but it was oh so yummy.  I had the blackened shrimp over grits and fried green tomatoes.  Ooh, it was good.  And it was good to have adult conversation over a meal.
I didn't forget about Jason though - he ate my leftovers as soon as I got home.

 
I did take the girls swimming today at the gym.  They have a family swim on the weekends.  We had a lot of fun.  I especially like it that the therapy pool is open to play in and is warmer than the lap pool.  The girls even ran into another girl they know and were having fun with her.  Lyla has gotten over her fears and remembered that she can totally swim on her own.  So they were holding noodles for each other and taking turns jumping into the pool over or onto the noodles.  They did this for no lie, at least 45 min.  There were lots of noodles, and the girls had 5 or 6 - but there were also 5 or 6 kids playing the game at one time.  Still these little boys kept coming over and snatching the noodle out of the hands of whoever was holding them.  I thought that was rude, but just boys trying to aggravate girls.  Then a dad came over and took a noodle out of Gwyn's hands!  No asking for one or anything!  We were determined to let this slide.  Then this little girl tried to take one from Lyla and because I was right next to her, I told her to just ask for it, but not to snatch it.  Then I realized that these kids and the dad were all together.  Later the dad actually grabbed Gwyn's foot and pulled her away from a spout of water where his kids were playing.  I wish I had seen it when it happened.  I don't think I would go dance mom on anybody, but I would at least say something about how you do not touch other people's kids.  And you should just ask someone to move if they're in your way or have something you want.  As it was, I did not know this happened until Gwyn came and told me, by which time the guy had moved on to another area.  Now this is all pretty crappy behavior, but to top it off after we changed and were leaving, the same man was sitting waiting for his wife and kids and actually made an ugly face at Celee and Gwyn!  What a moron!  We said an out loud prayer for him as we went out into the parking lot.  Again, crappy behavior, but thanks rude man for prompting discussion with my kids about rude behavior and how we should treat people.  And how to react when other people aren't being nice.  Lord help us all.  At least we had a funny-after-the-fact story to tell Jason when we got home.

The Superbowl, Candlemas, and Reviews

 At the beginning of last week, we had two crazy days when the weather got up into the 60s and it was sunny.  I was like, "Come on, we gotta go.  We are not staying inside for this."  So we rode up to Gunpowder Falls State Park again.  I promised the girls I wouldn't make them hike this time.  It was just to play.  There is a meadow next to the river where the trails we hiked before start and so that is where we set up camp.  We brought Tinkerbell, who was so happy to be off the leash for a little while.  We brought a snack, Gwyn wore a cape, and Celee wore her cork necklace - they said this was all because they were going to play "fairies."  Because it had been pretty cold here there was still quite a bit of ice along the sides of the river which the girls thought was fun to walk on and break up.  It was super muddy, and we all got wet and dirty, but we played for a long time until we finally started getting cold and it was time to go.

After our two warm days, it got rainy and then cold again.  I've been a little stir crazy so on Wednesday we headed over to Sweet Air Park.  They have a really nice community center with a gym, playground, soccer field, etc.  Each weekday afternoon their gym is open to homeschool families to use.  You just have to call first to make sure someone is there to have it actually open.  So we went to check it out.  It was nice to have such a big are to run and play all to ourselves.  We hoola-hooped, played alphabet games, did gymnastics tricks (or tried to) and "played" basketball.  I think we need Jason to help us with the basketball though.  I never really learned how to play other than knowing you have to dribble the ball when you move and you need to try to shoot the ball in the hoop.  We tried though.  Lyla and Celee decided to have a yoga break for a bit during our playing.

 I've been fretting about it since we moved and this past Thursday was our homeschool portfolio review with the school district.  I feel like it took me so long to put so much stuff together for each girl's portfolio!  This may have been because a) I had never done it before and so was unsure and b) we were only under MD jurisdiction as of Nov.15, but they wanted to see everything for the whole semester and didn't tell me that until January.  Anyway, it all got done.  It all kind of fit into a laundry basket for me to carry it to the library where my review was too.  I am making a note next time to put it in something with wheels, or get help carrying it all up and down our three flights of stairs though.  The lady who reviewed our stuff was very nice thankfully.  She asked me if I had been a teacher, and said she could tell because all our stuff was in order.  I will take that compliment.  Anyway, we "show clear evidence of instruction."  Whew!  

 I found out a little-celebrated holiday in the liturgical calendar this week.  Candlemas is Feb.2nd.  This is when the church celebrates Jesus' presentation at the Temple.  Apparently it is also when traditionally people brought their beeswax candles to be blessed for the year.  Huh.  Since the girls already knew the stories surrounding Jesus's presentation, of Simeon and Anna's recognition of Jesus as the Messiah and the giving of two doves, we talked about that, but decided we'd make our own beeswax candles to celebrate.  Gwyn and Celee have made dipped candles before so this was something new and the candles they got out of pouring them are bigger, so that was a plus.  Also for Lyla, the attention span needed to pour candles instead of dipping them was more her speed, which is to say fast.  Now we have these beautiful candles to light every now and then and hopefully think of the reason we made them.  I am one for celebrations that mark seasons of the year, and so liturgical holidays are as my hubby says, "right up my alley."

 Celee asked me for a date this weekend, so I got to spend some one-on-one time with my blondie.  She had saved up some money to buy a particular puppet that we saw before Christmas as the mall and so she wanted to go there and eat lunch with me.  Alas, the toy store was not there anymore.  I don't know off-hand of any other stores that sell Folkmanis puppets, so she opted for Build-a-Bear instead.  Not quite Folkmanis quality, but she was happy with her new horse toy she "made."  We also got to hang out in the bookstore a while and we both got books we've been wanting.  I finally got Book 14 of the Wheel of Time!  The Final book!  I have invested at least 17 years in this story and finally the last book it out!  As I write I am itchy to read it, but I will finish this first!




 Yesterday Lyla's Girl Scout Troop went to the Pumpkin Theater to see a musical production of The Zizz Bird.  The Zizz Bird is a creature of Jewish mythology who, in this story, learns what the hardest word is, to say your're sorry.  I didn't have great expectations based on the description of the story I was given, but it was really cute and well done.  The musicians and singers were great!  I don't know if the traditional Zizz Bird has three heads or not, but the costume for it in the play comprised of three ladies giving it three heads who all sang and talked together.  I though it very creative.  The setting of the play was a community garden and after the show the girls got to decorate a pot and bring home Thyme seeds to plant.  Bonus for me!  Three pots of Thyme to smell so good!

 And yes, it was Superbowl Sunday!  We dutifully painted our fingernails purple.  I colored a piece of Celee's hair purple with markers.  We tried to dip Lyla's tips in kool-aid but it didn't show up.  Gwyn opted for the fake purple piece of hair.  We made purple cookies, dipped purple pretzels, made purple cake, had purple corn chips.  We even let the girls stay up way past any sort of their bedtime to watch the game that almost never ended, lights out and all.  They were happy the Ravens won.  They want to go to the parade tomorrow when the team comes back to town.  I'm not sure about that.  But who knows?  That's one more of those things that finds me thinking, "How many times do you get to live in the city whose team wins the Superbowl and there's a parade?"  Will that win out over the cold?  And the school-work that will be put off till the afternoon if we're gone all morning?  I guess morning will tell.  If they remember about the parade and ask about it, we will see.