Science to Amaze and Intrigue

This morning the local library hosted the Baltimore Science Museum, and I got Evan and me tickets to attend. When he learned that Keagan would stay home with Wes, and he had to go with Mom to attend some show, he was less than thrilled. However, it was the best thing I have done for him. He absolutely loved it! Today's presentation covered sound and its vibrations, chemical reactions, and the fire triangle. What boy wouldn't like to see yellow foam form, the fog of liquid nitrogen, and the lighting of a cannon? The performers did an awesome job of integrating education, humor, and drama into their show, and it has the two of us excited about making a trip to the museum this summer!
Next week we have tickets to a theatrical presentation of Jack and the Beanstalk.

While we were gone, Wes and Keagan played Indiana Jones. I can't tell which pair had more fun.

Nature Walk

Keagan's "Creepy Crawlies Camp" was canceled for the week. It has been rescheduled for the week in August, the half week we are in Texas. Although I might go ahead and register him for the three days that we will be in town, I felt like I needed to make it up to him. So this morning the four of us hiked the trails through the forest of Locust Shade Park. Wes pointed out important manly facts of the forest, the boys had foot races, jumped over creek beds, and looked at various creepy crawlies on the floor of the forest. On our way out of the park, we stopped at the batting cages. Mondays are discount days; only one token is necessary for 10 pitches. All in all, it was a great morning.

Montclair Bike Parade

Evan was really excited about the parade this year; Keagan decided he would be a spectator. Encouraged with the possibility of earning a popsicle at the end of the parade, Keagan decided he would participate afterall. We only spent a few minutes decorating the bikes this morning, but Keagan had the most fun! He was able to successfully ride his bike in the parade without any wrecks or mishaps.
Evan, however, distracted with the loss of his tooth and the decision to ride with no training wheels, was not as successful. It is difficult to ride a bike in a parade (stop and go, stop and go, stop and you get the point) when you are just learning how to ride with no training wheels. He was relieved to get home but not nearly as much as Wes was!

Red, White and Lost Tooth

For weeks we have tried to persuade Evan to pull his loose tooth. He would have nothing to do with it. After countless nights of whining about how much it would hurt to lose a tooth, Keagan had had enough. He advised, "If you want to keep baby teeth the rest of your life, then don't pull the tooth. But if you want big teeth, let Daddy pull it! Stop crying about it!"

This morning, while prepping the bikes for the Fourth of July Bike Parade, I noticed blood running down Evan's chin. Now I had had enough and decided the tooth would come out this morning. With Keagan wrapping his arms around Evan's waist trying to sooth him with "It won't hurt!" and my fingers trying to grip that one elusive tooth, I was able to pull it out. Evan ran to Wes and exclaimed, "It didn't hurt at all!"

The tooth is now safely stored away in the tooth fairy box purchased five years ago in Poland at a market. I knew that I had to buy it when I remembered seeing the tooth fairy in my own bedroom when I was six years old wearing the same long blue gown that my mom always wore. Because I had been awakened with her hand sliding under my pillow searching for the tooth, the magic of the tooth fairy quickly vanished. Tonight the tooth will sit in the box next to the bed and will be replaced with a dollar bill and a pack of bubble gum!

Keagan's Thought for the Week

When we visit family in Texas, we always fly. Otherwise, it is a 21 hour drive. Yesterday, while looking out of the window in the car, Keagan mused, "Why do Opa and Oma live in the sky?"

Patriotism at its Best

Hilton Head

Voted one of the best beaches in America, we decided to stop over in Hilton Head on our way home from Florida. It truly has the best white sand (and no sand fleas!) and the warmest water with a constant breeze to keep you cool. I also give this island props for being so clean. However, I have never been to a beach that sounds a horn at the siting of sharks. Today this happened to us. For half an hour we watched the fins of the sharks bob up and down near the shoreline of the hotel. We witnessed helicoptors and small boats all doing their best to keep them at bay. For this, I think Hilton Head should also be given the title of "Most Authentic." It was an experience that the boys will not forget - me either for that matter.

Disney World

Loaded with a sack full of meds, our entire kitchen of snack foods, swim gear, backpacks full of toys, DVD player and movies, and oh yeah, our clothes, we made the long drive to Florida. It was a fairly easy drive, even for the the boys, and here are the highlights of our week long stay at Disney World.

1. The meal plan is a must. It saved us tons of money and I didn't have to fret about buying yet another drink when the boys became hot and tired. However, do heed the advice of reserving dinners prior to arrival because a nice sit down dinner is hard to find at any park. We spent countless hours trying to find a place to eat dinner.

2. If I had a little girl, Magic Kingdom would be the place to go for a princess make-over, but my two boys didn't even want to look at the castle. However, they loved the Buzz Lightyear Ride. I remember riding the Great Mountain Railroad as a kid and it was just as fun as an adult. Yes, we did see Mickey Mouse. We have the pic to prove it. And prior to the ride "Scary Adventures of Snow White", I do not think my boys had heard the story of Snow White, the wicked witch, and the poisonous apple. The apple part of the story was intriguing to the boys. Now all imaginative play includes a poisonous apple.

3. Epcot was by far the best park for all four of us. Mission to Mars was the best ride, according to Evan. Unfortunately, Keagan and I couldn't ride it. The lunch at the German Beer Hall was the best meal we had. We also loved the ride Test Track! Who wouldn't want to go 60 mph around a curve in a race car?

4. Hollywood Studios was a great park for the boys because they were able to meet lots of characters with really short lines. We sang the theme song to Power Rangers for half the day. Evan trained with the Jedi Master and is now an official Padawan. This was the best part of the trip for him.

5. We loved, loved, loved Animal Kingdom and the safari ride. The boys really liked the show "It's Tough to be a Bug" because they were squirted with water and had electronic bugs crawl around their backs. The Tree of Life is amazing with the etching of hundreds of animals.

6. Shamu is big, real big, and he can splash huge waves of water into the audience, much to the boys delight.

7. There is no way to have a good hair day in Florida. The humidity and frequent rain showers make this impossible.

Now for a vacation from our vacation...We are headed to the beach!

A Parting Gift

Many thanks are being sent to the student that sent the gift of pharyngitis my way the last week of school.

1. There is something to be said with the uncanning ability to sweat buckets of water while shivering uncontrollably.

2. It is true that I am a person of few words, but the inability to speak anything for days on end was a special gift for my husband. He didn't hear me nag once about the dirty dishes or laundry to be folded, but I was also unable to articulate any warning for my son who tried to climb the pantry for a juice box.

3. Because of this gift I was able to attempt the skill of gargling milk and lidocaine hydrochloride. Unfortunately, it was not a skill that I perfected. Nor is it one that I would like to try again. However, I have perfected the skill of storing saliva in my cheeks because swallowing was so painful that I avoided it all cost.

4. My boys also learned that the ER at the Fort Belvoir Hospital has a cool playground and an icecream truck that frequents the property. However, the waiting area is not nearly as appealing with police officers, CPS officials, and old ladies claiming to have TB.

5. Although I always said that I could eat Breyers peach icecream everyday for my entire life, I am pretty certain that I will never again be able to eat it with the same level of satisfaction. For some reason eating it while gritting my teeth with the pain of swallowing removes any enjoyment from eating my favorite dessert.

On second thought perhaps thanks doesn't encompass my true feelings. A few choice words are coming to mind... But it all seriousness, I am thankful to be feeling much better! I did get dressed today and I curled my hair. Things are looking up.