Back from DC (again)

We just got back from our class trip from DC. We left at 5am Wednesday and got back at 1:30 am this morning. The trip was great! The kids were so well behaved, much better than the older kids there on their trips. At one point, a middle school teacher pointed our kids out to her students and told them they should be acting like them.

This year Abby got to go. Mom was her chaperone. I think a good time was had by all. I had to be "Mrs. Thompson" for most of the trip since I went as a teacher. I spent most of my time with Mom and Abby. We made a good memory.

10 things I learned this weekend...

This weekend, Alex, Mom, Grandpa and I went to DC to see my cousin Danny graduate from Georgetown Medicine. We had such a wonderful weekend. We made such a great memory. I did learn a few things this weekend.

1. When surrounded by great architecture and monuments in our nation's capital, the average 6th grade boy will be most impressed by riding the subway.

2. My family are good people, so loving and caring, but can make the manager in an Italian restaurant twitchy with one look.

3. Once you use how to use the subway in one city, you really can use it an any city.

4. Drunk guys in bars still hit on me.

5. My Uncle Ron still sees me as one of the kids (and I'm OK with that).

6. I can eat calamari without throwing up (only with a really good sauce).

7. Georgetown is the most beautiful college campus I have ever seen.

8. My grandpa needs to write a book about his life. There is SOOO much we don't know.

9. A guy in a gown can bring 8 adults to tears in an instant.

10. Doctors can be brilliant even if they look like Justin Timberlake.

Congratulations Danny! You are everything that a patient would want in a doctor, smart, compassionate, charming, and a little scared shitless!

True Friendship

My friend sent me this email recently and I was so moved by its message, I had to share it. I am touched that someone feels this way about me.

True Friendship

None of that Sissy Cr@p

Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good? But never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship. You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card- Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad -- I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much Worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay away from me until you are well. Again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy butt.

9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask; 'because you are my friend'

Thanks Susan. I feel the same way.

How many tries does it take to get a good shot of 4 kids all together?

52. Here are the highlights.

The Talk

Well, the school nurse is having "The Talk" with the 4th grade girls on Friday. I figured I had better have the talk with Abby first. I was a little nervous, Abby is always the wild card. I was prepared. I borrowed the video from school, had a pad, and found some quiet time for just us. I started with asking what she already knew (for those school teachers-a little formative assessment). She knew about hair in places she didn't want hair and body odor. I then led into the differences between boy and girl bodies. She was very surprised about finding out girls had an extra opening down there (skeptical was more like it). The rest of the talk went SOOO well. Abby had very good questions. She was focused and not too weirded out like I expected. We watched the video from school. It was good. At the end she asked, "Mom, does this have anything to do with sperm or sex? Ella said on the bus that sperm and sex were 'The End' with a boy." Damn, I thought I got to her in time! Anyway, Abby was still great about it and when I started to explain she decided we had gone out of her comfort zone. I told her to ask questions if she ever heard anymore stuff on the bus again she didn't understand. Since she is starting middle school next year, I am sure she is sure to hear lots of good things!

Anyway, I am so proud of Abby. She was ready to go downstairs and play the Wii. She wanted a snack. I told her when she gets her 1st period, we would take the day off and have a special "Woman's Day." Abby wanted to know if we could make it 2 days. That's my girl!!!

Role Models for my Daughters

Finally, in these times when girls like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan are constantly in the media, some girls I can show my daughters. You will not regret watching this!

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3380875