Sunday-Without the Sun and Plenty of Water Fun -10.02.11-

Dreary this morning, but my daughters and I always manage to engage in something refreshing. No need in laying in bed all day because the weather sort of limits you. So off to church, an hour late, but better late than never. Praise + worship, sermon, offering and communion. Lovely start to our day. Next, home to cook dinner and get things together for the week. It's a lot running around behind kids, taking on all kinds of motherly duties while wondering when my next break from the two of them would take place. Well, that wait wouldn't take too long. 

                                                                                

After getting dinner and things situated, I took the girls out, for an unexpected surprise that I had been threatening to take away from them all week if they didn't behave as I saw fit. The whole 20 minute ride, I got all kinds of questions and inquiries. "Mommy, did you get us a puppy?" "Mommy, are you buying us new toys?" "Mommy, what's our surprise?" "Mommy, mommy, mommy." Ugh! Most people would think I would have changed my parental name by now. Do you know how many times I hear mommy in a day? Way too many. Anyway, we finally arrive to our destination: the Y on 33rd. As soon as we parked, my oldest daughter, Gabbie, ecstatically screams out, "We're going swimming!" Oh, but how the excitement in both of the girls dies when they realize that we're at the Y, and they don't have swimsuits or towels. You should have seen their faces....PRICELESS. All I could do was chuckle to myself as I walk to the trunk of my truck and pull out the bag that holds their swimsuits and towels. 

Inside they quickly change, and scurry to the pool. Dipping their toes in, until they both realized that the pool is heated and they jump in. Splashing and playing for 2 hours. Yes, I thought, they're going to be so tired and exhausted later. Perfect for me to enjoy the evening my friend has planned for me. After swimming, pizza and treats followed and off to Nana's house the two of them go.

All for the Good of Others -10.01.11-

As if cooking 5 pans of chicken for the homeless isn't enough. After catching a few winks throughout the night, I managed to cook 5 pans of chicken to feed the homeless. I usually perform such an act once a month, along with a close friend. And while most believe that this is a girl scout deed, it doesn't end there. 

Of course, today would be the MANDATORY Annual Civic Works Day of Service. Every year the number of service projects that Civic Works commit to increases which means that the effort to go above and beyond for our community has proven to be a worthy one. The Day of Service requires a united effort from AmeriCorps and community volunteers alike to improve the community and plays a small role in the huge changes taking place throughout Baltimore City.

So after rolling out of bed at 6am, with eyes half closed, I had to get dressed, drop off the kids, drop off the cooked chicken for serving at noon and make it over to East Baltimore by 7:45! All the while, I'm thinking "It's way too early on a Saturday for a community service project." In any instance, I made it there, and only 15 minutes late. Whoooo-hooo. 

Introductions and assignments: As a member on the AVID team, we were assigned to paint 2 classrooms and the lobby of the gym inside of Lake Clifton High School - all in 4 hours. All in good fun, the larger team split into two groups, one group per classroom. And, low and behold, a race was incorporated to add to the fun. Which group would finish painting their room the fastest and have the room look as flawless as possible. You all should know me by now. I'm so competitive...I wholeheartedly believe my group won, but we're leaving it up to the students and teachers that occupy the rooms to make the final call. After the race, we worked collaboratively and painted the lobby adjacent to the gymnasium. Boy oh boy! We got a workout. Reaching high reach the apex of stairwells and bending low to cover the floors. And to show our love and our zeal for what we, as a team, had completed, we added just a bit of character to one of the columns in the lobby. The students will now know it as the AVID column. **Kool-Aid smile** Classrooms painted? Check. Lobby painted? Check. And complete a little short of 4 hours. Awesome!

Now for the reflection, lunch and free giveaways. Reflection was more of a social hour, and most groups/teams discussed their contributions to Service Day. Free food and an awkward live band, but entertaining nonetheless. And, last but not least, plenty of giveaways. My team, the AVID Team, screamed and shouted, proclaiming our ticket numbers would be drawn from the raffle. It never did happen though. However, there's always a surprise for those who work hard and wait patiently. A young girl, under the age of 21, was ever so kind, generous and willing to part with her raffle winning of a wine tasting and tour for 10 people. Guess who was on the receiving end of her generosity?