Urban Pirate Adventure

Last weekend we were fortunate to go on a pirate ship tour with good friends of ours. We even got the chance to ride over to Fell's Point on their own boat and around Ft. McHenry on water after our pirate adventure.


The pirate ship - Urban Pirates, with a tribute to local hero Michael Phelps on the back.


On board the ship spraying water at the bad pirates circling in the little boat.


Doing the pirate dances. Entertainment for an entire hour!


Back on the boat, taking a tour around the harbor on a beautiful day.

Good Weather and Family Time

I sincerely want to thank everyone for your encouragement for our decision on James' school. I have been second guessing myself but with lots of people saying they would do the same thing I feel more justified.

Things are really good this weekend. The week was tough with the change of routine. But by the end of the week we were doing well. The weather has been fantastic here for one. Lots of trips to the park and today we all walked to the Inner Harbor as a family. We met friends there and it was nice to catch up and be outside. What terrific friends we have and we were all surprised when we had to get a 8-top for lunch! Our families are growing!

James is back to his sweet self. Much more respect for me and his dad. He seems more secure in our protecting him once again and is less angry. Tonight I read "No Matter What" to him which is such a great book for this stage. A simple message and I could tell it hit home for him. He wanted to read it a second time and then told me, as he often does, "Mom, I don't ever want to get marry to anyone else". I love him.

Still not sure about the school situation. Funny how stressed you can get when you know you're facing required kindergarten in a year. Education really is that important.

For now, we are going to enjoy the changing of seasons, living in the city, and all the good things that will be happening in the next few months - trip to Oregon, holidays, more holidays, and lots of fantastic weather.

Change of Plans

I pulled James out of school today. Pre-K. The straw that broke the camel's back was when I dropped him off this morning, his chair was in the back of the room and he was put in isolation. Apparently this was from something that happened Friday afternoon.

I'm not sure what he could could have done to cause such extreme measures as to be punished over a weekend on an extended time out. That would not be all. When I asked the teacher about it, she said he "would stay there for a few days until he learned to calm down".

Enough said. I pulled him. It's been a trying day and he's tired too. Lee has been most supportive and we went out to the neighborhood restaurant for dinner. The weather was beautiful here today and we took two trips to the park. Now I am ready to retire for the day.

Thanks to everyone whom I polled on what to do in this situation. It overwhelms me to think of the support of good friends and close family I have to call upon during times like these. My strength comes from you today. Especially Mom who told me to rush right over there to get him and that I do not have a "wild" child - he's just a 4 yo boy.

One Month Visit

We had our one month visit with the social worker last week. We had to take these pictures of Etame to send in for their report on us. The last one is just of me, with my new hair cut. Bangs!

Growing Up

It seems as if James has grown up especially much in the past month. With a new baby sister, he certainly is stepping into the role of big brother smoothly.

Here he is playing Tarzan off his new bunk bed. He loves his "fort".