October 2025

We are continuing to settle in with our new jobs and new schools.  The boys are doing well.  Not too much middle school drama for Owen and Milton is enjoying his cello lessons at school. We went to Medieval Times for a dinner show and the boys got some sweet new armorments. We also went to the Annapolis Boat Show for both weekends, seeing the motor boats and the sail boats. Milton's school picture this year is hilarious.  That is an all-Milton pose.  The American flag background was one of the options so I knew that was the perfect one for our patriotic little boy.  This is a good companion to Owen's Willy Wonka school picture.  Every year I remind the boys that their school picture will be displayed on our hall picture wall in Afton forever. Damon had the Marine Corps Marathon (the 50th) so we went over to Bethesda for the weekend for some cousin fun. We repurposed our Halloween costumes this year.  Milton wanted to be a fully armored dwarf like in The Hobbit, but the shipping was late, so we went with the Revolutionary War soldier. For my Halloween, my fellow 7th-grade science teacher also dressed up as Ms. Frizzle.  

Cambridge Ironman

September 2025

We are getting in to our new routine with Annapolis life.  So many changes are hard to get into a smooth pattern.  I have longer hours and Damon has an eariler finish time.  Owen is doing his best at middle school.  We tried to have him do orchestra, but that was a bust so he moved over to a exploring technology class that he is enjoying. Milton is in a bigger class and has a tendency to rush so he will get a question marked wrong because he skipped some step along the way and got the wrong answer even though he does understand the concepte.  AACPS has more frequent district testing than McCool.  Milton isn't loving after-school care so we will probably no longer have him in after-school care next year.  This SAC has more younger kids and more computers so it is difficult to keep all that in check. We got to see a Navy Football game and plan to see other Academy sporting events. We've found several nearby events and have been studying up on our day trips from when we were in Maryland years ago.  It's fun to go to the same places and look back at the adorable baby pictures from that time. 

Meade Middle School

My new classroom! I am teaching three sections of 8th grade science and one section of 7th grade science. I did not find out that was my schedule until the day of my orientation.  Good thing I didn't take a bunch of time making lesson plans based on the curriculum I was sent by the principal.  It is also a totally new curriculum for 7th grade anyway so it all works out.  

August 2025

August held huge changes for us.  We arrived in Maryland, approved our housing, moved in, picked up the truck, picked up the van, Allison at a new job, Damon at a new job, Owen and Milton at a new SAC and school, and just broadbrush moving in drama. Miraculously we all came out relatively unscathed. We got to have some fun with the Pirate Adventure, a few days going into DC, and getting to play with cousins. Damon and I went on a dinner cruise and were able to catch up with friends from residency.