Field Trips

Both boys had the good fortune to get to go on field trips this week. Liam has spent spring break at his school. Normally they are closed this week, but they allow the kids in the all-day program to come during spring break & certain other school holidays. They still do some school stuff, but it’s much more relaxed – a lot more outside play time. Zachary has spent the week at a camp run by his karate school. I think he has had fun…he hasn’t been like over the moon any day this week so far, but he hasn’t thrown a fit about not wanting to go back either.

Liam’s field trip was Wednesday. This was kind of a big deal, because when we first enrolled him there, it was stated right on the forms that they don’t really do field trips – they don’t really feel that they are an essential part of the learning process. They did state that during the summer they might bring different things to the school – such as a fire truck or petting zoo, or something. But field trips are just not the norm. There is a strip shopping center adjacent to the school (the parking lots connect), and there is a dance studio in the shopping center. Apparently they invited the kids to come watch a performance of Cinderella on Wednesday. Liam was very excited – it was his first field trip! Because it was so close, they just walked. I’m not sure if it was a dance show, or a singing show, or a play…but Liam seemed to enjoy it. He’s not afraid of princesses like Zachary is…

Zachary got to go on his field trip yesterday. They took them to Chamberlain’s Chocolate Factory, and they got to learn all about chocolate, sample some different kinds, and make their own treats. They made a white chocolate lollipop shaped like balloons, a chocolate covered pretzel dipped in sprinkles, and a “chocolate pizza” (basically melted chocolate poured into a small plate, which they then “decorated” with M&Ms, gummy bears, and sprinkles. Mmmmm…) Zachary was all excited when I picked him up – he hadn’t eaten any of these homemade treats because he wanted to show them to us…only, somebody else took his bag of goodies home by mistake. Sad…A husband & wife run the karate school, and the wife was nice enough to give her “pizza” and pretzel to Zachary (I think she must have already eaten her lollipop).

This week gave us a good flavor for what it’s going to be like this summer. We weren’t rushed in the mornings, and of course the traffic has been wonderful! Both boys do best when there is structure & routine, but I think after this crazy school year (specifically the bus that comes 50 minutes before school starts causing us to get up insanely early), it will be nice to have a couple of months like this week we’ve just had – relaxed & FUN.