Field Trip

Washington DC

Hello,

Today Leroy and I both went on the field trip as many volunteers were needed for a bus trip to the National Building Museum. There were ten parents in all along with the three school staff. Again there was the bathroom routine before we could take to the streets. We walked almost as far as the library to catch the proper bus. On the way we were with another class of the same aged students. At the intersections two of the fathers placed themselves in the middle of the road with their arms out to alert traffic. It felt good to have them there because we could not manage always to get across the street before the light changed.

Our bus pulled up just as we got to the stop. Unfortunately the bus was already a bit crowded; fortunately people promptly gave up their seats for the small children. I really do not know where we went, but I know it was some place downtown. At that stop we got out and walked about two blocks to a nice building. The main part of the building is quite impressive. A museum person divided the class into four groups and gave them pictures of materials that the children should find. It was good activity for us to discuss just what might be wood, marble, carpet, tile, metal, glass, and terra cotta. After that the students were given paper tools that they used while listening to a story. I have to brag about my granddaughter. When asked about the job of the building inspector, Lexi raised her hand and responded, “They check the building to make sure it is alright.”

The next activity was to build a house with materials that were new and recycled. After that it was lunch time.

The schedule had indicated we would be finished at 12:30. Leroy and I had brought a granola bar that we shared. Of her school lunch, Lexi ate ¾ of her sandwich so Leroy and I shared that. The same thing happened with her peach. She also had some pita chips and ate less than half of those. Leroy and I unashamedly ate the rest of those. Another girl had torn her sandwich in half and only ate part of the first half. Leroy got that other half. So we had a lunch of leftovers without expecting that.

I believe we got back to the school after one o’clock. All in all it was a fun trip.

Just a little update on Natalie, she has lost one pound, one ounce. The doctor thinks her cries are cries of hunger. Sarah is now ignoring the length of time between feedings, drinking more water, drinking mother’s milk tea, and happy that her milk has come in. Natalie has not cried so much at all so perhaps it was indeed hunger.

Paula