The many reasons to love field trips...

My work hours are winding down... so I've been volunteering a lot more.

Went with M a few weeks ago to the farm, smelled a little "fresh country air" or at least that's what they called it. I can't put some of the OTHER things I heard it called... this is a family friendly blog!

Today I got to go with H to the Rec Center (yes, the one where April works... but I didn't get to see her!) and go swimming. I didn't actually go swimming, I was pretty much a dud but since I had barely enough time to get back to work we're going to pretend it was all about that and NOT about the fact that my board shorts were cuter last year when I was a few pounds lighter. Just go with it.

Field Trip Lessons Learned:

1 - If possible, do not ride the bus. The noise created on the bus will seem minimal compared to the noise at an indoor swimming pool with 200+ small persons... but infinitely more annoying, especially if the kids sing "wheels on the bus" or the aptly titled "I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves"

2 - When returning to the bus - check that all of your assigned kids have their towels... and their underwear (preferable ON themselves) and their suits in their bags... Then check again. And again. And then, when it turns out that one of the children DID actually leave something behind (I didn't know she had brought a life vest) forget about the pool rules and RUN because they might just leave you behind unless you get back to that bus. They will certainly take your seats...

3 - Check your child's lunch before leaving on the field trip. It is possible that she may not have packed anything of nutritional value - forgetting of course that a Hostess Cupcake and Capri Sun do not a lunch make. Be sure to bring $... and be glad when your prayers are answered and the snack bar takes VISA.

4 - Speaking of the Snack Bar. Never NEVER order a spicy chicken sandwich that comes in a plastic wrapper... it's just wrong.

5 - Again with the snack bar? Be sure to consult the lame-lunch-packing-daughter about your purchases prior to running the credit card... and then be glad that you have a few emergency quarters so that she can get an ice cream sandwich... because really - was the Hot Dog a nutritious choice either???

6 - Oh Crud... and the last one... (which I JUST remembered) try not to leave a damp swimsuit and towel wrapped up in a backpack to cook all day in a warm car.

gotta go! got some laundry to do... quick!