It was a red cross day

Today was Annie Kate's wax museum. She was Clara Barton. It was a really fun project and I am amazed at all these second graders who memorized 3 minute speeches. We saw Abraham Lincoln, Mia Ham, Elvis, Queen Elizabeth and many others. (photos here)

Jeff only had to go in to see one patient this afternoon so he was able to come which was a real treat for Annie Kate. Her achievement day leader was so nice and came to all the classes to see her girls even though she didn't have a child in the wax museum. And she was nice enough to offer a photo of Jeff and I.

This was Clara in her frozen state. You would push her big yellow button and she would recite her speech. She did this for an hour and a half straight as different classes and parents came in.

After the wax museum, me and the little girls went downtown with Jeff. As Jeff went in to see his patient me and the girls went to the National Museum of Heath and Medicine.
What I noticed about walking in is how familiar Caroline is with museums. I think she almost knows what she is getting herself into. Nothing will be too entertaining, nothing is moving, there is no food and it is a lot of walking around and looking. We walk in and she says to me, "where do you start, this way or this way?"

We started in the civil war section. A great place to start. I was so excited to find Dan Sickles leg. He was injured in Gettysburg and had his leg amputated. When it was cut off he asked for a wooden box to be made lined with velvet and have it sent to this museum. He would come visit his leg every year on the anniversary it was cut off. I was sad it was just the bone, in my mind I was thinking it was going to be in a big glass jar. I had learned this story this summer and it was fun to find it.
I saw the bullet that killed President Lincoln. (Jane I thought of you and how much you would have loved this part of the museum)There was an amazing exhibit called "Scarred for Life" it had different people with big scars. They had painted their scar with globs of paint and then put a piece of canvas over the scar and then it made a piece of art. It was very interesting. If you have a large scar or know someone who does you might find it interesting.
This was my favorite thing. It is over a hundred sheets of hanging plastic with a section of the body painted on it but all together looks like a floating body.


On a sad note our Clara Barton came home very sad. Her Mt. Vernon field trip was cancelled due to projected snow and cold winds for tomorrow. Jeff had signed up to go with her class. This is all she has talked about for weeks. She came in the house from school, ran to the calendar and saw the word Clinic on next Wednesday, knowing he couldn't change his schedule. She sat on the stairs and cried. It took us awhile to get out of her what was going on. Her heart was so broken. He took her to Starbucks for a little Hot Chocolate and cheer her up. She is still really sad. It is hard seeing your kids disappointed. But Jeff said his famous 3 words "Get over it" of course with a follow up hug!

Annie Kate's Speech
(you can just skip to bottom with cool way to say Happy Birthday to your friends)

I am Clara Barton. I was born on Christmas Day in 1821, in North Oxford Massachusetts. Because I was the youngest of five children, I received lot of attention and education from my family.

I was very, very shy, except when it came to helping others. Today I am remembered as a true humanitarian, someone who cares greatly for others.

I first learned to take care of others when I was 11. My brother David fell while building a barn and was injured. I slept in his room for 2 years and took care of him until he was back to good health.

In 1860, when the Civil War began I recognized that the sick and wounded soldiers needed help. I set up different ways to help them. I even went on the battlefields.

During a battle I leaned down to give a wounded solider a drink. I felt a twitch on my sleeve. I looked down a bullet gone through my sleeve and killed the solider. This did not stop me from helping other soldiers.

I was not a trained nurse but I was very caring and helpful. One winter I took a chimney apart and heated up each brick in the fire and put them next to the soldiers to keep them warm.

I started the American Red Cross. The Red Cross flag is the Switzerland flag switched. You can visit my house at Glen Echo Park and while you are there look and see what I used for the ceilings. I spent my 90 years of life serving and helping others.

A huge Happy Birthday shout out to Stacy! if you have not seen her blog header today don't miss it!! Seriously her blog header is a treat at the beginning of every month.

My new birthday tradition is calling my friends on their birthday with my new musical talent. (Stacy got hers at midnight last night) Playing Happy Birthday with the touch tone keys on my phone. Do you want to do it to? You can do almost any song. Check it out here.