#Ellicott City Birthday Parties

[absolutelandscapeturfmd]

Enhancing Outdoor Living Spaces with Swimming Pool Construction in Clarksville, Dayton, Westminster, Ellicott City, Howard County, and Sykesville, MD 

Adding a swimming pool to one's outdoor living space is more than just a home improvement project; it's a transformative experience. Homeowners appreciate outdoor living; a pool can be the centerpiece of relaxation, entertainment, and family gatherings. A simple swimming pool construction in Clarksville, Dayton, Westminster, Ellicott City, Howard County, and Sykesville, MD, can turn an outdoor area into a vibrant hub for all lifestyle needs.   1. Relaxation Oasis   A swimming pool is a serene and refreshing oasis in one's backyard. The gentle sound of water, the coolness of the pool, and the surrounding landscaping create an ambiance of tranquility. Whether one is lounging on a pool float, reading a book by the water's edge, or simply soaking in the sun, the pool offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.   2. Staycation Destination   With a pool in the backyard, homeowners can have their very own resort-like retreat. Instead of planning expensive vacations, one can enjoy a staycation whenever possible. Invite friends and family over for a poolside barbecue, sip cocktails by the pool, or have a relaxing dip after a long day at work. The outdoor space becomes a destination for relaxation and fun.   3. Entertainment Hub   A swimming pool becomes the focal point for outdoor entertainment. Host pool parties, birthday celebrations, and social gatherings that revolve around the pool area. With various poolside games and activities, the outdoor space becomes a dynamic hub for entertaining guests of all ages.   4. Family Bonding   A pool is a catalyst for family bonding. Teach children to swim, play pool games together, and create lasting memories. The pool provides an opportunity for quality family time and helps keep everyone active and engaged in a fun and healthy way.   5. Exercise and Well-Being   Swimming is an excellent form of exercise that promotes physical well-being. Incorporating a lap pool or a swim spa into the outdoor area encourages regular exercise. Swimming keeps one fit and provides a low-impact workout suitable for all ages.   6. Year-Round Enjoyment   There are ways to extend the pool season in Maryland, where weather can be unpredictable. Consider investing in pool heaters, solar covers, or indoor enclosures. These options allow one to enjoy the pool year-round, making it a worthwhile investment in one's outdoor living space.   7. Aesthetics and Landscaping   A pool's presence can enhance the outdoor area's overall aesthetics. Thoughtfully designed landscaping, pool decks, and lighting can create a visually appealing and inviting space. Landscaping around the pool can include lush gardens, water features, and hardscaping elements that complement the pool's design.   8. Property Value   A well-designed and properly maintained pool can add significant value to the property. It becomes a sought-after feature for potential buyers and can differentiate one's home from others in the real estate market. It's not just a lifestyle enhancement but also a wise investment.   9. Customization Options   When planning a pool, one has a range of customization options to tailor it to their preferences. From selecting the pool shape and size to choosing water features, lighting, and pool finishes, the pool can reflect one's unique style and vision for the outdoor space.   Adding a swimming pool to landscaping in Clarksville, Dayton, Westminster, Ellicott City, Howard County, and Sykesville, MD, can transform one's outdoor living space. It evolves from a mere backyard into a relaxation, entertainment, and family gatherings hub. With careful planning and thoughtful design, the pool becomes a source of joy, well-being, and lasting memories. 

[sciencecosmos]

Visit to the Chantilly Science Cosmos Center. We offer a variety of Lego classes, camps and after school programs for kids. Science Cosmos is a fun learning program, where children develop an interest in science, technology and engineering.

Website: https://sciencecosmos.com/

[usnewsaggregator-blog]

They’re late. They’re great. Hurry up and read these stories of the non-punctual.

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They’re late. They’re great. Hurry up and read these stories of the non-punctual.

The early bird gets the worm. That’s just one aphorism on the subject of punctuality.

Here’s another, shared by Victor Tupitza of Burke, Va.: “One wise soul observed that the person who is always on time wastes more time because he is thereby compelled to wait for others.”

Well, he is if those others include me. Well, the old me. After my confession last week that I am occasionally tardy, many readers criticized me for being inconsiderate.

[What’s the point in being punctual? Introducing the late John Kelly.]

I hereby vow to turn over a new leaf. And I take comfort in the fact that at least I’m not like Barbara Jacobik’s mother-in-law, who often arrived not minutes late but hours.

“On the evening of the rehearsal for my wedding, I ended up ‘marrying’ the priest because my fiance, who was driving his mother, couldn’t get her to leave for [the] 50-minute drive,” wrote Barbara, of Clifton, Va. On the wedding day itself, Barbara and the bridal party waited behind the church for the groom and his mother.

“They squealed into the parking lot at the exact time of the wedding,” she wrote. “Fortunately, her tardiness gene was not passed down to my husband, or it would have been a short marriage!”

What is it with mothers-in-law? Nancy Kavanaugh Apted’s was English and “wonderful” but, alas, “punctuality challenged even in the best of times.”

She was 20 minutes late for Nancy’s wedding. Wrote Nancy, of Ellicott City, Md., “My bridesmaid, her daughter, just lit up a cigarette while I threw up in the vestibule.”

Carol Weber of Huntingtown, Md., confessed that she lacks the on-time gene. In fact, she was raised to believe she shouldn’t be punctual: “When a young man came to pick me up on a date, you were never supposed to be on time,” she wrote. “By being late, it gave your parents 10 or 15 minutes to ‘size him up.’ ”

Carol said the only time she was ever on time was at her nuptials, after being warned by her future husband that if she was late, the wedding was off.

And so, Carol was early — “so early that we drove around in the limousine waiting for all the people to arrive at the church. And some of the people who saw me in the limousine driving past the church actually thought I had changed my mind.”

Bobbie Liegus of Alexandria, Va., once had a friend who was notoriously late for everything. “One day, a group of us invited her to join us for lunch at a restaurant at 12:30,” Bobbie wrote. “To our surprise, she showed up on time. We remarked that she was there at 12:30, actually on time. She said, ‘Oh, I thought you said 12.’ ”

Now that’s a woman with the courage of her convictions.

Ginny Geiling of Laurel, Md., grew up in a family of five children, four of whom were punctual. “We all went to 9 a.m. mass on Sundays,” Ginny wrote. “Every Sunday, my parents and four of the kids were in the car waiting for Susan, my father fuming.”

Ginny said that years later, she was reminiscing with Susan about this weekly occurrence. “She hotly denied that this had ever happened,” Ginny wrote. “In a way, she was right because she wasn’t in the car with us so never knew what the rest of us experienced.”

What is it with church? The District’s Michael Shue noted that it begins at the exact same time every week.

“It never changes!” he wrote. “But it always seems to be a giant surprise to my family every Sunday morning at 8:15 when I remind them that we are leaving in 30 minutes.

“Every Sunday I end up driving like a bat-out-of-hell (irony intended) to make it to church on time,” he continued. “My wife once asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I told her ‘To leave on Sunday at 8:45.’ ”

Michael said he got socks instead.

Anne T. Henderson of the District recognized her father’s Irish family in my column. Her paternal grandmother, Beatrice, was famed for her tardiness.

Beatrice died at age 84 — at least, her family thinks she was 84. Wrote Anne, “If inquired about her age, she would simply say, ‘Well, I am three years younger than Marge, and no one knows how old Marge is.’ ”

At Beatrice’s funeral, Anne’s father and uncle held up the arrival of her casket at the church by five minutes. Why? “Because Beatrice had never been on time in her life, and she is not going to start now.”

Helping Hand

You have plenty of time to donate to the three great charities in The Washington Post Helping Hand campaign: Bright Beginnings, N Street Village and So Others Might Eat. Our campaign to raise $200,000 ends Jan. 5. But why not do it now?

To give online, visit posthelpinghand.com.

Twitter: @johnkelly

For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly.

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[thegloober]

What I Learned Throwing My Daughter a ‘Frozen’ Birthday Party

The following story was submitted by a Fatherly reader. Opinions expressed in the story do not reflect the opinions of Fatherly as a publication. The fact that we’re printing the story does, however, reflect a belief that it is an interesting and worthwhile read.

My daughter’s third birthday party was my first encounter with the Birthday-Industrial Complex. It was a far cry from my birthdays growing up, where we played party games like ‘Kick the Can’ and ‘Put the Can on Your Head’ and ‘Throw the Can.’ After which we all fought over one small cupcake and got Tetanus shots instead of a goody bag.

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At 2-years-old, kids are like diaper-wearing sheep. It doesn’t matter where you have the party, everybody is happy. You literally could put all of the wrapping paper from all the gifts on the floor of the garage and the kids would be content. At three, however, they need to be corralled and entertained at the same time. Which is why many of my daughter’s friends have had their parties at a place I describe as Chuck-E-Cheese’s on steroids relocated to Burning Man. The walls are white, the pop music is loud, and the kids’ screams of (mostly) delight are louder. I would gladly chip in to help this place secure a liquor license.

What stunned me, though, was the cost. I’m pretty sure it’s cheaper to go to Burning Man than have a party at this place, and so we decided to throw a more low-key affair at our house. Also worth noting was that we were having the party a month before my daughter’s actual birthday because my wife was eight months pregnant with our second child. Not surprisingly, our daughter didn’t mind celebrating her birthday early in the least. Wait, I don’t have to wait another month for cake and presents? Oh, the horror.

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And so our first task was letting her pick a theme. She chose Frozen, a movie she loves despite only watching the first 20 minutes approximately 750 times. Then, my wife sprung into action, figuring out Frozen-themed food (pretzel sticks were “Olaf’s Arms,”), activities (wand-making, anyone?), and decorations.

The biggest debate we had, of course, was how much pizza to order. We figured about two pieces per kid, but what about the adults? Would they eat or just finish what their kids left behind? The party was taking place over lunch so we assumed the adults would eat. Which is why, naturally, we had about five whole pizzas left at the end of the party.

This seems to be a problem at most kids’ parties, with the hosts at first cheerily asking the adults to help themselves to some pizza but then desperately pleading with them to have a slice. So, I’d hereby like to propose a Party Pizza Rule: The number of slices to be ordered for a child’s birthday party is the number of kids coming to the party times three. This gives the kids lunch and the parents a little something to nosh on without forcing pizza on anyone. Or, the kid eats all of the pizza and, combined with the cake, lapses into a food coma in the afternoon. Everyone wins!

Despite the extra pizza (which we tried to give away at the end of the party like an adult goody bag) and the bad weather (that pesky rain forced the festivities mostly indoors), everyone had a good time at the party and there was only a meltdown or two ⏤ but then I got a cup of “Elsa’s Punch” and was fine. I could go on really, but how much does anybody want to read about a 3-year-old’s birthday party. Better if I just let it go.

I did, however, learn the best thing about kid’s parties: No one lingers. The party officially ended at 1 p.m. By 1:03 p.m., only our family members were left in the house. Our daughter’s Frozen soiree broke neither the bank nor my wife and me. And, most importantly, she had fun. The smile on her face made everything worth it.

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Now, please, take a piece of pizza before you go.

Danny Jacobs is an editor in Ellicott City, Maryland. He prefers birthday pie to birthday cake.

The post What I Learned Throwing My Daughter a ‘Frozen’ Birthday Party was shared from BlogHyped.com.

Source: https://bloghyped.com/what-i-learned-throwing-my-daughter-a-frozen-birthday-party/

[theglobalopen]

Flash floods rip through Maryland community

Flash flooding covers Rogers Avenue and Main Streets in Ellicott City, Md., Sunday, May 27, 2018. Flash flooding and water rescues are being reported in Maryland as heavy rain soaks much of the state. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun via AP)

After the deadly flooding of 2016, Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said Ellicott City, Maryland, was reduced to a "war zone" and likened it to the set of a disaster movie. On Monday, Kittleman said the flooding of 2018 was much nastier.

Authorities were still in the assessment stage on a soggy Memorial Day, determining exactly how much nastier. Particularly worrying, Kittleman said, is a 25- to 30-foot-wide hole north of Main Street, where the road appears to have buckled under the weight of the flooding.

"There are a lot of people whose lives are going to be devastated again, and they’ve been working so hard to come back," Kittleman said. "I can’t imagine what they’re going through. I couldn’t imagine what they went through two years ago, and now it’s even worse."

The first concern is people. Emergency responders on Monday conducted 300 rescues — about 30 of them water rescues — as they continued searching for Sgt. Eddison Hermond of the Maryland Army National Guard.

Sarah Lopez was at a Mexican restaurant downtown attending a birthday party with Hermond when the flooding began, she said. Hermond left to help a woman rescue her cat. Witnesses returned and said Hermond slipped into the river and was carried away, said Lopez, whose husband met Hermond 20 years ago in the US Air Force.

"(The people with Hermond) saw him go under the water and not surface," police Chief Gary Gardner told reporters.

Hermond, 39, joined the Air Force in 1996 and served 10 years as an airman, the Guard’s Col. Charles Kohler said. The Severn native joined the Guard in 2009, and is assigned to Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown. He was not on duty when he disappeared.

‘The water was rushing fast’

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[sciencecosmos]

Visit to the South Riding Science Cosmos Center. We offer a variety of Lego robotics classes, camps and after school programs for kids. Science Cosmos is a fun learning program, where children develop an interest in science, technology and engineering.

Website: https://sciencecosmos.com/