Astronaut in Training

After the washington monument we went to the mall and viewed the NASA exhibit. Here we were all able to sign the actual tire from space shuttle, which after leaving the exhibit will be sent to the Smithsonian. We all had fun playing with the different things they had for us to learn from. Here Caden is playing with the actual computer that launches the Space Shuttle. The gentleman from NASA said that in his 20 years and 60+ space shuttle launches he has never needed to hit ctl-alt-delete. We will be sad to see the space shuttle retired but are excited with the ARES program and its abilities.

How High Can You Go?

Let's Go to the TOP

View from the Inside of the Washington Monument

500 ft up. The Monument itself is just over 551 feet and at the time of
construction was the tallest building in the world. The cap stone that
is pictured was the largest and heaviest single piece of aluminum in the world.

"Look ... the river looks like a dog bone."

--Eliza

Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to church we go

It won't be long Now

Where did the time go?  I cannot believe that Jake is already 7 1/2 months old.  Jake is getting ready to crawl and create a necessity for complete baby proofing soon.  Look at you go Jake.  

When he is not on his hands and knees he loves swimming.  Two days ago he was having so much fun in the water. ... That is until he fell asleep.  

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

The adventures seem to keep coming for Maddison and Eliza at school.  

Today there was a BEAR siting in our neighborhood.  Another day of indoor recess.

I wonder what the ADVENTURE will be next week?

Trying to Stay Cool

Sometimes the only way to stay cool outside is in the water.  Jake loved being in the water.

How much gear is needed for four kids to go swimming??  More than I can carry alone.

It's a Scorcher

Soccer games today??  It was insane.  The temperature reached a high of 98 deg.  Now that may not seem high to someone in dry climate, but with 100% humidity it was absurdly hot!  There were heat warnings and yet Eliza had two soccer games.  It was so hot that by the time her second game was nearing the end, we simply called the game.  All the girls were too hot to even continue.  Maddison and Caden basically bathed in the cooler with all the ice, water, spray bottle, and wet rags.  And all this happened just a couple days after the tornado warning in which the girls had to stay at school for an extra 1/2 hour waiting out the storm in their safe zones throughout the school.  

So to all of you suffering from the recent snow (in June), now you know where all your heat went.

Sidewalk is calling

What happens when the sidewalk calls?   Caden goes down.  

Old McDonald had a Farm

Eliza loved showing us all the work she put into the KIndergarten Farm Show.  First we watched the Farm Show Presentation then we went to the classroom and saw all the other work they did:

• Diarama
• Pig Pot
• Book outlining the growth of corn
• Corn plants they grew
• Slideshow with pictures of them.

It was fun to see all the work of the many wonderful Kindergarten students.  Way to go Eliza !!

Camping and the Beach

Camping  was fun along with going to the beach.   

All of us enjoyed our time outdoors this weekend.  It showed ... by the time we got home we were all ready for a nice long bath.

S'mores

Our family went camping over Memorial Day weekend.  We had so much fun getting dirty, exploring, biking, and roasting marshmallows over the campfire.

Maddison had one of the prettiest looking marshmallows.  This particular marshmallow met its destiny in a s'more.