A Little Trip

We have been a busy traveling family! The Professor is finishing up his PhD work and needed to see his advisor again (who lives in a state several thousand miles from ours) so we all took a trip. He went alone to his university, while the children and I stayed with family to reduce our cost. We wish we could have seen everybody this time around, but I'm sure there will be other times. The boys and Sweet Sis enjoyed the flight(s), even receiving some special priviledges. Our Lil' Farmer turns 5 tomorrow -I still can't believe it. I remember his birth like it was yesterday, I remember rocking him and singing. He was and is such a beautiful child, through to his soul. He loves to smile and is filled with joy everyday. He is a previous gift and addition to our family.I hope you enjoy the pictures of our adventure and of an early celebration. We still have not arrived home yet, so keep us in prayer as we make our way home. Professor made tremendous progress and is very close to finishing, so we are thankful. *The cord to our camera is 400 miles from our house, sitting in the back of our truck, waiting for Professor to pick it up on Sunday.

The Last Time

Over the past few months, NASA has been transporting the 4 remaining shuttles to their final resting place. We took a trip to witness this historic moment. Professor and I grew up with the Space Shuttle Program in full-swing. As a child, I dreamed of going to the NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. My Mom and Grandparents took my brother and I to Huntsville once, so we could see the sites there. I still remember that trip. It was also a time in our country's history where women were breaking scientific ground and going where women had rarely been before. It is no wonder that I ended up getting an Aerospace Engineering degree and dear Professor an Engineering Physics degree - which is similar to Astronautical, Space Physics. The kids had no idea the significance of the event - no more space exploration, no more moon landings, with a space vehicle wearing the US flag. My views and priorities on life have changed, and I don't mourn the loss - but it is still a significant event. One day, I hope to fly the still spaces and galaxies, and not with a man made spacecraft! Nevertheless, here are some pictures from that day.

Going on a fly-by of the area first.

A bit eery to see a large aircraft so close to the ground without its landing gear deployed!

As we waited - the times were delayed by several hours, the children found some shade in this tent they popped-up (for the cameras filming). I'm not sure the tape did its job!

Here the shuttle is coming in for its last approach

Do you see the folks on the rooftops? It was amazing to see.

Do you see the folks standing on top of their cars? It looks like the aircraft will land right on the freeway! And it feels that way when you are driving next to the airport. In fact, at some spots, the road goes beneath the runway. That is a weird feeling!

A Great Escape

A few weeks ago, we decided to take a 3-day weekend and find some R & R in the wilderness. With everything we have experienced over the past 6 months, this was very much needed! We love to camp (especially in our camper) and love it more when we can relax, which with 4 small children, can be difficult! But with much success, we did! We had a wonderful time, and thoroughly enjoyed each other for 3 solid days. We are already planning a return trip soon! And, well, we only had one child overboard unintentionally - so I would say a success!

The beautiful drive!

Lil'Farmer pumping up our raft!

Sweet Sis all ready for a boat ride!

Country Needles relaxing while the boys row!

The night-cap, hotdogs and smores!

For my own sake, I have not published the picture of me jumping into the lake - it was a fantastic adventure shot - but, the ol' backside is showing! I'll spare you. So, I challenged Kind Heart to jump-in, assuring him I would if he did. He did - so I had to! No one else was as brave...

Chicken duty!

Sweet Sis taking in the majestic landscape.

Infiltrated.. Poo and More Poo!

After cleaning the house meticulously this morning, the children and I set out for an afternoon of errands, shopping, and quick bite to eat. When we came back four hours later, I was told by an excited Kind Heart, that a large groundhog was in the house! A large animal he said! I look, and lo and behold, I see poop on the carpet. Lots of poop. Not as big as a dog, per-say, but bigger than rat droppings! Yuck! The boys found a squirrel in their room, under their bunk!

We shut the door and I immediately called our Housing Office. They called Orkin immediately and the property manager and her assistant manager came out within 30 minutes. I began to clean up the poop - it was in the living room, behind furniture, on furniture, on the floor in the kitchen, and in my sewing/computer room floor. We found two urine spots - one in the boys' room and one in my room. Double Yuck! When the managers came, one did a walk behind the house while the other went inside with me. Everything was fine on the outside. We checked all the house, except the boys' room - where the squirrel was being held captive, and no sign of another squirrel. So, we finally entered the room. She looked - and the squirrel had escaped! It chewed its way out of the room, via Lil' Farmer's bed, jumping onto the sill, and eating through the mesh screen window! Tomorrow morning, we are getting an emergency carpet deep-cleaning courtesy of our property managers. So nice!