Getting Back Into The Swing of Things

We had a wonderful two weeks away, but now I'm trying not to be overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done here on the home front. I've got research to be completed, lesson plans to make, a schoolroom to put together, a house to clean etc., etc. Not to mention catching up with all my blogging friends. Yesterday I faced the mess around me with endless energy, today after being awakened by my 2 year old at 4:45 I'm feeling quite sluggish. The rain outside does not help my mood. Is it nap time yet?

Tomorrow I will upload pictures from our trip and share stories of beach, sand, and hermit crabs. Today I am just trying to slowly get back to the blogging world. My sluggishness is showing.

But I do have something exciting to share. We attended a huge homeschool conference in Houston and got some curriculum and direction. WB and I are excited to start this new adventure in our lives. As always we love sharing our goings on with everyone so to celebrate the start of our homeschool journey I will be starting another blog. I thought of just adding on here, but I want the kids and WB feel like their blog is unique to them, not just an extension of mine. I'll let you know when it is up and running. Of course that requires that I get my act together and get my list of chores done. My goal is to have it up by next week.

It is hard to believe the summer is quickly leaving us. Do you have any plans for the upcoming school year or end of summer?

Memorable Moments Monday...Houston, we have a problem...

Not, really. Just always wanted to say that. Especially since we spent the day at Space Center Houston located next to the Johnson Space Center. Boy, how things have change since I last visited the space center pre-9/11. Last time I went you actually went straight into Johnson Space Center and were able to walk into the Mission Control Building and see the actual control room at work. You were also able to walk to the building that held lunar artifacts and check out their lab. That has all changed. First the new Space Center actually sits adjacent to the JSC and upon arriving you go through a bag check. Then later, when we went onto the tram tour that took us over to JSC you go through another bag check and scanner. You also receive boarding passes that they collect later on the tour to make sure no one stayed behind.

Despite all the changes it was a lot of fun. The girls tried out a trainer in which they had to maneuver around in order to complete a task overhead. Em mastered it with plenty of time to spare, while Soph was more interested in perfecting her maneuvering of the craft. She was getting good at it too

Soph driving her space craft.

Em completing her mission.

Gramp on the Tram tour in front of the Saturn V building.

The crew standing by the Saturn V.

This is Joe. He was our guide in the historic Mission Control. He was a wonderful storyteller. This is another thing changed from the past. We only were able to see the old mission control, not the real live working one. We did get to view it on a TV screen for awhile, which was neat since the shuttle is up.

The famous red phone. The one they use to call the pentagon. Wonder how many times it has been used?

Before we left we got to see the shuttle's path as it hurries to catch up with the space station. It will be docking soon and bringing home a female astronaut that has been there for about 3 months. I bet she'll be glad to see them out her window!!!

It was a great day and full of memorable moments:)

Vacation Pictures

Whew, where have I been! Actually, I've been battling some sort of illness that's got me down and the weaning of one 15 month old. I haven't nursed since last Thursday and now realize that was my only downtime and chance to blog!! So I will try to catch up, sorry about my absence. Thought I'd show you some pics from our trip to Austin. It was a working trip for WB, but the girls and I sure enjoyed the resort.

We really enjoyed the pools. If only I could have justified spending 100.00 to rent one of the little cabanas for half a day. It would have been nice for Little One to take her nap in after I nursed her. Probably if WB had spent a day chasing three little ones around the pool he would have welcomed the little oasis with it's fresh fruit, water and flat screen TV. But really, the price was a tad extravagant and so I just ignored the other moms with Little Ones who found a way to justify the expense. I almost asked one lady if she wouldn't mind me rolling my sleeping baby into her cabana to nap next to her sleeping son...no, no that wouldn't be right, would it! Besides, WB did send me off to the spa to have a pedicure and really I have no way of justifying that expense, but it sure was nice.
Em and Soph loved the slide. I was nervous about Soph going down it since this would be her first time on a big slide, but as I held my breath as she reached the top, she didn't even hesitate before plunging down. I was so proud of her, yippee!! (I was busy nursing Little One and holding my breath so I missed getting a picture of her on the slide, but she looked alot like the picture of Em except with blonder hair and a different swimsuit;) )

Our hotel room had a sweet little balcony that face Lake Austin. We went to the store the day we arrived and bought breakfast goodies so we could enjoy the view while we ate. We had visitors that happened along as we munched.
This little one appeared when her momma let her know it was safe. The girls enjoyed sharing their breakfast with our visitors. The girls did ask why these deer were so small. They have gotten used to our mule deer, which are quite a bit larger and of course have those mule like ears.
So WB called from his golf outing ( I mentioned this was a working trip right?) to tell me we had been invited to dinner at Hudson's on the Bend. This is a very swanky restaurant with a well known chef soooo even though I was exhausted (we'd already been out to dinner the night before without the kids and I'm just not used to so much excitement in one week or one year for that matter) I dragged myself out for one more evening of fun. So I dressed myself up, borrowed a Spanish lace shawl from my dear mother-in-law at the insistence of my sweet father-in-law who was worried I might catch a chill and met up with WB. It was worth it. We dined on rattlesnake, duck, elk, bison and even had a homemade fig newton topped with goat cheese. See, I never would have put that together myself but it was yummy, really.
I had the elk for my main course and it was very lean and delicious.

WB went with the Bison tenderloin which was equally scrumptious. After dinner we waddled out to the car and that night I slept like a baby. And thanks to my in-laws my children were well cared for!!

WB's 20th Reunion Pictures

The crew. Here is part of the core group of WB's friends while going to school. I've listened to stories over the years of lunch hour crams into WB's scary green van. I'm not sure what model it was but I'm thinking it was from the 70's. I'll have to find out and get back to you with the details. These three we met for lunch at Central Market where there was a nice outdoor playground where our kids could play. We all looked at pictures in WB's yearbook and laughed over the 80's hair, among other things.Here's WB with another friend hanging out at the family picnic on Saturday. She looks just like her yearbook picture, even after 20 years and three kids. Her husband is a fireman and she's a stay at home mom like me!

This is me melting. Yes, it was hot and we were at the park for two hours during a fairly warm part of the day. By the time we left I was sporting a very fashionable heat rash. It is also at this picnic that I got word most people were going casual to that night's shindig. Really? WB had told me cocktail attire, hence the silk dress I went out and bought. Hmmm, I should have checked on the whole dress thing myself, make note to self for next gathering


Here I am in my silk dress. Oh well, at least I was nice and cool. I am dancing with another wife. You can tell I really know how to get down. I believe we were dragged onto to floor by another female classmates of WB's. Our husbands remained across the dance floor chatting refusing to bust a move with us. Here is WB (upper left with white shirt) and the classmates that all started kindergarten together.

Oh, and you know those awards they give like most changed, most kids etc. Well, WB got the Most Baby Face Award!

Galveston Island

I meant to write before I left on vacation, but time got away from me...but I did manage to get all my laundry done, pack up my three girls, get myself packed, get my two dogs ready for the dog sitter, and finish making our homemade lasagna that we will serve at our youngster's baptism in a couple of weeks. Whew, it's really too much work to go on vacation!!

We are in Galveston and the weather here is wonderful for the middle of July. My parents have a condo here and it is our get away when we come for a visit. My Dad takes the kids wherever they want to go and my Mom makes sure we come prepared with everything we need. The kids are always nice and spoiled by the time we leave. Isn't it nice to have grandparents.

My oldest is actually on a trip with my husband's parents for her seven year old trip. I'll have more on that later....

I better close for now the baby is fussy:)