Oh, Those Summer Nights

This isn't a very good picture at all.  I'm sitting in my car in the dark listening to Rachel's band rehearse, so that is my view.  My view may be a bit better, but this is the best the camera is going to capture.

I don't like being out so close to bedtime, but I love watching the kids rehearse.  They are such a fantastic group of young people!!  I'm a bit disappointed that Aaron and Hannah aren't in band because I think I will miss this when Rachel graduates.

A Warm Day

The weather report called for temperatures in the upper 60s today, so we knew we needed to find something to do outside after church.  Hannah suggested the zoo and we happen to have passes.  Rachel had plans with Andy, but the rest of us got out in the sunshine.  The high actually reached 70 degrees and it was a beautiful day.

The parking lot was pretty full when we pulled in, so I guess the rest of Hampton Roads wanted to get out and enjoy the long awaited warm sunny day at the zoo as well.

I know the warmth was just a teaser, but it was a nice break from the winter weather.

Art Class

Hannah started taking an art class once a week just after school started last fall.  She has been sketching pictures for a long time and had started to watch "how-to" videos online.  From the first day of the class I was very impressed with what she can do.  The teachers give the kids verbal guidance so the finished product is all produced by the students.

 

The caterpillar was from her very first class.  She started with a reference picture that showed which shapes to use to form the caterpillar.  She has since progressed to no-step which means she has to come up with the shapes to form the picture on her own.  The background and added objects are from her imagination.

 

 

The parakeet was a new concept because she had to figure out how to make the bars look curved.

 

 

Some of these photographs of her work are kind of fuzzy because I took them with my phone instead of my good camera, but I think they still show the progression in her work.  She has a done a couple more in class, but I haven't taken pictures of all of them.



Mom, I Need More Science



Hannah has loved animals her entire life and for several years has talked about being a zoologist when she grows up.  She loves learning about math and science, so I won't be surprised if she chooses a career path that involves both.  She has a way of taking a math problem and turning it inside out in her head and making it look easy in the process. 

One of the things I love about homeschooling is when Hannah wants to know more about a subject, we can take the time to investigate.  Earlier in the week she mentioned to me that she doesn't think she wants to be a zoologist any longer.  She still loves animals, but she said she is becoming more interested in space and thinks we need to learn more about that in science.  She also told me she thinks she would like to work for NASA.  I know she will probably change her mind a thousand times, but allowing her to follow her interests is a great way for her to learn.  Field Trip Friday rolled around and I knew I needed to find something to build on that interest.

The Virginia Air and Space Center was perfect.  It is the visitor's center for NASA Langley Research and Langley Air Force Base. 

 
The very first exhibit is on the Wright Brothers and the exhibits build from there to space exploration. 

 

Not only is there information to read along the way, but many hands on activities which further explain the concepts of flight and space exploration.  Before we had been there five minutes, Hannah told me we would have to come back because she was going to need to reread all of this information.

This is the cockpit of an F/A 22 Raptor.  Hannah wasn't happy to pose for pictures, but I managed to get her in a few.

 

Here she is reading another sign.  That is what she really wanted to do.

 



This was a mini-theatre designed to look like a rocket.  We are fans of the Stargate tv show, so we said we found our own stargate.  Ha!

There was an observation deck on the top of the building.  I was looking across the water admiring these beautiful old brick building when I realized that it was the VA where PK worked.

Hannah and I picked up a membership on the way out, so she will be able to go back and reread her signs over and over.  We received tickets to the IMAX theatre with our membership.  PK, Aaron, Hannah and I took advantage of those yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Gorf

Aaron is taking drama as one of his electives this semester and tonight his class put on a play called Sideways Stories from Wayside High.  It is based on the same title from a series of books.  Aaron played Mr. Gorf and he was phenomenal!!  I was so proud of him, it was all I could do not to stand up and cheer in the middle of his scene.

I had helped him with his lines, so I had an idea of the story.  However, he did not want me to come to any rehearsals and he didn't want to tell me anything about it because he wanted me to be surprised.

There were a few work days which allowed the students to learn about building the set and the preparation that goes on behind the scenes. 

 

 

This is the best action shot I took during the play.  His character possessed the ability to make the students do what he wanted them to do.

 

 

He was sweet enough to pose on set for a picture after the play.

 

He loved being part of this play.  He wants to perform it again and I want to see it again.  It was that good.  I'm hoping he will purse acting next year in high school.

NJHS Induction

This handsome boy is all dressed up to attend his NJHS induction ceremony.  Even though he doesn't like school much at all, he is still one smart cookie!  Noelle was also inducted, but I failed to get a picture of the two of them together.  I'm sure that did not disappoint them!!

Quick Trip

Aaron, Hannah and I took an overnight trip to visit Becky, Matt, Allison and Abby.  Rachel stayed home to work on summer work.  Becky and I have a weekly phone date, so even though we don't see each other often when we finally do get together it doesn't seem like it has been that long.

 

We arrived at their house in time for lunch.  Aaron, Hannah and Allison played Forbidden Island which is a board game.  It is different than most board games in that the players have a common goal.  Hannah has asked if we can purchase this game.  I played Littlest Pet Shops and Polly Pockets with Abby while the older kids played their game.

 

Later that afternoon we went to their neighborhood pool.  It was a rainy day which worked in our favor as we almost had the pool to ourselves.

 

 

We arrived back at their house in time to hear the ice cream man driving around.  The kids waited excitedly for him to stop by the house.

 

Matt has orders for the St. Louis area, so pretty soon they will no longer be close enough for us to pop in for an overnight visit.  Even though we don't see each other that often, I like that they are close enough for us to get together. 

Strike

Our local bowling alley offers free summer bowling for kids fifteen and under.  I signed up the kids and bought a summer pass for myself.  We made our first trip of the summer to the bowling alley this morning.  We bowled two games.  Aaron won the first and I won the second.  None of us are great bowlers, but we had fun.  We had to pay to rent the shoes, so now I am on a mission to find us some cheap bowling shoes.  With this Virginia humidity, I'm sure we will make this a regular outing.

Sounds of the Past

We decided to have a cookout at our house with Dad, Denise and Doug, Shannon and the girls to celebrate the Fourth of July.  Grilled corn on the cob has become one of my summer favorites.  Yum.  We also had burgers, baked beans and Haitian potato salad.  I laughed about serving Haitian potato salad on the 4th of July, but it is a pinkish red color.

Hannah and I made a cupcake flag for dessert.  I've seen many pictures of the flag cake, but this just seemed a bit more simple.  Hannah took care of decorating and had fun doing it.  I think the cupcakes topped with the raspberries were the favorite.

 

After dinner we drove to Yorktown to watch the fireworks.  Doug knew of a perfect spot on the Coast Guard base.  It was nice because we weren't surrounded by the crowds in Yorktown.  My dad was especially happy to experience Doug's guided tour of the facility before the show.

 

Aaron, Noelle, Hannah, Lori and Rachel waiting for the show to start

 

The fireworks show was really nice.  Yorktown is the sight of the last major battle of the Revolutionary War.  As I heard the fireworks explode, the thought occurred to me that this ground had heard those sounds before in the form of cannons.





Another Year Down

Today was the official last day of school.  Rachel only had to attend on the days she had a final exam, so her last day was actually yesterday.  Hannah and I finished up last week.  Poor Aaron was the one who had to push through to the bitter end.  Ha!

This was supposed to be the kids' one and only year at their respective schools here, but PK and I made a last minute decision last night.  His orders are for Bethesda, MD for October.  We have searched, researched, searched and researched some more trying to find a good spot for us to live for the new orders.  We haven't had much luck.  The houses are either way out of our price range, districted for less than ideal schools, the school doesn't have a band program or the area will require an extremely long commute in the crazy traffic.  PK is willing to do a long commute and he has done that for the last several years, but I am afraid this one will be too much.  Anyway, we decided last night that PK will geo-batch and the kids and I will stay here.  I think we both feel at peace with this decision.  The kids were really relieved to hear this news. 

I think Rachel spent the past year thinking she did not want to make too many new friends that she would have to say good-bye to right away.  Next year she will be able to relax and know she will be around for a while.  Until around the end of October, Aaron seemed so broken every morning when I would drop him off at school and so defeated every afternoon when I picked him up.  He has friends he talks about at school and even though he does not like school, he looks forward to seeing his friends.  He also really likes his Scout troop here.  My heart is so happy knowing he will not have to make another move this year.  Since his first move from California to Illinois, he has had a harder time adjusting to the change than his sisters.  Hannah and I will homeschool again next year and she will be able to continue with her Girl Scout troop.

I treated the kids to their traditional last day of school ice cream. 

Tomorrow we will jump right into our summer plans with our long awaited trip to visit our friends in Georgia.

Highest Honors

Rachel received her first academic letter today for Highest Honors.  She thrives having a heavy load of classwork.  I am extremely proud of her.  The adjustment from middle school to high school is difficult and Rachel had the added stress and adjustment of moving to a new area.  She just jumps into a situation, figures it out and makes it work.  She rocks!

 

 



Back to the Beach

I have covered this before, but I. LOVE. THE. BEACH.  I could just sit on the beach all day watching the waves roll in and the kids dig in the sand.  As a matter of fact, that is pretty much what I did today.

Rachel sat and chatted with me most of the day.

 



And we took selfies!!

 



 

Aaron and Hannah making a sandcastle

 



The kids were in the water and my toes were in the sand by 11:03 and we stayed until 5:00.  PK had duty, but he was able to join us around 2:30. 

Except for stopping for a lunch and snack break that were each about five minutes each,



Aaron and Hannah were either digging in the sand, boogie boarding or body surfing.  They played so hard, they were still tired the next day.

 

Aaron and Hannah

 

 

Rachel and PK

 



 

I managed to capture a rare PK smile in this picture.

This plane flew over advertising open job positions in the area.  I took a picture hoping it would help me find a job right on the beach.  Ha!!

It was a little crowded, but overall it was a perfect beach day.  I am on a mission to go to the beach as many days as possible before we have to move.

The kids may have come home with their first sunburns.  Oops!!  The next time we will make sure they use sunscreen. 

Georgia Peeps

Mitch, Terri and Adrienne came to visit from Georgia this past week.  It was Adrienne's Spring Break, but my kids don't have Spring Break until next week.

It worked out great.  Mitch and Terri were nice enough to include Hannah when they went to explore and Rachel was able to visit with Adrienne in the evenings.  They took Hannah to see the Chesapeake Bay Bridge where they were excited to see dolphins swimming in the bay.

They also went to Williamsburg. 



Hannah and Adrienne were able to participate in a mock trial in Williamsburg.  Adrienne was the defendant and Hannah was on the jury.  They both thought it was tons of fun!  They also had fun playing on the wii.



PK and Mitch went on a shopping trip and Terri and I were able to get in a game of Nertz.

Holly was also happy to see all of them.



We got a date on the calendar for a cookout at their house while the kids and I are in Georgia this summer and we are looking forward to that!  It was such an enjoyable visit for all of us and I truly hope they will come visit us again!



Forensics

Rachel received first place in her category at her forensics meet last night.  When I hear the word, "Forensics"  I think about solving crimes using science.  That would mean Rachel was hanging out with a bunch of other kids solving crimes.  Sounds exciting.  However, in this case, we are talking about Speech and Debate or public speaking. 

I do not like to talk in front of a group, so I am just floored that she would even attempt to do it.  Her category is impromptu.  She is given a topic and in a few minutes has to develop an outline and deliver a speech.  Sometimes she doesn't know too much or anything about the topic so in those cases she really has to think on her feet. 

We were discussing the meet last night after she returned home and I asked her if Speech is a required course in high school.  PK said he didn't have to take Speech in high school, but it was required for graduation at my school.  I did not like it one bit.  I also had to take Speech in college.  I didn't like it anymore then. 

Rachel has never been afraid to try something new.  She tried out for district band a couple months ago.  She didn't make it, but her attitude was, "If I don't make it, it is ok.  At least I can say I tried and learned from the experience."

Parents don't attend Forensic meets.  The competitors have to go into a room alone with the judges, so it is not conducive to having spectators.  Rachel was sweet enough to send me this picture of the team who brought home first place overall.



Can You Whistle?

We had dinner at Doug and Shannon's house on Valentine's Day.  Cynthia was in town and she, Shannon and I were hanging out in the kitchen.  I have no idea how the subject came about, but it was brought to our attention that Shannon can whistle using her fingers.  Neither Cynthia or I can do that.  I can do the regular old pucker and blow whistle, but I can't do the fingers in the mouth whistle.

Shannon began to give us lessons and Cynthia and I gave our best effort to produce a sound. 





This went on for a good thirty minutes.  One of the many reasons I love spending time with Shannon and Cynthia is because we never know when one of us will fall into a fit of laughter because one of the other two said something like one of the following.

"Let me see your tongue."

"Is your tongue longer than most?" 

"Your lips aren't right."

"Maybe your fingers are too big."

"I need a spit rag."

"Don't turn your head my direction when you blow.  You spray."

"This is like giving birth.  You push and push and push, hoping for results."

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Before the snow hit, we took the kids to see the movie Frozen.  It is about a princess who has the power to freeze things.  One of the songs is "Do You Want to Build a Snowman."  Aaron and Hannah have been walking around the house singing this all week.  It is comical since we have been snowed in. 

Today the snow has started to melt which made it easier to pack.  Aaron and Hannah went out to build their snowmen.