Adventure Days

We soaked up the hot summer weather last month.  Maybe a little too much heat some days!  Mango Turtles are always a yummy afternoon snack =)

One of the things I love about living in the DC area are the easy opportunities for "Adventure Days" - the kind of day where you leave mid-morning with a picnic lunch and a plan to keep everyone happy and busy for the rest of the day, working in two or three school subjects while exploring something new.

Adventure Day to the Navy Yard:

Once a month, the Navy Museum hosts a science project for homeschoolers.  Yes, please!  I didn't know we were supposed to bring our own two-liter bottles, so we ran to the corner store and purchased three two-liters of soda.  The kids thought it was so fun to take a few drinks before "watering" the grass with the rest of the liquid so our science project could commence. =)

Of all the rockets launched, Bridgette's had the record for greatest distance traveled at 75 feet!

After launching and picnicking, we checked out the surprisingly impressive museum.  We only made it through the first half and are already looking forward to going back to see the rest.

We learned the basics of how a submarine works, and played with the working periscopes for.ev.er.  

After changing into swimsuits, we walked (and rested) along the Anacostia River . . .

 . . . to the Yards Park where the kids had the shallow pool mostly to themselves. 

The ice cream shop around the corner gave everyone the energy needed (and gave us a chance to dry off) as we walked back to the van parked at the Navy Yard.  Such a FUN day for everyone!

 Adventure Day to Rock Creek Park:

We took our notebooks to the Rock Creek Park nature center and spent time looking and drawing.  Gretchen loved how her sketch of the Blue Heron turned out.

The kids got to help feed the turtles. 

Rock Creek Park has a free planetarium!  It was the girls' first planetarium show - we all loved it.  The ranger told some great stories.  We went on a nature walk and started working on our junior ranger badges before heading home.  If it wasn't for all the traffic, we'd be at Rock Creek Park on a regular basis!

Moving Week - with family visiting!

Two weeks in and our house is starting to feel like home.  Here's a look back at moving week, which was wonderful and absolutely more crazy than we'd anticipated!!

The kids and I started the week at Walter Reed hospital for a medical appointment (all is well).  On our way out, we passed by these deer - just enjoying the greenery of the hospital grounds!  We quietly watched for a while

Aunt Vallerie met us at the house to help with some cleaning.  In the time it took us to get to the house, this little one was coming down with a bug.  She literally laid down on the floor and went to sleep.  Her fever didn't last long, but she was not feeling like herself for the rest of the week.  Read: our four-year-old had come to the end of her limit with transitions and being flexible, and she was going to need some extra attention and care.  

Taking a break from cleaning the house with a little more exploring and picnicking in Rock Creek Park. 

The movers arrived!  We had to be out of the hotel the day before, so we stayed the night with Steve and Vallerie.  Ryan had a training at work and wasn't able to be at the house with me.  Thankfully, Vallerie had the day off from work and kept the kids for me while I directed boxes and furniture.  We were blessed by a group of men who all professed faith in Christ and worked with joyfulness!  

I hate watching people move a piano.

Later in the day Steve, Vallerie, and the kids went to the airport to pick up Aubyn and Evelynn!  What moving day doesn't need fun family flying into town?!  

This move had the most "casualties" of our stuff.  It's just stuff, but this time they lost our bed.  (It has since been located.  It's still in Minot.)  So that night Ryan ran to our local Ikea and bought a mattress and we pretended we were college newlyweds again.  

This same weekend, Kaye K and Big Daddy had been planning Cousin Camp (for grandchildren ages 6 and up).  Aubyn flew with Evelynn.  My parents drove into town late Thursday night, and the next morning took the three big cousins away for a LOT of fun on the beach!  Which left Aubyn with us - a total win/win!  I wish I could say that the weekend was a breeze.  Three adults to one kid is a dream, right?!  Sadly, little B was still not feeling well, and also suffering from a broken heart that she was too young to go to Cousin Camp.  Aunty Auby was the best person to be with us that weekend.  She loved with grace and patience for all of our bad attitudes!  And helped me power through the kitchen boxes in no time at all.   

Some sibling Facetiming . . 

A break from the house for a Saturday morning breakfast out.

Vallerie stayed with Bridgette one night so Ryan, Aubyn, and I could go on one of Steve's bus tours.  He is a fantastic tour driver!  It was such a treat to see the sights on his bus with my sister and husband as the sun set over the incredible city we now get to call home.  Definitely the highlight of the weekend for me!

After church on Sunday, Aubyn and I had lunch on the Hill and then ventured over to an art museum.  I made her pose for this picture.  Just reminding her of her roots (even though I think it's great that she's basically a Canadian).  

As if the weekend hadn't been full and fun and crazy enough . . . Gramma turned 91!!  With so many of her family in town, we met the Cousin Campers at Gramma's home and squeezed in a little birthday party for the special lady before Aubyn and Evelynn went to the airport.  Vallerie made cupcakes, had ice cream and decorations and party hats - all the makings of a perfect birthday celebration for Gramma.

Wearing their Cousin Camp t-shirts

Uncle Steve is SUCH a good sport to put up with their shenanigans!

First Trip to Boone

My parents recently moved to Boone, North Carolina for a new job they've taken with Samaritan's Purse.  When Ryan received his new assignment, one of the many things we were excited about in moving is being closer to family.  Six-and-a-half hours is nothing compared to the distances we've lived with!  So during our first month here, when our days felt slower and more free, we took off for a quick weekend trip to see Kaye K and Big Daddy!

My mom and I made these wipe-off photos for our road trip to the Northwest last summer.  They are the number one repeated car toy - the kids love them!

We made it!

Time with Kaye K and Big Daddy is not complete without going out for breakfast.  We found a great local spot with all-you-can-eat pancakes for the kids.  What?!  Rooke was in heaven!

We picnicked at Blowing Rock after church on Sunday and enjoyed checking out a few of the local shops in this quaint town.

We did a short trail walk overlooking this lake, and then drove down to walk the trail at the bottom.  There are so many beautiful ways to enjoy the outdoors in this area!

Before leaving town, Mom and Dad gave us a quick tour of SP's campus, including one of the Operation Christmas Child warehouses.  It was great to experience with the kids how our shoeboxes are processed and shipped out.  It's a MASSIVE operation!  

Staying Busy - Almost Home

I was talking with someone recently about living out of suitcases and she compared it to camping.  I decided it's not as fun as camping (though I like easy access to regular showers).  It feels like a vacation we're ready to be done with.  We've made good memories, taken a break from regular responsibilities (thank you, housekeeping!), explored some of the local restaurants, did some touristy things, and now it's time to go home.  Just let me go home!  It's coming.  And we are grateful for the house we get to move into later this week.  So as we practice patience, we are fighting the tension that comes from living in a hotel for a month and finding ways to have fun (which isn't that hard in this area!).

Bedtime snuggles with library books

Steve and Vallerie took us to Gravelly Point.  I think it's the coolest thing we've done since being here!  The park is right next to the runway at Reagan airport and it feels like the planes are going to land on top of you!

A dream come true:

The kids and I visited our first of many Smithsonian museums

We have spent many hours at the base pool!

The kids have perfected their resourcefulness in imaginary play and building forts.

Rooke has decided he will be the cart-pusher when we go shopping, which is very helpful.  Most of the time.