Return to the Moon/Castle Airfore Base

The year is 2017, and for the first time since the Apollo 17 in 1972, a group of astronauts is planning to land on the surface of the moon!  You may recognize a few of these young astronauts!

Today, our home school group had the privilege of participating in "Return to the Moon", a program put on by the Challenger Learning Center in Atwater.  Challenger Centers dot the U.S., built in memory of the Challenger Crew, who lost their lives seconds after take off in 1986.  This memorial is not made of brick or stone, but is a living, breathing monument that is giving children all over the U.S. a chance to learn what real astronauts do in space!

Half of our crew was in Mission Control, while the other half braved life in the space station.  After one hour, they traded places.  Each member had a specific job and tasks to accomplish.  Javan was on the Medical team.  Here he is reading his scripts and getting ready for his next test.

Bret was a member of the Isolation team.  He and his co-workers controlled robots which operated outside of the space craft.  They were measuring, counting and completing tasks assigned to them by Mission Control

Moriah - our other Medical team member!

Rachel and Emily as Life Support!!  Oh, boy!!  At one time there was only 3 minutes left of oxygen on the space craft.  These girls performed their many tasks in a calm manner and with the help of Mission Control saved the lives of all their crew members!

Busy, busy!!!  They were a great team!

Navigation with the help of Mission Control had to decide the best place to land the space craft.
Remote was very busy, analyzing space rocks, etc.  Mission Control side analyzed data for them, and in their spare time helped find a safe place to land the craft.

More testing!  Mission Control kept Rachel and Emily very busy!

Sending results, via Data to Mission Control.

Safety first!  They loved the glasses - not!!

Isolation continues to work

It looks easier than it is to control these joysticks!  Wade was a great help to the Isolation team!

Almost done!

A safe landing on the moon!  Mission Accomplished!!!

Homeschoolers cram as much as they can in one day.  Once your out, you're out.  So next stop was Castle Air Force Base!  This is Wade's absolute favorite plane - the SR-71

This particular SR-71 was the first to fly over Vietnam, and it flew photo reconnaissance over Libya in 1986!

Planes, and more planes!  It was a great day!  Beautiful weather!  Thankful we don't live in Vermont today!

Top Gun!! (Something this 80's girl could relate to!!)

Cool, and very cool!  Open cockpit at Castle is May 24th!

What I learned this week...

1. Approximately every 10 years since the 1960's there has been a new theory as to how the moon evolved. (answersingenesis.com) The Fission Theory, The Capture Theory, The Nebular Theory, and Impact Crater Theory. (Maybe I didn't learn as much as I thought - I just had to ask Bret the names of each of these theories.)

2. Ethan Allen did not own a furniture store (hehe!!) He was the leader of the Green Mountain Boys fighting New York for the territory we know now as Vermont. Somehow he became part legend, just like Johnny Appleseed.

3. Vermont became it's own country after the War of Independence. But eventually joined the union, becoming our 14th state.

4. I could bore you all day with facts about Vermont, maybe it's not that boring - Rachel has decided she'd like to live there. The Green Mountains, numerous lakes and ponds, historic covered bridges, and lots of maple syrup!!!

5. Rachel wrote a paper on NASA recycling urine and sweat to eventually use it as potable water! EWWW! I enjoyed seeing the girls' faces crinkle and the boys' eyebrows raise as she read her paper to the writing club!!

6. Genesis 14 names a lot of kings. I had the privilege of reading each name aloud to my children. That's the last time I decide that we're too busy for everyone to grab their Bibles. I think they were relieved, and a little surprised. Did each city have it's own king? That I don't know.

I love home schooling!!!

Six weeks and one day...

This was the long awaited day...Lilly, Garret and I set out early for our appointments.  Our first stop was Precision Imaging where we had Lilly's leg x-rayd.  One of the technicians asked to sign her leg and Lilly turned him down!  He acted offended, so I asked Lilly why he couldn't sign it.  "I don't know him, and my cast is coming off today anyway."  The first answer was good enough for me!

We ran several errands and had to stop for lunch.  It was Lilly's day so her choice ....

I couldn't resist this park as we drove by.  I think it's close to 70 degrees here today!

We finally made our way to Dr. K's office.  He checked the x-ray, everything looked good....Praise the Lord!

Off came the cast!!!

Lilly wasn't too happy.  The doctor said this is normal.  She'll start walking on her new leg when she's ready.  No rush!  Also, no jumping or bike riding for one month.  

I'll miss my hop a long Lilly!  

Commando Garret

My mom says, "Boys will make a gun out of anything!"  I felt this one was a little out of the ordinary!

A Beautiful Day...

Friday was a beautiful day at Dodge Ridge.  60 skiers showed up from our Christian Home school group!  It was a blast!

Lilly sat in the lodge with a very kind auntie!  She and her cousins had the run of the lodge, playing games and eating snacks all day!

Garret had a great day!  Wade took him to his Level 2 class at 10:00 a.m. sharp.  By 12:30 he hadn't shown up at the lodge.  We tried to remain calm as we hunted the lodge, rental area, and searched the mountain.  Not long after our search began he came skiing by with an instructor and group of boys his age.  He shouted a few things to us, "You gotta try those pizza sticks - their great, and dad do you have time to ski with me at 3:30?"  The first statement puzzled me because we were holding his meal ticket, but the second statement alarmed me!  The lesson was for two hours, what was his instructor doing?  We followed the class and questioned his teacher!  Come to find out - Garret had accidentally joined an all day ($108) class!  We apologized and offered to take him back, the instructor grinned and said, "I love teaching kids!  He can stay!"  So up Garret went on the rope tow, down he fell - and away Wade and I walked to have lunch!  By the end of the day Garret was promoted to Level 3!!

Rachel - moved up to Level 4 and that's where she'll stay the next time we ski, she did great!  Before and after her lesson she enjoyed skiing with her cousins.

Bret - had to skip his lesson because of a late lunch, but we hear tell that he was a dare devil!  Lots of falling and getting back up and going again.  He's a great skier!

Melissa - First time on skis!  I was so nervous, but after a two hour lesson I gained some confidence.  Maybe a little too much!  Wade took me on the bunny hill.  I did ok on the lift, but when we got to the hill I immediately started sliding down - 0ops!!  I fell, and guess what - it's impossible to get back up!  I don't understand how the kids do it.  I fell two more times, but after that I did great!  One of the girls told her mom I looked like a 20 something year old!! (ok - I'm bragging!!!)  Anyway, I have a lot to learn and I'm looking forward to skiing again next month.  I hope I get to ski with Rachel!

Wade - the pro!!!  He had some time to ski with his buddies, but devoted much of his day to amateurs like me!  Isn't he a great guy?  He was kind and encouraging!  I enjoyed seeing him ski - and wow how he stops on a dime.  I thought he'd run me over a time or two!!!

We're looking forward to next month! 

Happy New Year...Happy Birthday

Happy New Years!  In our family, each new year also brings a birthday!

Lilly was due Christmas day, but arrived New Years Day.  So, while thrilled with the birth of our healthy baby girl., a New Years Birthday does present a few challenges...

1.  Yes, we did write a check to Uncle Sam in 2003.  Had she been born 24 hours early, the tables would have been turned.

2.  Most years the store shelves are completely empty after Christmas (probably not this year but I wasn't taking any chances)

3.  Viruses and Bacteria  thrive this time of year!  Last year, I was too sick to do anything on my own.  Thank goodness for "Build A Bear" and a free Chevy's birthday lunch!

4.  Any New Years Traditions we used to have, have been changed to birthday ones. 

I determined not to let any of the above hinder this special day for Lilly!  She enjoyed a wonderful, quiet birthday at home!  It was a great day!

Lilly planned the menu for the day.

Breakfast - pancakes

Lunch - Turkey sandwiches (I struggled with this, but it's her day!)

Dinner- (also a struggle) Chicken Legs!!! I served a hashbrown casserole and Caesar salad too!

Dessert - cake, and more cake!  (also Grandma's bread pudding - not on her menu, but enjoyed by all!)

Here's some photos of the day!  Lilly and friend eating their turkey sandwiches!

Opening gifts!!!

Painting!

Tonight we had a special dinner with Papa and Grandma!

A new outfit for Cinderella!  And Grandma doctoring some sick stuffed animals!

Lilly and Papa playing "I Spy Eagle Eye"

Lilly, Roy, Cinderlla, and a sick teddy that Grandma made better!

Happy Birthday Lilly!  I'm glad your birthday is New Years Day!

New Years Eve

We enjoyed a special evening with friends.  The grownups played pool and some good old fashioned board games...

the kids enjoyed various "screens"  all night long!

The evening ended with us wishing Lilly a very "Happy Birthday"!

Overnight Cousins

We had a great time with cousins last week.  The four girls enjoyed a slumber party in their bedroom!  Wade and I  were entertained by listening to them laugh and talk!  Surprisingly, they all fell asleep before the boys did!