Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center

Carson was able to go, along with his class, to the Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove.  They have been preparing for weeks for this field trip, reading up on their mission and the government, leaders, and problems on their "New Earth" planet.  Today was the big day of their time at the center and the simulators.  Carson was given the position of 2nd Office on the "Voyager."  He enjoyed the experience very much, and felt like they were successful.  I hope to have some photos to post soon. 

Zoo Field Trip

Today, I drove and chaperoned Micah and some classmates on a field trip to the Hogle Zoo.  Dakota went along and helped me, and as it turns out, it was a good thing. It was a fun but very tiring day.  Here are some pics.

This beautiful Highland Cat with eyes the camera can't do justice to, just stopped and stared at Micah.

The Tigers.  My favorite animal. I just can't get enough of watching them.

Of course!

Backtracking again

Carson received his Tenderfoot rank in 11 year old Scouts.  He worked very hard and I'm so proud of him.

It's Halloween time again.  Two years of blogging.  Can it be?? 

Carson and Micah have been growing pumpkins in our backyard.  Let me re-phrase that, their pumpkin patch has taken over and become our backyard.  They are having a contest with Aunt Sue, and are growing regular size and also Giant Dill.  The pumpkins are getting so big!

This is the time . . .

I had a sudden realization last night about something I hadn't thought about in years. 

Micah is learning to type correctly on the keyboard.  We were discussing it, and I thought about my typing classes, and my Mom always typing samples for me.  This is what she always typed . . . "This is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country."  I payed no attention to it then.  They were just words on a page, typed and spelled correctly, in a small amount of seconds.  No, they weren't.  In her high school typing class, during World War 2, her teacher had taught them to type the country's slogan.  It was the "catch phrase."  The "call to arms" of her generation.  Never mind all the sadness that she and her friends faced in those years.  She was still typing that "call" from the war years 40 years later.  Life imprints on us in strange ways.

I can still type it without even thinking about it.  "This is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country." 

Two weeks in a nut shell

Work and more work has put me behind on my blogging.  I've decided to do a quick peek into our past few weeks. 

Dakota started his Senior year!  Wow!

Lots of our evenings are occupied with HOMEWORK.  Carson got really ambitious with the white board.  Impressive! (with a Darth Vader voice)

When you have a whacky mom, like me, this is how you sometimes do your spelling homework. 

And of course, more towers.  A domino one this time, and a really cute face to go with it :)  Which is, by the way, the reason I posted this picture.

I found a box of my childhood books, and became all weepy and sentimental about them.  Each of them brings back such memories.

Remembering 9-11

On Sept. 11, 2001, I was getting Dakota ready for school.  He was in 2nd grade and it was his picture day at Grandview.  Carson was 17 months old and was sitting in his "saucer" bouncing in the living room, while I combed Dakota's hair.  We turned on the TV for a few minutes before time to go.  We saw the plane hitting the World Trade Center.  I thought it was a movie at first, until the broadcaster said, "We are live in New York City, there has been an attack." It seemed like a frozen moment for me.  I held Dakota's hand as we watched.  There were so many questions, and just the horror of it.  I remember my fear as I drove Dakota to school.  I wanted to calm his fears by keeping the day as normal as possible, but I didn't want him to be away from me.

I remember today, all the citizens and the rescuers who lost their lives that day.  The searching for survivors that went on for weeks.  Such a terrible time.  I pray for peace in our world. 

Mom's Birthday again

Today is my Mom's birthday.  I always know it's coming without looking at the calendar.  My emotions get the best of me, and the day is kind of difficult.  I dream of her often, and wish I could hear her voice.  There are a hundred things each day that I would like to share with her.  Most of all, her beautiful grandchildren.  The passing years have not weakened the depth of how I miss you, Mom.