Summer Travels 2017

      A lot of new sights, sounds, and even smells can fit into just a handful of days. The end of July saw our family on a trip through several states in the South. We even visited a state the kids had never been to - Florida. In Mobile, Alabama, we toured a WW II warship the U.S.S. Alabama and the U.S.S. Drum, a submarine from the same era. In Fort Rocker, Alabama, we looked at all the exhibits at the US Army Aviation Museum. 

     This family trip was a perfect way to end our summer, get rested, and ready ourselves for a new school year. A box full of sea shells from the Florida coast will always remind us of the new experiences and the fun we had this summer.

At Lake Charles, LA

Louisiana swamps.

Going over the Mississippi.

It is hard to get a decent picture on a highway. The Mississippi.

Passing through Baton Rouge 

Our first stop in Mississippi was rather celestial. 

The U.S.S. Alabama in Mobile, Alabama

All the places the ship sailed.

Inside, the ship resembled a small town. 

It had a kitchen (the galley), 

... a prison (the brig), ...

... the laundry rooms, ....

... a dark room for developing photos for the ship's newspaper (there was another room for printing the paper).

U.S.S. Alabama was part of a fleet of ships.

The officers' room.

The tailor's room

The Plotting Room that contains radars and other equipment needed to calculate the range of a target.

Down in the engine room.

Next to the missiles that were taller than the kids.

The chapel.

The room where captain ate and entertained.

Captain's bedroom. 

In the Aircraft Pavilion, we noticed an exhibition about the WW I.

U.S.S. Drum or first submarine we've ever been in.

The place where torpedoes were fired out.

The officers' humble dining room (or mess).

Every wall in the submarine was covered with all kinds of gadgets.

The submarine's galley.

This is where the submarine was steered. 

Fort Rucker, Alabama. The US Army Aviation Museum. Army One helicopter that has transported presidents and dignitaries.

One of the first flyers around.

Of course, the kids had to try 'flying' a plane themselves.

From Icarus and Da Vinci to modern-day marvels at the aviation museum.

Some amazing murals in Dothan, Alabama (the peanut capital of the world).

Panama City beach in Florida.

A shell we found in St Andrews. It had a crab in it!

Some extra fun in the evening.

Snorkeling in the Gulf. The kids saw a lot of tiny marine life and big pelicans. Shell Island, Florida.

The wonder of the Florida forest - tall pine trees and dwarfing palm trees.

The peanut fields in Alabama.

Back in Texas. Taking a look around the Blue Elbow Swamp. Here with a statue of  turtle.

On our short walk we actually spotted some wild life both fauna and flora type.

'16/17 End of the School Year

We celebrated the last day of school with a trip to a frozen yogurt shop in town. Sweet end.

     The last weeks of school have been a blur of different activities. Andrew's baseball practices with the league's All Star's team started as soon as his regular season as Houston Astros finished. The practices were hard and long, but he learned a lot. The All Star games are still going on and his team is still playing. 

     On June 1, we all signed up for our library's summer reading program. We have to read at least 15 minutes a day for thirty days to receive a prize. For children, there is also a half-way prize they get after reading for 15 days. Saara has already received hers. Andrew and I are just a few days behind. 
     It is not hard to reach the reading goal this year. Andrew seems to enjoy the Sonlight readers as well as the Minecraft series or comic books he borrows from the library. Both kids have their noses in books every day. 

     Although the children had their spring piano recital, which normally signifies the end of the piano classes, both kids are taking lessons through summer as well. They have enjoyed playing different pieces and practice without me having to remind them to do so. 

     The other subject we will be working on this summer is spelling and writing. We did a lot of it during the school year, but I feel it would be very beneficial for the children to keep on writing. So, I have a few assignments for them every week. We will take a break from math and science and history, though. Summer needs to taste like summer after all. 

Working on some final assignments this school year.

Saara had a few home economics moments. She is becoming quite a helper in the kitchen. It is not a surprise any longer to find her making breakfast for the whole family.

Helping to sew a new dress for herself.

One evening, the kids and I took a little walk in the twilight. 

Andrew brought along a camera and took pictures as long as there was light.

The moon was bright that night, and the kids had fun catching fireflies.

Next morning, we took the same walk and noticed a lot of things we had missed the night before, like this passion flower.

American beautyberry in bloom.

Wild grapes getting ready to ripen.

This year, Andrew is part of the local library's tween program. Here he and many others took part of the hands on chemistry experiments.

The best part of summer is to get together with friends and just play.

At the BV Bombers game.

Andrew's A-team in the Field of Dreams.

The grueling two weeks of practice lead to the first game of the All Star season. The team warming up before the game.

   

'16/17 Week 36

Doing school all by himself. Lonesome.

     The same 'bug' that caused Andrew's rush to the ER last week took down Saara right after her brother's baseball game one night. Thankfully, her sickness did not last as long nor was it as dramatic. We did as much school as we were able, but our main focus was getting both kids well again. 

While Saara was recuperating, she took up cross-stitching again.

Less school work was replaced with 'home ec' classes. Andrew used his Star Wars cookbook to make a batch of tasty Leia buns.

The kids' spring recital was a wonderful event. The children enjoyed it as much as the adults.

'16/17 Week 35

     One busy week of school was followed by a week of pain and then recuperation. After a wonderful choir and chimes concert, Andrew fell ill. It was not just a passing cold, but an all-out incapacitating 'bug' that ruined a whole week of studies. Poor boy had to be rushed to the ER in the middle of the night as his pains were getting stronger. Thankfully, as soon as he was given medication, he started feeling better and has been on the mend ever since. 
     In a way, it was an interesting timing. Andrew and I had just finished reading the chapters in his history of medicine book about how desperate the 18th and 19th century doctors were to find a drug that would relieve their patients' pain. 
     But before this unwelcome illness struck, we had a very enjoyable spring concert. It was Andrew's first concert as part of the 'big' choir, and Saara's first in beginner chimes. Both children performed beautifully. I was surprised to see Andrew handling three different chimes this time. 
     Saara also had her ballet recital which ended another year of ballet classes. At the same time, we signed her up for volleyball practices that will start in July. Add to that Kids Bowl Free that we signed up as well, and the usual trips to the pool, we should be in good shape sports-wise for the summer. 
     Meanwhile, we still have four weeks to go before our summer can begin in earnest. 
     

More fishing. More fun with friends.

Saara had a rather busy Saturday with two birthday parties to attend. 

The beginner chimes ensemble. 

PGM Choir

The Starshine Singers

The midnight rush to the ER. First (I pray the last) time for Andrew.

While Andrew was at the ER, Saara could not sleep and made her brother a Welcome Home sign. 

Meanwhile at home, the nature came close to the house. A non-venomous rat snake.

One of two dances the girls performed at the recital.