Udvar-Hazy Air & Space visit

Melissa and I took the girls and Uncle Greg to the Air and Space Museum out in Chantilly. Sophia opted out and stayed with her Granny Nanny. I've never tried to import and process pictures on this laptop with Linux on it, so this KILLED me. All the pictures came out a bit dark once they were exported to jpeg, so I'm just posting a few and when I get back to my computer in FL we'll post some more. Maybe Melissa will get some from her camera posted as well. We do have a bunch of pictures from Mount Vernon, hunting for sharks teeth, and our other various activities.

The Enola Gay. Everything in this museum is pretty big, so the only lens I had that would work for a lot of it was the fisheye.


The Enterprise orbiter. It was the first orbiter and never flew in space. They used it for a bunch of testing.


Another angle.


Here, the girls explain how they were in a 4g inverted dive with a Russian MiG. Right into the danger zone!


The 'ole Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.


Optimus Prime!

We found this picture of Stephanie in Italy, she visited their a few months back for work purposes. I had to have it to share with my peeps because this is the famous piazza(plaza) that appears in movies all the time including....New Moon! I was super jealous!!

Update...to include: the Spa, Cupcakes and the pool!

These past few days we have tried to keep busy and keep our minds off the fact that we are counting the minutes until we leave for VA/MD area! Below are some of our activities...

Today I went to the spa with two friends. The three nice girls are missing one head from the picture....Sam, Donna and I each had a gift certificate to the spa so Donna scheduled us all for massages. I have never had a massage so I was nervous. It turned out pretty nice. I really liked the part where she rubbed my hands and feet! Then we relaxed in their pool and ate some fancy lunch. I have decided after looking at this picture that I need to stop being the one to always hold the camera since my head ALWAYS looks weird!


The cute little waterfall and pool.


Soph laying with Bells. She is very sick. The cat, not Soph.


The girls taking turns posing and jumping.


Paigey's turn!


The girls with their friend Shelby, pose on the float.


Shelby thinking about jumping onto the float.


Jojo, enjoying one of the cupcakes that you'll see below.


The girls also enjoying cupcakes.


Good times.


Pics are upside down, or rather not in right order, since she is eating and we haven't shown them being made yet!


Nice pose girlfriend!


The girls made cupcakes inside of ice cream cones. They were delish!





Soph was cracking me up!

Summer's Here!

Well I may not have a job but I sure did end up with some great friendships and a year of experience! I am trying not to think about the fact that I was laid off but it sure is hard without the Schraders here to distract me! So I have spent the last few days purging this house and getting rid of the junk. Em has been really sick with up and down fevers, lots of headaches and it sounds like a cough is starting. We will be in VA/MD soon and hopefully we'll have a great time doing all the stuff we love to do with our fams! Enjoy the montage.....


As the last of the fifth graders file out, the teachers take pics of their own silly faces!


Em and friends at graduation.


Em, shy posin', with Mrs. McDuffie.


My little award winner took home a pretty fat envelope. Among them were Perfect Attendance, Young Artist award and Musicianship.



Em waits while our Principal reads that looooooong list of awards!



Sam cleaning/goofing off. I didn't help, I just took pics!



One last award, the Reading Counts awards. Second grade really cleaned up on these out of the whole school. We had NONE in fourth grade! I think the deal was that if you got 150 points you got a plaque. My little reader earned herself 200 points thereby winning herself and her sisters a dinner party at Chuck E. Cheeses during our vacation. (That was a bet she made with me)


Good friend Hanah Trembley. They have known each other since about age 3, in preschool!



Mrs. McDuffie and her girlz!



Sophi with her real mother. She would not pose for me so I had to steal this shot.


My friend Liz McDuffie.


I think this is Hope. I always get her and Lexi confused!


Paige's turn to graduate. This is at the after party, where Mrs. Walton had them perform a bunch of songs for us sobbing parents.


Georgia and Paige.



Lovely girls in yellow. Paige was super excited to be dressed like Mrs. Walton.


Paige, waiting patiently, hers was the last kindergarten to receive awards. Paige was also awarded Perfect Attendance and Young Artist.



Kindergarten put on quite a performance. I do have some video. I tried to put it up but it (the internet) didn't let me....I'll try again soon....

Sophia's Graduation!

My baby manatee is heading to kindergarten! Sophi graduated last Thursday and is on her way to the big leagues. She had quite a few guests in attendance. Despite the "devil" in her she makes friends and fans wherever she goes. In fact, when I dropped her off at the school to get set up all the kids started chanting "Sophi, Sophi!" It was hilarious and it made me so proud as a mother.

Celebrating with a spiral pop. She was so excited!


Soph and Gabrielle!


Ms. Sara and Soph.


Tatum joins Soph and Gabrielle.


The ceremonious head shot!


Soph and good friend, Zadia.


With big sis...


Thanks so much for joining us Matt!


Sam and Katie also joined us. You guys are really awesome!


And again with the cute duo!


3 sisters! Our pics were kind of sucky since we couldn't pose nicely outside in the POURING rain!


Paige, waiting for the ceremony to begin.


Katie and Em waiting...


Soph, starting to walk up the isle, her hat falling off....