The rest of February

 Last Monday the kids had the day off for President's Day.  The weather was to be nice, so we made a trip into DC to visit George Washington's Mt. Vernon.

It was a free admission day, so it was crowded!

 

That made for a bit of a disappointing experience.  We were unable to tour the mansion due to time constraints, and every other building had long, long lines.  So we did a lot of walking around the grounds, and enjoying what we could. 

We will have to return for another visit to get in the whole experience.

The parking lots were full, so I got a little creative with the parking.

Athan is doing a STEM Club once a week after school.

Spring is unofficially here.  

The Upper Ferry near our house is open.  This makes travel a bit more convenient when traveling North.

Also daffodils and trees are in bloom.

Last week on my way home I was flagged down by a lost driver.  I got out, walked to her car, and helped her figure out where she needed to go.  Then she noticed my license plate.   She tells me how she has visited Iowa, "That American Pickers place", she says. 

Practice for the school musical, South Pacific, is well underway.  Gavin and Athan got their lacrosse gear on Saturday, so they are practicing the basics.

Saturday we are planning to make a day trip into DC as a family.

Thanks for reading!
Jessica 

Five and a half months

We've been here 5 1/2 months already.  While some days have been slow, the time has really gone by quickly.  Five months ago we bought a different van, and since then we've put over 8,000 miles on it!

We've been here long enough:

• We can sometimes tell which way is North.  
• We enjoying watching the tide patterns on the Wicomico River.  
• Phil and I have learned how to watch for those pesky speed cameras, one is especially pesky.  
• We've had our first power loss by a large pine tree falling on the lines; note everything in this house is electric.  
• I bought my first bag of collard greens, which is at least 1/2 a bushel basket.  
• We've now tried soft shell crab.  I think I over cooked it, but the whole thing left my mind confused.  You're eating the whole crab........I'm not sure if we liked it or not, it was just odd.  
• I can now spell "hemodialysis" without having to think it through.  It's the unit that I volunteer in at the hospital two mornings a week assembling the packs the nurses use and other basic restocking.
• Cora's getting in more and more driving experiences.  Especially driving around placing and removing flamingoes from unsuspecting homeowners with other Junior classmates.  And note how cute the flyers are.......Cora did them.   

We started this month with Athan participating in Speech Meet at the school.  He didn't advance, but he did a good job and it was a good experience for him.
  
Gavin had a robotics competition with his school club in Portsmouth, VA.  We left Friday evening after Obi's basketball game.  The drive wasn't the most fun on Highway 13.  It's kind of the equivalent of driving on Highway 69 in Iowa, but there isn't an Interstate option 10 miles to the East.  So, so many stop lights, and reduced speed limits.  The darkness was nice though for our first crossing of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  The competition Saturday was fun, entertaining, and a great learning experience for Gavin.  They fought hard with their small robot, and made changes they could in between matches.  The day ended with them not advancing to the finals, but it was an enjoyable experience for all of us.  

We slept in Sunday morning, and then headed to Norfolk.  We enjoyed a walk along the Elizabeth River, visited the Nauticus museum, and then did a self guided tour of the USS Wisconsin BB-64.

Last week I registered Gavin & Athan for Lacrosse; now we must learn how the game is played.  

Sunday I became another year older.  Cora made my favorite angel food cake for me.  We spent the afternoon in Dover for Gavin's last swim meet.  It was a distance meet, so Gavin did his first ever 200 and second & third 100.  Phil timed for most of the meet.  As being new to this sport, he didn't dress in the shorts and flip flops like the experienced parents have learned, so he was quite wet from the knees down by the end of the evening.  We stopped for supper about 8 in Seaford, and in our tired-hangriness tried our best to behave until our food came.

Monday I met Cora at the post office after school to apply for her passport.  For she will be doing Fall Semester of her Senior year in Austria!  She'll be on her own awesome adventure from mid August 2017 to mid January 2018.

Obi's basketball season also ended Monday night.  He's hoping to make the new Middle School track team for a spring sport.  Cora is already signed up for High School track team.   
Cora has joined the Glee Club.  Athan is part of the 3rd grade Stem Club that meets once a week after school.

Athan, Gavin, and Cora have parts in the school's production of South Pacific.  Obi is helping with running sound.

Phil is staying plenty busy with all of his work here, Ohio, and Colorado........oh and at his actual office in Des Moines.

Were looking forward to more hours of daylight, warmer temperatures (I won't tell you Iowans what is considered cold), and more great experiences.  

Athan at Speech Meet

Gavin driving the robot

making some alterations

pushing some stars under the fence

one of the Norfolk mermaids along the Elizabeth River walk

exploring at Nauticus

Athan petting a shark in the museum

USS Wisconsin

inside one of the turrets

it's just odd seeing the bridge end

our soft shell crab po' boy

Gavin doing a great job at his last meet

Obi's last basketball game

a team photo after the game

January 2017

January was a slower month for us.  The kids got back into the routines of school by the 4th week in January.  Christmas break went through the 4th.  Then the second week they had Monday and Tuesday off for snow days.  The third week, they had Monday off for MLK Jr. Day.  We have discovered it doesn't take much to cause a snow day or a late start here.

Obi has been playing with the Middle School Boys Basketball team.  They have been doing well, and Obi enjoys it.  Obi is about the tallest kid on his team at 5'10".  But as you can see, he was dwarfed by another 8th grader from the other school.  We all just laughed, as did Obi about the situation. 

Gavin is in the final stretch of swim team season.  He's been doing well, and generally improving every meet. 

Cora was able to make a trip back to Iowa last weekend.  She was able to visit her church youth group friends, spend some time with close friends, and see many more Ballard friends at the Winter Formal dance.

You can see Athan trying out some new dance moves at time 2:22 in this video taken at school.

This weekend we're off to the Norfolk, VA area for Gavin's robotics team competition.  We'll have to take a new route for us, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.  I've been told the secret is to only look straight forward.  

We're looking forward to a fun weekend of cheering on Gavin and exploring the area.

Thanks for reading!