The Soash Adventures: 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.