Road Trip!!!!

This summer I decided to take the kids on a good all american road trip across the USA. We drove more than 6500 miles in 3 1/2 weeks across 15 states. We saw license plates from 44 different states and 1 from Canada. We got to see family members that we haven't seen for a long time, the first time for some of them. Thanks so much to Joan, Hester, Traci, Leslie, Kristi, Erika, Jacob and Kris for sharing their hospitality with us. One day we'll go back as we didn't have time to see everything. Maybe we'll fly next time.

The kids in the Great Smoky Mountains.


In front of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (where they print the money) and Aspen in front of a Calder mobile at the art museum.

We saw the Washington Monument, but missed getting tickets to go to the top. On Sunday we went to Arlington National Cemetery and saw the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

We did a lot of walking and the kids' favorite place to rest was the fountain at the sculpture garden. Everyone cooled their feet in the water. We stopped here often.

We rode the Metro everyday to go into DC. The kids loved it.

The kids loved the dyed blue water at the Navy Memorial, which we found by accident while walking for an hour trying to find somewhere to eat that wasn't a rip off. (Not possible anywhere near the National Mall).

We went to Baltimore to see the Aquarium there. It is one of the best aquariums I've seen. On the top floor is a rain forest.

One of the most spectacular sights to see while driving is the DC Temple appearing above the trees as you round the curve on the beltway. Although we saw it during the day, it is amazing at night. Apparently many accidents occur there because people are too busy looking at the temple instead of driving.

A Capital Weekend

Betsy and the kids went up to DC to visit Hester, and see the sights. I flew out for the weekend. On Saturday, we went to a few of the museums on the mall.

The kids really enjoyed the Air and Space Museum, as well as the Museum of Natural History.

The pictures are:
A model of the lunar lander.
Orville and Wilbur's plane.
An infrared photo of the kids, Hester, and most of Betsy.
Manny.

$100

Here is Isaac, about half way through his haircut last week. I told him I would give him $100 to leave his hair like this.

He said no.

Tank Update

I finally have an update on the tank. Click here to view.

Blackberry Pickin'

We have a new Fourth of July weekend tradition: picking blackberries. We returned to Sweet Berry Farms to pick some of the biggest and juiciest and sweetest blackberries ever! Everyone got stuck by the thorns, juice stains on our hands (especially Hazel who just sat in the wagon eating and squishing berries). Toby, Aspen and Isaac kept busy catching grasshoppers and feeding them to the giant spiders among the canes. I'm glad that we went early: it got hot fast. And there were a lot of people there to pick berries. But now we have a year's supply of berries to eat, to use for jam, jelly, and especially to make berry ice cream!

Wee Squeakers

I saw these great shoes about 4 months ago. There are little squeakers built into the heels. So when she walks every step squeaks! (of course the little squeakers can be removed if necessary, like for church!) So now that Hazel is walking I can tell where she is just by the squeaks! Hazel likes the velcro fasteners and is always taking them off the play with the straps. Besides, every girl needs a great pair of red shoes.

Lawn girl

I took Hazel outside while I was watering my flowers and set her on the lawn. She didn't really like it. I don't know why...I've been watering the lawn and it is actually very lush and soft (usually in summer it turns dry and prickly). So she just holds her feet up. I love it. Mom says that when I was a baby I didn't like the lawn either.