Cornerstone Walk-a-thon

Today was beautiful- hot and sunny...actually not a cloud in the sky! It was Cornerstone's Annual Walk-a-thon and this year's biggest fund raiser AND on their OWN athletic aield. There was SO much excitement in the air. Before the walk got officially underway they recognized the students who raised the most for the Classroom Computer Fund and look who won first place...

We are SO grateful to have such giving friends and family who support the wonderful Christ-centered eduction that Cornerstone provides to our Flock. So, after the short awards ceremony the whistle was blown and the racers were off...

I called Evan as he ran past me..."Yeah Mom"

K-4 and K-5 got to run on the inside of the field, and Gracie sure did her best to represent! What a cute little runner.Go Gracie Go! (I think she smiled the whole way)

As they completed a lap, their water bottles were marked. What an accomplishment girls!

THANK goodness that Grandma decided to come out and cheer on her two oldest grandchildren because I had volunteered to mark water bottles...and as you can see, she so graciously took over my job so that I could get some great pictures of the event. (Not MORE pictures M-O-M, Evan would say)

When the race was over we took some commemorative shots...here is Grandma with Evan and his co-runner and classmate Laura.

They ran their little legs off. And enjoyed the tattoos, treats and cotton candy along the way! Thanks for coming out to cheer for them.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT) Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an ETERNAL prize. So I run with a purpose in every step.

This is wisdom that Paul imparted to those he was discipling and something I sure hope my Flock keeps in their heart...the prize won at the beginning of the race (though great fun for Evan) is certainly not the focus of our lives...our focus is our eternal life with Jesus...run for Jesus little Fledglings...live your life for Him...then, in the end, you will get the best prize of all!!!

These are the moments...

How I will miss the pond...SO many fond memories. We love to walk down the street and feed the fish. The kids throw in the first few pieces of bread and nothing happens...they throw in a few more...and we just watch and wait. Then, what seems like child-eternity, the fish appear and start nibbling on everything as if they haven't eaten since the last time we've come to feed them. Today was just the younger two of the Flock. How precious they are together!

Here's the watching and waiting...such anticipation and hope on their faces.

And then a special treat comes closer to the dock...Braxton leans over to take a better look. (good thing he's number four because I would have never been able to take my hand off number one long enough to get this super cute picture- LOL)

It's a turtle! Braxton is ALL about the "du-du".

Mark 1:16 "Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

Overnight Adventure at Kennedy Space Center

What an awesome Cub Scout Camp-out. We arrived at Kennedy Space Center yesterday around 3:00 PM. We had some time to kill, so the Scouts burned off some energy in the parking lot until our tour guide came to "get the party started"!

Then our guide took us through security, we loaded all of our stuff on the bus (that we wouldn't actually get on until around 9:30 that night) and started us on a tour of one of the main buildings.

After that tour we were herded into a conference room where we would spend the next 2 hours. That sounds like a long time with a lot of boys...but they definitely kept us all occupied.

First Evan and Daddy engineered Evan's own stomp rocket! (such serious looks on the faces' of Father and Son)

While the group was putting the final touches on their rockets, Frederick Gregory (a retired astronaut http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_D._Gregory) talked to us and give a very candid Question and Answer session!

Here's the one-of-a-kind Evan Rocket...you will see it again throughout the overnight trip!

NOW- they got to go outside and try out their newly created high-power rockets. After 10 pumps (of a bicycle tire pump) they squated near their blaster and waited anxiously as the crowd (i.e. parents and other scouts) performed the required count down to blast off. Evan's rocket was stuck on the tube the first time...so he had to re-pump and try it again...the second time was a charm...see the pleasure of this Pilot all over his face!

AND- it landed under the booster of a real rocket nearby! (white spec in middle on black)

After Security went behind the rails to retrieve Evan's rocket, we headed back inside for a yummy dinner of hamburgers, corn on the cob, and Tang (the drink of the astronauts)...we all had water since we don't particularly like Tang!

Then we had a night tour of the Rocket Graveyard, loaded the bus, and drove to a huge hanger where one of the only 3 remaining Saturn Rockets hung from the rafters- for our sleeping comfort. First, we had a guided tour of each SECTION of the real rocket (it never got to blast off because the program was nixed before the 3 which had already been engineered could go into space...the Final Three are now in Houston, Alabama and Kennedy Space Center). You really cannot get a good appreciation of just how GIGANTIC, MAMMOTH, and HUUUGE this rocket is.

We had a bedtime snack of Sun Chips and water and then a short time in the bathrooms before lights out. Evan selected our sleeping spot...so here's where we slept...

And when we looked up this is what we saw...no twinkling stars or full moon...
Our wake-up call came all too soon...I think 6:30 AM- so after another quick trip to the bathroom (after getting dressed IN our sleeping bags)...there was a breathtaking sunRISE to behold! (Mommy hasn't been up for many sunrises...so this was an event to remember)

After a contenintal breakfast we took a few cool pictures:

One: in front of the Apollo return capsule (which was really in space and came back to Earth, as evidenced by the fact that all the paint as been disintegrated upon re-entry).
Two: Evan with his Den Wolves.

Three: (and Daddy's most favorite) the 1968 late model Vette that, had Daddy gotten to choose, we would have slept next to (instead of under the Saturn Rocket)! LOL Can you see the drool on Daddy's lip corner!

Four: The whole Cub Scout Pack 82 on the Morning After- a great Overnight Adventure at Kennedy Space Center.

Back on the bus we go (note the coveted rocket still in hand AND still in tact).

Our tour bus driver was AWESOME and took us all over the property while giving a GREAT spheel, to include his great wealth of knowledge of 21 years of serving the Kennedy Space Center. He said this building, where they assemble the rockets, is the SECOND largest building in the United States by volume. He said it could hold something like 30 malls...certainly got Mommy's attention. Evan thought it was so neat that ONE star on the American flag is 6 feet across from point to point - ONE STAR (the small white dots in the upper left corner)!

After the bus tour of the property the Overnight Adventure was concluded, we were dropped off in the parking lot, dumped the stuff in our car, and headed into the park for a self-guided day of fun and exploration.

We had a great time at Kennedy Space Center and by noon we were blasting off back home...to be reunited with the rest of the Flock. Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa, who kept the younger three. What a special treat to have an "only-child" for 24 hours and what a great treat to go to Kennedy Space Center with Pack 82!

Ashlyn Grace and Mommy head to the local dump

Just where you always wanted to take a field trip...right...the local recycling center (the day after the Evan's field trip to the strawberry farm)! It was really pretty fun and interesting and only one part was "really stinky" (as Ashlyn Grace said) All the girls of K-4 rode in the Blue Beast with Carley's Mom, little brother, and myself. (we took Daddy's car as to not get mine dirty- LOL) We were the first car of the caravan to unload so the girls were catching a little ring-a-round-the-rosie before the big tour!

How cute are they!!!

First we went inside a small office building to watch a movie about recycling. Gracie and her Bestie are just too darn cute!

Here's K-4 paying special attention to Mr. Recycle and his adventures.

Next we rode in this trolley, attached to a van, around to the various recycling spots at the center. (note the girls in the back row)

And the last center we visited was for batteries, light bulbs, oil filters and computers...all parts are 100% recyclable. Amazing what we learned!!!

Evan for President

As of the morning wasn't busy enough, with the Grammar Assembly and then field trip to the strawberry farm, Evan was the FIRST to do his class presentation on "What You Want to be When You Grow Up...and How that relates/uses Math". Daddy met us at school and helped Evan get into his job attire. Evan put his poster on the easel and he was ready to talk about: When I Grow Up I want to be President! (yep- the leader of the United States...he came up with that ALL on his own)

Some of his reasons for wanting to be President were so awesome, as soon as I get back his written report I plan to scan it and attach it to this post! He seemed a little nervous speaking in front of the class...

But when the speaking part was over, he calmed right down during his question and answer session.

I videotaped the whole event and Daddy snapped the still shots. Evan did a great job...a great job on his poster, a great job on his report, and a great job on his presentation!

This country needs a leader with your faith and trust in the Lord. Way to go Evan- you've got our vote!!!

Roger's Farm 2nd Grade Fieldtrip...hayride and all!

Immediately following the Grammar Assembly the second grade loaded into various vehicles and headed to a local farm. I drove the Blue Best and had three boys: Evan, Tyler and Dawson. It was a fairly calm, uneventful drive to and from the great farm that I had never known about and is, apparently, very close to my house! After we all unloaded we waited for our tour guide.

A gentleman arrived and hoarded us to a nearby tin shed...here's the boy side and girl side! In here we watched a movie about harvesting strawberries from beginning to end!

Then we headed out for a FUN hayride around the farm. Mrs. Nelson and Mrs. Lowe seemed super excited as we got ready to pull out!

Evan, Isaac and Caron are ready to roll too.

While out on the farm Evan and Mommy huddled close to try to stay warm...it was a little brisk!

After the hayride we got a first-hand lesson on how to pick and handle the strawberries. Notice the whole class looking down and apparently paying attention, while Evan is smiling at this photo opp. (that's my boy)

Each child received a small green basket and off they went. Evan filled two baskets (his and mine) and when everyone was done we took them to check out and headed back to school. Those strawberries were SOOO yummy. We plan to go back again soon to pick some more!