The Glenn Family

Dubrovnik, Croatia

2011-06-15T01:53:00.001-07:00

In Dubrovnik we walked atop the walls of the old city which made for an awesome view.

Italy - Revenna, Venice, & Rome

2011-06-14T02:56:00.001-07:00

Below are pictures from Italy. i'm not writing about them because our internet connection is slow. I've had to just pick a few pictures, but of course will post more once home.

Ravenna is known for its mosaic art.

Back in Action

2011-06-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

After a long break, due in part to Facebook, I will be updating this blog again. Dan and I are getting ready to go on our first vacation - just the two of us - since any of the kids were born. My goal is to post some updates while we are on our trip and then post a bit more once we return. I'm not sure what kind of internet capabilities we'll have, so we'll see how it goes. . Dan's mom and my parents will be tag-teaming to watch the kids while we're away. We leave in a few days and will be gone for a little over two weeks! So crazy! We are taking a Mediterranean cruise and have tacked on a few extra days to see Rome before heading to Venice where we embark. The cruise is the Holy Land tour. We'll be visiting Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Israel, and Egypt.

Please keep us and our families in your prayers.

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes . . .

2009-08-15T20:02:00.000-07:00

Abbey has been taking a ballet class for a couple of weeks. My brother called me and told me that at his friend's dance studio they are having a Disney princess ballet class. The little ballerinas can dress up like a princess, and their dance instructor is a different Disney princess each week. So far Abbey has been taught by Belle, Aurora, and Aeriel. She is having a great time and is excited because next week the teacher is Cinderella. During class the girls sing as well as dance. They have a great time!

Here are the girls practicing.

Here is Abbey with princess Aeriel from the Little Mermaid.

Here is Abbey with Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.

First Day of Kindergarten

2009-08-15T19:41:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I am writing about this because it doesn't seem possible, but Abbey started her first day of kindergarten on August 3. She is attending the local school just down the street from us. One of her friends from church and the neighborhood is in her class and pictured with her below. She also has a few children from her preschool in her class, which has made the transition really easy. Abbey loves school and her teachers. One of her teachers goes to our church. I can tell that Abbey will be learning a lot this year. I have had mixed feeling about her starting school. While I am so excited for her, I know how fast time will fly now that she's in school every day. I'm afraid that I'm going to blink and she'll be graduating from high school. Dan and I want to soak in every minute with the kids that we can. It goes by so quickly.

Here is Abbey tracing her name to sign in.

Abbey and her friend.

Abbey was excited to have cubby #1!

"Bye Mom and Dad! Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Will you be okay though?"

Our little girl is growing up. . .

Juice it up! What could go wrong?

2009-07-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

On Monday, we decided to take a walk in the morning before it got too hot. We went over to the nearby shopping center to get juices from Juice It Up. Now you have to understand the great comedy of errors that took place once this decision was made. First, we decided to take our dog, Ben, with us. Now this wouldn't have been so bad if we also hadn't decided to let Abbey ride her bike. She is scared to go down any curbs or driveways by herself. Isaac was safely strapped into his stroller, which means someone had to push him. So, dog, Abbey, and Isaac - that's three full-time tasks with only two adults. Now you're getting the picture. I can only imagine what people driving by must have thought if they actually watched us for any length of time.

It was decided that I would handle Ben, since he continuously wrapped his leash around the stroller when Dan tried to walk him and push Isaac. Ultimately what you would have seen is the dog pulling me down the sidewalk (he's not leash-trained yet) and Dan pushing Isaac while also helping Abbey when needed. We finally got things under control just in time to have to cross the street. On the way there, we opted to cross a ways up from the roundabout - thought it would be safer. Abbey got off of her bike, and I helped her across while also trying to control the dog. Dan pushed Isaac with one arm while holding Abbey's bike with the other. This was done quite gracefully until he reached the center divide and had to lift Isaac's stroller up and over it - all while trying to dodge traffic and also get Abbey's bike across. We would have given up at this point, but we could see Juice It Up. We were almost there.

A few minutes later we reached our destination and selected a table in the courtyard. I went with Abbey to get our juices while Dan watched Isaac and Ben. I brought our juices to the table around the same time a man came into the courtyard with two large dogs. Well, Ben began barking; they began barking. Let's just say I'm glad we didn't cause a scene for the other people trying to have a peaceful morning (sarcasm). If we hadn't caused a scene yet, we were about to do so. . .

I finally got Ben calmed down, and the other dogs were quiet too. I turned around to check on the kids only to find that in the chaos, Abbey had tripped over one of her training wheels. Did I mention she had her juice in her hand? In her effort not to fall down completely, she fell back toward the bench - the bench upon which Dan was sitting. Somehow she managed to propel her juice all down the front of her and all down Dan's right leg, sock, and into his shoe. WE HADN'T HAD OUR JUICES FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE! Interestingly enough, Abbey's juice was called "Strawberry Wave".

I glanced over at the windows in the nearby Starbucks and saw people cracking up. I glanced at Dan to see how this was going to play out. Within 30 seconds I saw his face go from anger to amusement. I started laughing uncontrollably, which made Abbey cry even harder than she was already. I looked over at Isaac, and he was still drinking his juice, completely unaware of what was transpiring. About five minutes later he looked up at us and said, "Uh-oh, you spilled it." Then he went back to drinking.

Ultimately, we got things as cleaned up as we could, finished our juices, convinced Abbey that yes she was going to ride her bike home, and headed home. This time we crossed the street at the roundabout. It was like everyone sensed our need to get home. The traffic parted for us like the Red Sea for Moses. What people must have thought as they looked at Abbey and Dan's juice- stained clothes, and me being walked by my dog!

We finally made it home, and even though it was only 9:30 AM I needed a nap. The picture below is Abbey and Dan after some cleaning up had already taken place. And of course, there is Isaac too, drinking the rest of my juice.

Washtucna, WA

2009-07-23T22:03:00.001-07:00

Dan's grandfather and great-grandfather grew up on a wheat farm in Washtucna, Washington. Dan took a day trip in to see the place where they grew up. The kids and I stayed in Ritzville. Don't let the name fool ya.

This windmill marks the land Dan's great-grandfather owned (1200 acres).

This is the ONLY restaurant in town.

Palouse Falls in Eastern Washington

2009-07-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

Seattle Space Needle

2009-07-23T21:28:00.001-07:00

We ended our time in Seattle with a trip up the Space Needle. The picture below was our view from the ground looking up.

Isaac was amazed by how high up we were.

Abbey and Dan

View from above (520 feet up)

My cousin's son, Wyatt, joined us for our site-seeing.

This shot was taken from inside the observation level.

The kids had to ride the carousel. There is a little amusement park for little children just outside of the Space Needle.

Pike Place Market

2009-07-23T21:21:00.001-07:00

Seattle Underground

2009-07-23T15:37:00.001-07:00

After refueling at Seattle's Best Coffee, we were ready to take the Seattle Underground Tour. Pictures really can't convey what it's like below street level, but it was an interesting tour.

Abbey enjoyed her lemon bread.

"Oh no! It's all gone!"This is one of the spots where we went below Seattle's current street level to see the remnants of the old street level.

Fun with Family

2009-07-23T15:08:00.001-07:00

We had a great time visiting with my uncle, aunt and cousins in Washington (near Seattle).

This picture is of Faith and Abbey.

Hannah and Abbey hit it off.

My crazy cousins, Jen and Dana. Now you know it runs in the family!

Dana, Gina, and Jasmine

Abbey, Hannah, Cierra, and Faith

"Daddy, will I make it home faster if I borrow Cousin Matt's Hayabusa?"

Ice Skating in July

2009-07-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

Abbey and I had a good time ice skating a Lloyd Center in Portland. She was very excited. She fell a lot but never wanted to quit. She said, "I'm amazed by the girls in the Olympics. They spin and jump. They are so good." I think Isaac got a kick out of watching his big sis skate.

Oregon 2009

2009-07-10T20:55:00.001-07:00

This year we have planned another road trip but much less adventurous than last year's. We are traveling up the West Coast. We left on July 8th and drove to Medford, Oregon. That was definitely Isaac's limit for time spent in the car. We had a good time swimming at the hotel. The next day we hit the road again and drove to Portland. We have visited some of my friends from college, which has been a nice experience. Below are some pictures of our time in Oregon.

This was the quietest part of the journey.

The kids thought it was so cool to have ice skating in the mall.

After a long day in the car, Abbey and Issac enjoyed some time running around in a nearby park.

Today we went to the Oregon Zoo.

The giraffe and elephants were a big hit with the kids.

We have had a fun time! Tomorrow we are off to the Seattle area to visit my aunt, uncle, and cousins.

Moaning Cavern - Calaveras County

2009-07-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

Dan and I took Abbey and her cousin, Taylor, to Moaning Cavern yesterday and had a fun time. We went down into the belly of the cavern (165 feet down), and Dan and I went down the zip line (see video below). . .

Salida Means "Exit"

2009-06-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I will not be returning to Salida Middle School next year. I was laid off after 8 years, due to declining enrollment and California legislators' habitual passing of budgets that spend the money of future generations rather than living within our means, but that's the story for another day. Today we celebrate that I was able to get a new job, even in the middle of the budget fiasco! At this point, I will be teaching 8th grade at Bethany School in Mountain House, California. It is a great opportunity, and I am excited that the job search is finally over. . . The people I have met in the district seem very friendly, and I think this will be a good experience for me.

"Jesus Loves Me"

2009-06-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a video clip of Isaac singing "Jesus Loves Me" before bedtime.

Last day of preschool for Abbey

2009-05-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

I took Abbey to her last day of preschool on Friday. I can't believe she'll be in kindergarten in just two months! I can barely stand this because I know how the years fly by once the kids are in school. Abbey had a wonderful experience at St. Peter Lutheran, and she is excited about starting her new school, Mary Ann Sanders Elementary, in August. Here are some pictures of her last day:

Here is Abbey with her graduation cap and preschool diploma.

This picture is of Abbey walking to her classroom.

Here are Abbey and her BFF, Brenna. They have their teddy bears because they have a teddy bear picnic on the last day of school.

Abbey, with her teachers and some of her friends.

Abbey with her teachers, Mrs. Cotta and Mrs. Moser.

Abbey and her pal, Matthew.

Summer Fun

2009-05-31T09:05:00.001-07:00

Who would have thought that the kids would have so much fun playing in a little inflatable pool in our backyard? They have a blast going down the slide while water sprays them. It is very fun for us to watch them enjoy themselves. . .

This is the latest addition to our family. His name is Ben. He is a labradoodle (mix of lab and poodle). Usually, his coat is full of wavy hair, but we had to get him shaved for the summer. He was having fun watching the kids play too, but mostly wishing he could join in the fun with them. We would have let him in the pool, but he'd put a hole in it.

Birthday Girl

2009-05-06T16:47:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that Abbey is five years old! This year she had her first birthday party with friends from church and school. It was a princess party. The girls made crowns and dressed up. They had a fun time!

My mom brought Abbey this cute cake and bouquet of flowers on her actual birthday, which landed on a weekday. She had to wait a couple of days before we had her party.

This is Abbey waiting at the door for her friends to arrive. She was so excited!

The girls are decorating their princess crowns.

Here is a picture of all of the lovely princesses in our backyard.

Isaac had a good time getting attention from all the lovely princesses.

Abbey loved her Tinkerbell cake.

It really was a fun celebration, even if I did get a slight catch in my throat when I considered that our little girl is growing up.

Capitola, CA 2009

2009-02-24T17:19:00.001-08:00

This past weekend we went to Capitola with Dan's sister, our nieces and nephews, and Dan's mom and step-dad. Here are some pictures of the kids at the beach. This was Isaac's first time seeing the ocean.

Dan's sister (Janet), Mom (Pat), and Dan

Abbey discovered her name had been written in the sand.

Abbey, walking with her cousin, William.

Pincecrest, CA January 2009

2009-01-20T20:59:00.001-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, we took the kids to the snow at Pinecrest Lake. I know for many of you it sounds weird saying, "We went to the snow" since the snow comes to you, but that's the way it is for us valley-dwellers. As utterly dry as this winter has been for California, we are just lucky there was any snow for us at all.

Here is Abbey going down a sled run very, very fast. What you don't know is that she is just about to hit a large bump and go flying into the air! the crowd on the hill all gave a collective gasp as it happened. All I could think was, "Please God, let nothing be broken."

Here is Abbey after her big crash. She still has a few tears on her cheeks, but she recovered quickly and was ready to go back down the hill. She really is a thrill-seeker.

Here is Abbey going down a much slower hill, but she's still having fun.

Abbey and Isaac - this was Isaac's first time in snow.

Abbey was having a great time dropping snow on her brother.

Hi everyone!

Daddy and Isaac

Abbey, Mommy, and Isaac

Christmas 2008

2009-01-20T20:45:00.001-08:00

Here are some pictures from Christmas time . . .

Abbey did her own hair in this picture, and she put on some of the jewelry from a Sleeping Beauty dress up game that she got for Christmas.

Abbey likes to strike a pose.

Here is Isaac riding his new Leap Frog learning train.

Grammy and Isaac

Papa and Isaac

Abbey and her friend, Jenna, making Christmas sugar cookies.

December 2008

2009-01-04T08:58:00.001-08:00

Here are some pictures of the kids taken around Christmas time. I had a whole month off and enjoyed all of the extra time home with the kids. Today (Jan. 20) was my first day back to work. I asked Abbey what the best part of her day was today, and she said, "When you came home." Talk about making it hard for me to go to work tomorrow. . .

This is Abbey in front of our Christmas tree.

This is Abbey with the famous penguin that came home with us from Pennsylvania. Does this look familiar Oma and Dave? :-)

Here's Isaac, tackling his lamb chair. He is hard to take pictures of because he's always on the move.

Abbey and Isaac love each other so much. They have the best time playing together!

A happy little boy!

Abbey was Mary in our church's nativity scene as part of the children's Christmas service. that is her friend, Ellie as the angel.

Here is the whole gang in the nativity scene.

"How you doin'?"

Isaac in our kitchen.

Abbey in her new coat and hat from Grammy and Papa.

This is a picture of me and Dan on our Anniversary, which was on November 25. We have been married 8 years.

October 31, 2008

2008-11-03T18:57:00.001-08:00

Kalum Alexander Shaffer

2008-10-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

He's here! Kalum was born at 6:09 A.M. on October 25, 2008. He weighs 8 lbs. 11 oz. and is 21 1/2 inches long. We are so happy for Aaron and Angie. All are doing well. Angie is such a trooper! Aaron had gone home to shower and get some rest when I went to visit at the hospital, so he isn't in any of the following pictures. I will post some pictures of the whole family soon.

His little ear is so cute!

Long fingers!

A happy and proud aunt. I can't believe my baby brother is a daddy!

Kalum's not-so-little-feet

Abbey wants me to write, "Kalum's eyes are so cute!" She's right.

What a blessing!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

2008-10-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

Fun times at the pumpkin patch.

All she wants to do is dance, dance. . .

2008-10-06T17:07:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures of Abbey dancing in the new ballet outfit my mom got for her. She isn't in a ballet class yet, but she keeps reminding me that I promised she could start soon.

Abbey and Isaac are rushing to greet daddy at the door.

Abbey put bibs on them backwards and said they were superhero capes.

"Keep Swimming"

2008-09-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

"Just keep swimming" - that is a motto adopted by me and another coworker for this year. You may recognize it from the movie Finding Nemo. Although I've never had any intention of updating this blog daily or anything, I still can't believe how infrequently I even think about attempting an update. I am just so busy right now. I'm taking a class at Chapman University so that (after also passing a few exams) I can add an additional teaching credential to the one I already possess. This would give me the authorization to teach multiple subjects at the elementary school level. I can only currently teach English at the middle and high school levels with my current credential. The motivation behind what I am doing is job security - in light of California's outstanding budgeting expertise, but this also gives me options for change in the future should I want it. The class I'm taking will be done in five weeks, then things will slow down a bit for me. In the meantime, I'll just keep swimming.

Dan is back in the swing of things at work. Last week he was told that he may have to switch to another school (even though the year has already begun), but today he found out that someone else from his school volunteered to go elsewhere, so he will be staying right where he is.

Abbey is back in school and loving it. She is excited because tomorrow she gets to stay an extra hour and have lunch with her friends. She has been talking all day about packing her lunch. I guess I better go take care of that soon. Here are some pictures of the dancing princess.

Isaac is doing well. He runs all around now and is trying to talk more and more. He points at everything and asks, "What's that?" It's so cute the first 100 times.

I am so blessed!

Back to work

2008-08-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

A couple of people have asked me to post some pictures of my classroom so they can see where I work. So . . . here are a few. I just finished getting my room set up for the new school year. Yesterday was my first day back at work with students. I am teaching a two period block of 7th and 8th grade English language development (second language learners), a two period block of 8th grade language arts, and a single period of 7th grade language arts. That means that I'm using four different books to teach the same subject, which can be a bit challenging to keep organized.

Here is the front view of my classroom. The ceiling looks funky because we have skylights and use natural lighting at the school whenever we can.

This is a picture of a side wall. I make a bulletin board for each book that I use. This is where I post reading strategies and other information for the unit on which we are currently working. Each bulletin board changes five times throughout the year.

This is the back of the room.

This is the other side wall. I am spoiled with lots of storage, counter space, and natural light. So many other teachers have to make things work with so much less.

This is where students can track their progress. Grades are posted using i.d. numbers so other students will only know their own assignment record. The numbers above the pink pages correspond with the class periods that I teach. I didn't forget about the number 5; that's when I have lunch!

Well, I'm off to go write lesson plans for next week. I have a student who will be out all week, so I have to know what work to give him tomorrow. I've also received requests to post some pictures of the house, so I'll be working on getting that done this weekend sometime. Love to all!

Blog updates

2008-07-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

We will keep updating the blog from time to time to keep family and friends updated on what is going on in the Glenn household. For now though, it is good to be home.

Trip Stats

2008-07-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

Finally! We are back in California after more than three weeks on the road. The trip was a success, although I told Dan next year we're going to an all-inclusive resort for vacation. :)

Trip stats:
States driven through= 20 (not including California)
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada
Total Miles driven= 6,982
Days away from home = 24
Hotel stays= 15
Least Expensive gas per gallon = $3.72 (Oklahoma)
Most Expensive gas = Anything in California
Diapers changed in front seat of car = countless
Number of times Dan had to load and unload the car = 19 Look at the pictures below and you'll see that this was no small task. Like any trip, we came home with more than what we started with, but the best things we have are some great memories!

Circus Circus, Reno

2008-07-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

We spent our last day of vacation at Circus Circus in Reno, Nevada. Abbey had fun playing games, winning prizes and earning tickets. Her favorite was getting her face painted. After a couple of hours of play, it was time to hit the road one last time before arriving home.

Salt Lake

2008-07-09T19:57:00.001-07:00

Salt Lake City

2008-07-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

We stayed in Salt Lake City, UT last night. Today we go to Reno, NV. We're going to stay at Circus Circus and have a little fun with the kids before heading HOME on Wednesday afternoon or evening! Isaac is better now. Whatever stomach virus he had has passed finally. Here are some pictures of our journey from Denver to Salt Lake City.

Lincoln monument in WY

Isaac catching up on his sleep

We have come to call this Abbey's "lemon face". It's just proof that we have all had our moments on this trip. She's actually making this face here because she says she doesn't want to go home. Overall, the kids have been great on the trip, especially when you consider that we have driven thousands of miles at this point.

Update

2008-07-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

We stayed in Salina, KS last night - about 130 miles west of Topeka, KS. Today we are continuing toward home. Isaac is still sick, so keep him in your prayers - of course, he's also still smiling!

Heading West

2008-07-05T08:51:00.001-07:00

We are heading home! Thursday night we stayed in Jasper, Indiana with Dan's cousin, Mary. It was so nice to relax a bit while Dan and Mary went out in search of information about their family history. They both enjoy genealogy. Last night we stayed just west of St. Louis, MO. Today we are going to continue west and stop when we feel like we can't drive any longer. Isaac has been under the weather again, and we are all starting to get anxious to be home.

Backwoods Indiana - Dan and Mary hike to find some of their ancestors' cabins.

Dan found the grave site of his great-great-great-great-great grandfather, Philip Engleman (Veteran of the Revolutionary War).

Enjoying some time in the spa.

Abbey was having fun waving the flag and saying, "Happy birthday, America!"

So Hard to Say Goodbye

2008-07-03T07:11:00.001-07:00

We left Pennsylvania yesterday and spent last night in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was hard to say goodbye to my family. Oma and Dave, thank you for letting us stay with you. We enjoyed every minute with you. Aunt Barb, Uncle Gary, and Luke, we loved visiting with you and will miss you so much. Aunt Carol and Uncle Cliff, I'm sorry we didn't see more of you but am glad we were able to visit at the picnic. Uncle Ken and Aunt Susan, thank you for opening your home to us for our last nights in PA. We had a great time. We will miss you so much. I'm thankful for all of my family in PA. We love you all and think about you often! I'm so glad we made the trip out this summer to see everyone.

Today we go to Jasper, Indiana to meet and visit with a distant cousin of Dan's. He has been talking with her online as they both enjoy researching their family history. We look forward to meeting Mary and having an early 4th of July celebration.

Hershey Park & Chocolate World

2008-07-03T06:48:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday we took the kids to Hershey Park for a fun day of rides. After all of the driving and site seeing we've been doing, this day was for them to have some fun! Isaac went on a few rides and enjoyed the sea otter show, and Abbey is fearless when it comes to the rides. She would have ridden the scariest coasters if she had only been tall enough.

Amish Country

2008-07-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

On Monday we drove to an area of Pennsylvania where the Amish live. It was interesting to see how they farm and travel.

Gettysburg, PA

2008-06-29T19:51:00.001-07:00

Dan and I got a treat today. My dad, Oma, and her husband Dave offered to watch the kids while we toured Gettysburg. We took a bus tour of the battlefield and saw all kinds of monuments and cannons. There are over 1400 of them on the battlefield, placed there by actual veterans of the Civil War. Each regiment could place one where they fought during the battle. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and I learned a ton of interesting facts about the battle. It was a nice day. Tomorrow we are off to see some of the Amish country, and then we will be staying with my Uncle Ken and Aunt Susan for two nights before beginning the journey home!

The ten commandments on the ouside of the court house.

Pennsylvania

2008-06-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

We are now in Pennsylvania. Our first night here, we had dinner with some of my family at Oma and Dave's house. After dinner Abbey surprised us all when she fearlessly went out and tried to catch fireflies. She even let them crawl across her hands. Remember, this is the girl who flips out if a tiny ant is within ten feet of her. Yesterday we went to the Caledonia State Park and had a picnic with a bunch of my family. It was a great time. The kids loved the creek and the weather and scenery were beautiful.

Pennsylvania countryside near Chambersburg.

Abigail examines a firefly close up.

Abbey and Isaac, playing inside the pavilion.

Abbey, Oma, and me.

Abbey, Oma, and Isaac.

Abbey had a blast in the creek with my cousin, Luke. She absolutely adores him!

Abbey, Aunt Barb, Oma, Aunt Carol, and Isaac.

Uncle Ken, Aunt Carol, and Dad (my dad flew out to meet us in PA).

Isaac, taking a nap in his make-shift crib after a hard day of playing.

Mount Vernon

2008-06-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

The day we left D.C. we decided to go visit Mount Vernon before heading to Pennsylvania. I think it has been my favorite bit of site seeing so far. Unfortunately, we weren't able to take pictures inside the mansion, but if you are ever in the area, it is worth the visit. Here are a few pictures we did take on the grounds outside the mansion and in the museum area.

This is the back side of the mansion.

This was George Washington's view of the Potomac from his back porch.

These statues are of George and Martha Washington and two grandchildren.

Here is Isaac, our little patriot.

Abbey rings the Liberty Bell (replica).

Washington D.C.

2008-06-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

We have been in D.C. for the last two days and are exhausted. It has been a jam-packed visit and very hot and humid outside. Through it all the kids have been unbelievable. They napped in their strollers and handled the hustle and bustle really well. Each day we spent around nine hours touring the sites of the area. Here's a list of where we've been or what we've seen and some pictures as well: Day 1 - Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. We also went to Arlington Cemetery and visited the grave site of JFK and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Day - 2 We took a tour of the Capitol building and also toured the National Holocaust Museum. We ended our day outside of the White House. We were disappointed that the Museum of American History is still closed for renovation, but we still had a great time. Tomorrow we head for Pennsylvania to visit my family. We will stop at Gettysburg on the way to my Oma's house.

North Carolina

2008-06-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

We have been spending the last three days in North Carolina with Dan's aunt and cousins. It has been a nice visit, catching up with them and listening to them reminisce. Abbey has had a particularly great time with her cousins, Maddie and Taylor. They are a bit older than she (seven and eleven), but they have been so kind to Abbey. She has loved being able to play with them and have a slumber party with them in their room every night. Isaac even had a playmate - Nikki and Donny have a nine month old boy, Jacob. It has really been wonderful visiting with family. Thank you Nikki and Donny for opening your beautiful home to us, and thank you Jan for the delicious lasagna dinner. Todd, Dan really enjoyed talking with you and catching up. Here are some pictures of our time in NC.

Elvis and Corvettes

2008-06-21T03:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a long, but fun, day. We woke up in West Memphis, AR, knowing that our final destination would be Knoxville, TN. Our first order of business though was to get to Graceland - of course! We toured the mansion, his private plane, and his car collection.

After Graceland we detoured to Bowling Green, KY to visit the National Corvette Museum. It was out of our way a bit, but I told Dan that we should go any way. When will we be this close again?

For you car enthusiasts out there, I'm sure Dan will be emailing you more detailed photos. Ultimately, it was a great day. Today we are moving on to Greensboro, NC to visit with Dan's aunt and cousins. It will be nice to have a few days off from driving!

On the Road Again

2008-06-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

We made our way from Albuquerque, NM to Oklahoma City yesterday. It was a long drive, but the kids have been doing an outstanding job dealing with all the time in the car.

This is Abbey resting after we had lunch at a Texas picnic area. She didn't care for the red ants and bugs!

Largest cross in the Western hemisphere (that's what the sign says). It is amazing!

We are back on the road again today. We are driving to Memphis, TN. It will be another long drive, but we are inching ever closer to our family in NC.

We're on our way

2008-06-17T13:40:00.001-07:00

We'll getting to this point has already been an adventure. Both Abbey and Isaac were sick days prior to us leaving, and we weren't sure if we'd be able to leave on the day we'd planned. Glad to say though, that we are all healthy now and having a good time. The first day was a long haul. We drove for 8 hours to Kingman, AZ and arrived to our hotel at midnight. The next morning we drove to the Grand Canyon. We spent the day there before driving on to Flagstaff, AZ. Today we are on our way to Albuquerque, NM. Here are some pictures we've taken so far during our first 1,000 miles.

Under the weather . . .

2008-06-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

Well, Dan finished up his school year last Thursday and tomorrow is my last day. I've been putting off tons of errands and getting ready for our trip until I was done with work. Unfortunately, Abbey woke up on Wednesday morning with the stomach flu. She was sick for five days, and wouldn't you know the very day she was better (yesterday), Isaac came down with the same bug. So, it looks like getting things done will be put off a few extra days. I don't mind as long as everyone gets healthy.

On Saturday we will be celebrating Isaac's first birthday with family and friends! It's a week early, but we'll be on the road for his actual birthday. Here are a few pictures of the kids that we've taken recently - just for fun.

Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder. . .

2008-05-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took the kids to the Castle Air Force Base Air Museum with my parents. Abbey had a fun time looking at all the planes. We were able to go inside many of them as well. It was very interesting. I can't believe the cramped quarters on all of the planes. On this Memorial Day, I am reminded of the sacrifice service men and women have made for us throughout this nation's history and continue to make for us each day.

We also stopped by Lakewood Memorial Park on the way home. It was a spectacular sight to see the exterior road lined with large American flags with smaller flags by most headstones.

No, we're not crazy!

2008-05-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

As Dan and I work toward wrapping up the current school year, we are also in the process of planning for a major road trip with the kids. In mid-June we will be driving to the East Coast. Our route takes us along I-40 to North Carolina to visit some of Dan's family. After NC, we will spend some time in Washington D.C. before heading to Pennsylvania to visit some of my family. We will take a more northern route home, which is less planned out at this time. People have asked me if I have lost my mind to attempt such a trip with small children. We are actually excited to give this a try. We have family that we are eager to visit, and the whole summer free from work obligations. We plan on taking our time and traveling at a pace the kids can handle. We have chosen to drive for various reasons, including the fact that we want to see more of the country. The good news is that no one is forcing us to do this, so if it's too much to handle, we'll just turn around and come home. We look at it as a great adventure! And hey, with gas prices at an all-time low, what better time for such a grand experiment?