Family Vacation/Field Trips

My in-laws spent a month in DC at our church house. We were able to spend a week (including travel days) with them. It worked out that the girls had two school days left to finish out the year, so we turned our vacation into field trips. A great end to our fourth year of home schooling. Papa Runner and I, along with my brother-in-law and his new bride, took the girls around the National Mall on day 1. Here are some of our pictures along with the girls' "notes" they took. The note taking is something we started on a field trip last summer, and it really helps the girls remember what they saw.

Washington Monument

Smartie's interpretation

Sweetie's interpretation

World War II Memorial

As seen by Smartie

As seen by Sweetie

MLK Memorial

Profile view a la Smartie

Sweetie dutifully copied it

The Lincoln Memorial

Smartie liked the quote

Sweetie made sure to add shoes

Our "Tour Group"

As we left the Lincoln Memorial, we saw Marine One (Presidential helicopter) fly overhead, make a left turn by the Washington Memorial, and head for a landing at the White House. I wasn't fast enough to get a picture, unfortunately, but it was exciting.

"He's actually in there, Mom!"

Sweetie drew this before seeing it, and was
excited to see there really were guards on the roof

Smartie

Blessed

You know that saying, God won't give you more than you can handle? Well, I must be the most pathetic baby Christian ever. This is what He's given me to handle:

• loving parents who cared for my needs and raised me well
• a husband who loves me and our children and who provides for our needs
• a beautiful, large home
• a van AND a car
• four fabulous children who are smart, beautiful, and well behaved
• a healthy family
• access to quality health care the rare time we're not
• plentiful food and clean water
• a safe city with low crime and no war
• a college degree so I could provide for my family if I needed to
• enough money that I can stay home
• freedom to worship Him as I choose
• a wonderful church family
• sisters who are my best friends
• a great extended family

In fact, I can't think of one problem to complain about. Oh sure, my life isn't perfect, but it isn't a struggle. I've been so blessed.

Home with Sick Kids

We stayed home from church today with sick kids. What do we do when we're sick? Watch Sesame Street videos on YouTube, of course. Is it sad that I know these versions better than the real songs? Some of our favorites:

Volunteer Profile: Marathon Runner

Volunteer Profile: Marathon Runner

How cool is this? I'm the featured volunteer in the September newsletter for the Preeclampsia Foundation!

Weird Dream

Last night I dreamed I was a superspy who could turn invisible. I was having a lot of trouble sneaking into the terrorist compound despite my invisibility. Suddenly, I realize I'm dreaming. I turn to my Handler and say, "You know this is a dream, right?"

He says, "Yeah, so?"

I say, "Well then, I can just *fly* in."

"No," he says, "that's not your superpower."

Can I nitpick a moment?

What idiot came up with the current breast cancer awareness campaigns? When I was at the doctor this week, there was a big sign promoting mammograms and self exams. The tag line said, "Many things run in families. Don't let breast cancer be one of them." Ok, I'm pretty sure mammograms don't alter your DNA. Self exams can't prevent you from passing on certain genes to your offspring. If you have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer, it runs in your family whether you get checked or not.

Then there's the PSA done by the women on a local news team reminding us to do our monthly exam and annual mammogram. It says, "The best prevention is early detection." Hello! If you're detecting it, early or otherwise, it's *already happened*! You haven't prevented anything! Unless they're referring to preventing deaths by getting treatment sooner rather than the cancer itself,  but that's not how it sounds.

"Logic! Why don't they teach logic at these schools?"

Stop following

There's a blog in my reading list that I can't stop following. I don't mean that in a "this is so good I can't help myself" way. I literally can't make it stop. I've followed the instructions at least twenty times on multiple days, and it just keeps coming back. There are other blogs I can't stop following, but I don't mind the others so much. This one, though, never fails to make me feel horrible about myself. It's no good to just ignore it and not read; its very presence in my reader is enough to remind me I'm not good enough. Who can I contact to make it stop?