Udvar-Hazy and The Colonists

Things are going really well here in DC. I am getting used to the Foreign Service life and have been overwhelmed with gratitude towards all the many people here who are friendly and accepting and ready to help us. The Foreign Service families are so supportive of each other. It's a great group to be associated with. Our apartment complex has endless activities and programs going. I can do yoga twice a week, and there is a workout center. There are also aerobic classes a few mornings a week that I am liking. I think my body is confused because with everything so readily available, I am working out more than I used to. My muscles are a little annoyed right now. :) We also have a playground and tennis courts and...please don't hate me...house keeping. They come in and clean the apartment once a week. I haven't scrubbed a toilet since we got here! I'm trying really hard not to like it as much as I do, but it is fantastic to come home to a sparkly clean house that I didn't have to clean. I still have plenty of laundry and day-to-day cleaning to keep me busy, but the deep cleaning is being taken care of and I am very grateful. Now, with that guilty confession, I will say goodbye and show the pictures from last weekend's adventure. We took the kids to the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum in Chantilly. I think Logan summed up that trip best. "Mom, this is the best educational field trip ever!"

Before I do, my beautiful grandma passed away last Friday. (I know this picture is small, I'll try to get a better copy of it to post later!) Today was her funeral, which unfortunately I was unable to go to, but she and her life full of love and service and family have been on my mind. My grandma was very good at taking time to know her grandchildren. She played games with us, and set her house up in a very kid-friendly way. She was an excellent cook. I loved her cookies and her fruit pizza. My grandma taught me how good fresh peaches and ice milk can taste. I remember many times, sitting at her kitchen counter, chatting with her and grandpa while she bustled and cooked around the kitchen. She also made adorable clothes for all her grandkids, and when I was in college she made me a little photo album full of pictures of my dad and her other kids when they were growing up, and included some of me growing up too. I love her and am so happy that her battle with Alzheimer's is over. I am sure she is having a great time catching up with old friends and family! She left my sweet grandpa behind, and from what my MIL told me, he sang some beautiful old songs for her at the funeral today. I will really miss her.

 And now...airplanes!! I won't pretend to know what all these planes are and to be honest, I shot my favorites, so I'll leave you to it!

 The upside-down plane!

 The kids loved this one!

 Here they are pretending to run from it!

 Dan's favorite plane from when he was a kid! He kept singing "Highway to the Danger Zone".

Ellie's favorite because it was shiny!

 The Space Shuttle, Discovery, made Dan a little homesick for NASA, I think.

 Front View

Love how Linc posed for this one!

 The boys were brave enough to get on the simulation ride!

Here it is!

Outside the museum

Logan's fourth grade class had colonial day! I didn't have time to get him a real costume, so the poor kid had to put up with my crafty glue gun costume. He had fun though. He and his friend here were glass blowers!

 They had this whole presentation that was very rehearsed and cute...oh, and educational!

Ellie just liked the balloons.

 Oh, and we got snow!!! The kids had a blast that first day! Ellie said it tasted yummy.

O stayed home from school this day because he had a fever the night before. He was healthy, but I was nervous about sending him. Lucky boy. Day off!

Logan's trendy new hair cut!