Field Trips

Our homeschool co-op had a fall break, so we took advantage of the relaxed work load to go on some field trips!

Ryan celebrated his birthday last week!  He had a comp day for work and was able to be with us for his special day.  We started the morning with a special breakfast and then headed out to the Smithsonian Zoo.  We were impressed!

We grabbed tacos at a hole-in-the-wall stop and then walked to Meridian Hill Park for a birthday picnic.  We all agreed it would be wonderful if Daddy didn't have to go to work and we could explore as a family all the time!

The next day, the kids and I joined some friends and their homeschool group at the Baltimore Aquarium.  We were so impressed.  Gretchen touched a jelly fish!  We saw a dolphin training session.  Rooke couldn't get enough of the sharks.  

Some of the kids we walked around with.  The Baltimore Inner Harbor is behind them.

This guy creeped me out every time he swam by. 

After the aquarium, we said goodbye to our friends and walked around the Inner Harbor to meet up with more friends!  Callie is a dear friend from college days.  She and her family live north of Baltimore, so she drove down to meet us at a beautiful park that overlooked downtown Baltimore.  It was wonderful to spend time with her and catch up.

While in the park, Rooke got to hold a pet parrot!

The Blue Angels were practicing for an air show while we were at the park, so we got front row seats to a pretty amazing demonstration of aviation.

While walking back from the park, we stepped onto an Army tugboat for a quick tour.  

The African American Museum of History and Culture opened last month.  I was able to get (free!) tickets to visit, so the kids and I headed into the District for another field trip adventure.

While waiting in line to get in:

The inside of the museum is spacious and beautiful with natural light pouring in on all sides.  We rode to the third floor and had the sports section to ourselves for a good thirty minutes.  Rooke was mesmerized by the football room!  The girls were a little young to appreciate the museum, but liked the music room.

Picnic on The Mall after our time at the museum (seen behind us).  We love living here!

Our last field trip was a hike with friends on the Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac River.  The weather was perfect to pack a lunch and prepare to be outside all day!

Getting Outside {Great Falls National Park}

We took advantage of Ryan not working on Monday (thank you, Columbus!) and headed over to Great Falls National Park.  Ryan and I both were needing time to just be outside.  We wanted some time as a family to explore and enjoy creation.  The fall weather has been beautiful, and our time at the park on Monday turned out great for everyone.  

Marks from where the Potomac flooded over the years!

He loves to scramble over the rocks 

Gretchen worked diligently to earn her Junior Ranger badge  

At the end of our hike, we came to a hollow stump that needed to be climbed!

The kids took some photos while standing inside the stump!

Looking up . . . 

Finishing up September

The last couple weeks of September were full and fun . . . and before we knew it, the month was over!

We are grateful for the kind neighbors weve met.  One family invited us to their sons' birthday party as it was going on and we were greeted with a plate of amazing homemade fajitas - yes, please!  Another family have become fast friends.  We've welcomed our new playmates over for several playdates!

Hot days called for fresh lemonade and Rooke was up to the task. 

Off to our morning with other families in our Classical Conversations homeschool group.

Uncle Steve brought OU wear for the kids after a trip to Oklahoma.  He's made sure they know the Boomer Sooner song =)

Uncle Steve also made a corn hole game for the kids to paint and play with! 

Good morning!

Always creating and building something . . . 

I love this photo of my beautiful girls on their first day of gymnastics

Aunt Sara and Uncle Bill were in town!  We spent a fun girls' afternoon and evening with Aunt Sara while the boys went to an Orioles game with Uncle Bill.   

The kids scored cotton candy at the JAG picnic!  The weather was beautiful and there were lots of fun activities to enjoy.  We also saw some other families from previous base assignments whom we enjoyed catching up with.

A picnic in our neighborhood to celebrate the first day of Autumn. 

We got free tickets to the Newseum and enjoyed a day date while Aunt Vallerie took the kids for their own adventure on the Mall. . . 

A great Groupon deal for Pump It Up gave us five passes to play, so I took the kids and our neighbors and they all had so much fun!  Two solid hours of climbing, jumping, falling, and bouncing . . .  

The girls and I enjoyed an afternoon tea party using the tea set I had when I was little.