Sunday, August 21, 2011

Day 15: Final Day in DC

(Friday) August 12
10 miles (by bike)

Today we peeked at the White House through the fence for a few minutes before the Secret Service cleared the sidewalk in preparation for the Greenbay Packers coming to meet the President. We were relegated to eating our lunch on the lawn, chatting with the Packers fans.

Then we went to the Museum of American History, where we got to see Julia Child's kitchen, attend a mock training session for the lunch counter sit-ins, and hold a replica of the Star Spangled Banner with about 100 people while we sang the national anthem. Proud to be an American!

Like the Cutler Cycletrek T-shirt? Rich had them specially designed for our trip, complete with our signatures, like we're celebrities. I certainly look like one, don't I?

In the evening we joined our old friends Mike & Katie Baird at their home in Reston, VA for dinner and swimming. We had missed them, and it was so fun to catch up with them and meet all five (!) of their kids.

Day 16: On The Road Again

(Saturday) August 13
Washington, DC to Jackson, TN
800 miles
 At Gravelly Point where you can watch the planes take off and land from Reagan International Airport.
 A giant THANK YOU to our hosts in Washington, D.C., the Johnsons. They were so generous and patient with us!
We took a quick photo stop on the way out of town at 2806 Chariton Street in Oakton, VA—the basement apartment of the Clegg's house, where we lived just after marriage. We lived here just four months while I did my student teaching at Banneker High School and Rich did an internship at ADTRAN. We also made little Isaac here. Awwwww.

Day 17: The Home Stretch

(Sunday) August 14
Jackson, TN to HOME
750 miles
We stopped in Memphis for church, and then plowed home. It felt so good to sleep in our own beds again! Our ducks were alive, and Texas has stayed constant with 100+ degree temperatures and still no rain. We're grateful for the nice break we had.

Total Biking Miles: ~170
Total Driving Miles: ~3,600

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

School Choice

Which school would you choose for your children?

This one:
Our vision is that every student is encouraged, supported, and challenged to achieve the highest levels of knowledge, skills, and character.

Or this one:
Our mission is to provide an invigorating educational environment that develops responsible citizens who can artfully navigate our complex world and enjoy a good life with others. Each student will engage in diverse investigations, disciplined inquiry, and integrated service learning to cultivate intercultural awareness, creativity and mental acuity

How much does a mission statement really have to do with my children's day-to-day education?

Is the "devil" that you know better than the "devil" that you don't know—even if the new "devil" looks pretty angelic?


Ah, the tyranny of choice. . . .

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

What My Mom Brought on a Silver Platter

Russell's personalized Book of Mormon
Turquoise Plate for eggs
Museum Walls
Heirlooms
Taught Graham to Lie
Cafe Rio Lunch
Solitary Girl in the Garden (who turns out to not be so solitary)
Folded Laundry
Ice Cream in the Freezer
Compliments on my Garden

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Random Updates

My hair is falling out. In big hunks of hair on my pillow, in the shower, in my hand when I pull my hair back. I don't have cancer, just a baby. It's growing back (thankfully) in little tufts with more bits of gray than I would like to admit. Maybe it's time to sport a Sinead O'Conner look?

I'm riding my bike again. With gas prices going through the roof, I dusted off my bike (with some help from my favorite repair guy). I don't dare ride it with Henry yet, which makes it a nice (very occasional) solitary ride with just me, the wind, and my thoughts. Last night while riding to and from the PTA meeting, I could smell the white blossoms on the trees and hear the funky sounds the frogs in the creek under the bridge were making. It quenches something that was thirsty inside, though I didn't know it before.

I planted my spring garden. Spinach, peas, lettuce, cabbage, swiss chard, parsley, cilantro, leeks, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumber. Though experience has taught me to steel myself for failure down the road, this stage of new growth, cool temperatures, and not too many weeds feels exultant.

I joined the YMCA. Though I'm sort of opposed to gyms on principle (why guzzle the gas, money and time when you can step out your front door or get some work done around your house?), having a new babe makes exercise sort of hard. So I'm trying out the "Y" for the moment. They have great child care (Graham never wants to leave it, and they almost always put Henry to sleep). In one hour I can bike 20 miles in a spin class, get my zumba groove on, or do relaxing yoga. The trick is getting everyone in the car and getting over there. But if I can do it, it feels lovely, especially if I can squeeze in a solitary shower afterwards.

Henry is growing so much. He's very wiggly, but not rolling yet (thankfully!). He must be ready for rice cereal because he wakes up multiple times during the night.

Russell is getting ready for baptism, and I'm so proud of him for how seriously he is taking his preparation. He's been teaching FHE lessons on baptism and the Holy Ghost, and really trying to be honest and make good choices all the time.

Isaac just completed his Destination Imagination competition. His team has been working together every week for several hours on their project and teamwork, and their hard work paid off: they got 4th place in the region for their division. Hooray!

Graham and I have been having fun together at home. Last week we took a long walk with Aunt Robin on Town Lake, and we've been doing "homework" in small spurts (reading, writing, math, etc.).

Rich and the boys have been building a duck house in the backyard in hopes that we can get us some egg-laying pets soon. Work has been pretty stressful for him, but they continue to move forward with the awesome invention.

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Great Grandma Funk on Henry's Blessing Day

26 December 2010