What I'm Loving Wednesday

There's lots of love in this house this week!

This classic by Watermark (Captivate):

I loved catching Bailey in Little Sister's bed last night.  Crazy boy.  He looks even tinier in this huge bed!

 

I love that Aggie Belle received a bucket load of new toys in the mail today.  She was stoked to replace her dead Mr. Octopus with a new one.  Look at that face!

I love that Bailey has taken to wanting to watch me get ready in the mornings.  We jam out to KSBJ, and he tries to avoid the sink and the curling iron.  I love the precious Little Buddy!

I love this painting I found for the new Tanner Nursery.  It fits with all of their other NASA paraphernalia perfectly.  It's so precious!  Maybe at least one of the boys will follow in their Papa Joe's footsteps. 

I love the new Tervis tumbler cup that came in today's mail for me.  I've been using these more than water bottles at school the past two weeks, and I'm hooked.  Maybe I can't break these...there's hope.   

I bought this one a couple weeks ago.

Giraffe print!  The new one that came today.

I'm still loving school.  I have a few talkers, but just wait.  They'll figure it out.  Ha.  D-halls haven't been passed out yet.  I'm loving routine, bed time at 9:45, lots of sweet hugs, and huge smiles.

I love the print on the new pjs I got.  :)

I loved that when I met the mom and sister of one of my students this morning, the sister acted like I was the best thing since sliced bread.  She's three and in Pre-K.  Her name is Paige, and she grabbed my leg and held on tight with one arm and held my hand with her free hand.  Then she stared up at me with a gigantic smile the whole time her mom and I talked.  What a doll!  I asked her if she wanted to skip up to 6th grade, but she likes Pre-K.  Oh, the love of preschoolers!  Middle schoolers aren't allowed to be cuddly-for GOOD reason-it'd freak me out, but I miss teaching those little ones that hug and cuddle.  My three weeks with kindergartners this summer maybe wasn't just quite enough.

I love that I am helping in worship this coming Sunday.  Scripture is always powerful, but when it's spoken, man, oh, man, the Spirit moves.  This week is about global missions, so I really hope God uses this to stir up unquenchable thirst in my congregation to be His hands and feet.

I love that today at 7:45 will resume our weekly prayer meetings for my campus.  Even if you live far away and can't come join us, set a reminder on your phone and join us from 7:45-8:00, praying for the students and teachers on my campus.  We saw over 50 kids come to know Jesus last year, and all the teachers did was pray.  Which means we also saw prayers for the Christian kids on our campus to be bold be answered in mighty awesome ways.  Jesus, You rock.

I love all the texts, phone calls, and emails I've received the past two days to check on how this first week is going.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I hope every teacher has such an amazing support system.

I love my Jesus!

What are you loving this week?

Linking up with Jamie.

First Day of School By the Numbers

This is my 6th year teaching 6th grade World Geography.  I love my content tremendously.  I secretly adore 6th graders too. :)

If you count high school and college pre-service teaching programs of which I was apart, this is my 12th year to be in a classroom at least one day a week.

My first group of kid that were all 'mine' are now big juniors in high school and driving.  I'm proud of them!

As of today, I've taught over 1,000 kids.  I have yet to decide if that's an achievement or a resounding declaration that 6th grade is still too young to switch teachers so many times in one day (my dream job would be to teach one group of kids social studies and languages arts in the morning and then repeat with a new group of kids in the afternoon). 

Today I had 163 kids in my room spread out through 6th academic periods and Advisory.

Today alone I had kids born in eight different countries (Jordan, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, India, Mexico, Colombia, and obviously America), and I bet there are some I haven't uncovered yet.

I have taught kids from every inhabited continent except Australia.  I love this stat!

Best first day of school happened today: "But, instead of making us raise our hands and wait on you, why don't you just grow lots of extra ears to hear us all talking at once?"  It was said so innocently.  Another child piped in with, "You can hide them all behind your hair!"  Yep, it's gonna be that kind of year.  :)

Today was probably the best first day to date.  There was nothing to complain about except that my feet are swollen something awful.  If that's the worst, who cares?!  I began praying over this year in June, and yet I anticipated this day so negatively.  Shame on me.  I invited the Holy Spirit into my room before I ever set a toe in there, and He met me there in mighty ways today.  Oh, it wasn't perfect, but it was fun and glorious, and I received so many deeply needed hugs from old and new students alike.  Prayers are answered; never doubt!  Then, I received so many texts, calls, and emails from friends and family saying they had been (and would continue!) to be praying for my classroom and me.  What a blessing!  Every teacher needs that kind of lovin' on the first day of school (ok, every day, but especially the first day!).  Tina had a great first day of 2nd grade; I was thrilled to hear her excited little voice tell me about all that happened today.  Praise You, Jesus!

On the other hand, there is a tropical storm in the Gulf.  It makes me want to strike up the theme from Empire Strikes Back.  It's the first week of school.  Figures.  See, Ike closed us down for two weeks in September of '08, and even when we returned, my classroom still looked like a hurricane zone until April of '09.  We functioned on bare bones for most of the school year.  About a fourth of my students lost everything, literally everything, to that storm.  We began school again, after our clean up hiatus, and had to repeat everything we'd learned and take three steps back all at once.  Storms in the Gulf the first week of school conjure up all kinds of memories for Houston.  It looks like NOLA-ish area is going to get the brunt of this storm, but keep those poor teachers in your prayers!  It's hard to start and then restart so quickly.  Kids are resilient, but hurricanes make even the toughest kid break.  It didn't help that the hurricane hunter plane flew over us at the park tonight.  That thing sends chills down my spine each time I see it leave Ellington.  Guess what though...God is bigger than the Boogey Man AND hurricanes!  :)

I am so excited for this year! 

Meal Planning Monday

Sunday: Sandwiches/Snacks between all day events.  Ha!

Monday: Spaghetti and salad

Tuesday: Birthday dinner for Kim at Olive Garden; Isaac's on his own

Wednesday: Subway between appointments and church (I hope I even squeeze in a sandwich!)

Thursday: Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole and green beans

Friday: Waffles, Bacon, and Eggs

Saturday: Pomodoros (never made it last week)

Fun Day Sunday

Promotion Sunday is always exciting at church because it means new 6th grade in Sunday School!  We had NINE new 6th graders in class and 17 total (we teach 6th-8th grades).  What a treat!  It's so exciting knowing that these parents want their kids to begin each week at church and entrust their kids with us for an hour.  Please pray each kiddo wants to keep coming as the busyness of school ensues us. 

This afternoon I helped host a baby shower for the Tanners.  So many sweet ladies came to pray over Will, Michelle, Madisyn, Megan, and soon to come Liam and Jack and then to bless them with fun presents.  We had a great time visiting, and I must admit that I can't wait to have my visits include arms full of two handsome baby boys!  I took a ton of people pictures only to find a precious foster baby who has hopefully found her forever family is in most of them.  Oops!  Enjoy these instead:

Yes, Isaac made the cake!

Christy made this awesome banner.  I think Michelle might even use it in the nursery. 

Prayer book for the Tanners

Christy, Michelle, and me. 

Our music minister Matt may be on sabbatical, but that doesn't mean the rest of us are on break.  I suppose we should've known that if Adam Paul Williams was coming to town for a Sunday night concert that we'd be singing with him, but most of us didn't put it all together until this past Wednesday night when we all made it to our first rehearsal since July 4th.  Oh, sight reading, how you keep me on my toes!  Heavens to Betsy, was my brain in overtime to keep up with some insane rhythms and lots of fast words.  And, if you know me, you know I loved every last second of it!  Phenomenal doesn't begin to describe Adam, and it's a joy for us to get to share the stage with him.  If nothing else, I so appreciate sitting and worshiping through his songs when we aren't singing.  Perfect way to start the first week of school. 

This isn't from our church, and the sound quality isn't the best, but it's one of my favorite songs that Adam sings:

Fly Me To The Moon

My heart was saddened to hear that Neil Armstrong died today.  This man has done so much for NASA and our country while never seeking recognition for anything.  Neil simply loved science and space and was willing to risk all he had to see America succeed in reaching aerospace goal after aerospace goal.  It makes me chuckle that he lived mere miles from Isaac's family for years in small town Ohio, and here's Isaac back in Houston trying to keep on something grand begun more than 40 years ago.  The cycle is a beautiful thing.


This humble man rarely gave interviews, and only his family and close friends seem to have access to much of his private life.  I suppose this is how most of us want our lives to be, but for someone who is such an inspiration to so many, I wish we knew a few more details.  From what little interview documentation I can find, it appears that The Man on the Moon knew Jesus, and knew Him well.  Oh, how I hope it's true!  We know that he participated with Buzz Aldrin in communion on the moon, and it seems he did take a trip to Israel to walk where Jesus walked.  I suppose I'll know the truth when I reach my Father.  Few things make me as crazy as tributes that envision the deceased 'among the stars' or 'in a better' place when the person was clearly not a Believer or if it was simply never known.  Just leave that stuff out! 

The discouraging part of living five minutes from NASA is having our aging heroes begin to pass on.  While 'the end of an era' was reached quite some time ago, the definitiveness of it sinks home as these astronauts begin to die.  What's next?  What's left?  Neil jumped onto Congress pretty aggressively back in 2010 for not giving NASA clear direction.  Good for him!  He lived in a day when our president practically demanded our nation to explore, explore, explore the vastness of space.  My, how my heart aches at the change!  What are my students supposed to obtain if no one is challenging them?  How is sweet Tina supposed to be the first American born girl with Zambian parents on the moon without a government with a vision for such things?  Oh, Neil, how I pray your legacy lives on and puts a rocket fueled fire under enough bums to send Americans back to the moon and beyond! 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Ok, call me crazy, but I've really enjoyed our back-to-school professional developments this week.  Love might be too strong of a word, but it's been nice to be back and get ready for my new 150-ish new kids to come.  I'm also loving, that as of now, the 4 little girls I know from church that will be mine for this year all were put in the same class period together.  Oh, the giggles that will come from that group!

I love this song!
Sidewalk Prophets: Live Like That

I'm loving that some of the oak trees in our subdivision are already dropping acorns.  I ADORE stomping and smushing acorns under my feet.  It is pure euphoria to feel that crunch under my soles.  Perhaps it's still a bit warm to walk the dogs in my boots, but they make the best acorn crushing shoes!

I love the cuddles I get from this sweet boy each day.  Bailey's unconditional love and adoration is a beautiful thing.

This girl always makes me feel in love!  Look at that goofy face!  This is from Sunday night after our trip to the park.  Aggie Belle was so hot by the time we returned home that she went straight upstairs and plopped into the tub.  This is the second time she's done this.  I guess she knows when she's dirty and needs a bath! 

I'm still loving the memories from Shell Key.  Oh, my, the beauty!  God outdid Himself on this place.  The sand is so soft and white!

I love my Jesus!

What are you loving this week?

Linking up with Jamie.

Meal Planning Monday

I go back to work today, so maybe, just maybe, I can stick to this week's plan.  ;)

Sunday: TuttiFrutti (don't judge; you know you do it on occasion too).

Monday: Chicken Quesadillas, salad, and salsa and chips

Tuesday: Hot Dogs and fresh corn on the cob

Wednesday: Chicken Cordon Bleu with salad

Thursday: Breakfast for Dinner

Friday: Pomodoros

Saturday: Pearland for my brother's birthday dinner!!!

Florida Getaway

Oh, St. Pete Beach, how you do me good, but your rain is atrocious!  Yes, I know August in Florida is rainy, but I wanted three days of sun.  I got one.  I guess I should cut my loses and thank my Father for a break from routine, regardless of the weather, and I do.

I should've known the majority of the trip would be more than I bargained for when our flight was 2 1/2 hours late on Wednesday night.  Oh well.  More time to read.  We made it to the hotel about 1:30 am and determined to sleep in, which was oh so nice!

Thursday was sunny and absolutely beautiful.  Crystal clear waters, fluffy white clouds, warm sun rays, super soft, velvety sand...my perfect day.  Isaac and I decided to take the little ferry boat from Passe-a-Grille to Shell Key.  It's a small, uninhabited island full of sea turtle nests and native birds.  Shell Key is also home to millions and millions of sea shells no longer hosting a sea creature.  We saw more green, purple, pink, white, tan, and yellow shells of all kinds than we could possible find use for.  Most people stay near the ferry site, but we walked down around a couple of points to snorkel for sand dollars.  In the fall and winter, it's easy to find still living sand dollars, but this time of year, it's most ones that have already died that have yet to wash up on shore.  We snorkeled for about 30 minutes and filled two grocery bags full of sand dollars.  I need to bleach them this week so they'll stay white and shiny.  We then headed to Ft. DeSoto, my favorite beach in America (Bahamas has my two favorites...Piggy Beach and Warderick Wells).  It was too late in the day to rent kayaks, but so we went on out to the beach.  I think there were six people as far as the eye could see, and the surf was perfect for floating on a raft and relaxing.  May I please do this every day?  After cleaning up, we went to Crabby Bills, one of our local chain favorites, for some awesome grilled Mahi and shrimp.  Yum.  We walked on the beach until we were too tired to move.  It made me miss my Mama (great-grandmother) because she and my mom adored St. Pete Beach. 

Waiting for the ferry

Shell Key

Our little spit of paradish

St. Pete Beach

Friday dawned cloudy, cool, and grey.  The plan had been to drive to my favorite zoo in the world, Brevard Zoo, but the long drive with so much rain all over made us decide to stay closer to the west coast.  Big mistake.  Brevard Zoo had zero rain all day and we fought it.  I tried to stay happy...we really did do some cool things.  We went to the Tampa Zoo which is beautiful, but not in the rain.  The baby rhino girl is precious, as are the two little orangutans.  They played hide and seek with a blankie; their mommas didn't seem too amused.  The rain got to be too bad, so we headed to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Hospital, which is more hospital than aquarium.  It's obvious they are still adjusting to their fame from the movie DolphinTale which stars their most famous resident, Winter the taleless dolphin.  Winter is absolutely incredible.  We watched one of her therapy sessions, met her friends Hope, Panama, and Nicholas, saw surgery on a turtle, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing an aquarium that is more about helping animals than making a profit.  The rain seemed to be slacking, so we headed back to the zoo.  I wanted to feed a giraffe so bad, which is a guaranteed event at Brevard.  Tampa Zoo never opened the giraffe feeding for the day because of the threat of rain, so I was honestly pretty disappointed.  Here at home, all that's allowed is feeding, no touching.  At Brevard and Tampa, touching, petting, scratching snouts is all encouraged.  Um, hello, giraffes are on my pjs!  I'm obsessed with these lanky, gangly, long necked beauties.  However, I did have some amazing eye contact with a couple of their giraffes, so that helped.  We then decided to get on the safari ride around the Africa exhibit, but just before we were to get on the path, a sink hole opened up and that was the end of that.  Seriously?!  Off to the manatee exhibit we went, where it happened to be dinner time, and we were blessed with lot of activity.  Their 1 month old manatee put on quite the show.  Dinner was back at St. Pete Beach at the Sloppy Pelican.  The photo below speaks for itself.  Amazing.  We followed that goodness with ice cream on the beach. 

Winter, Panama, and a therapist/trainer

 Saturday was out last day, and we had scheduled jet ski tours of Shell Key and Egmont Key along with kayaking in the afternoon so we could find more manatee friends.  Yet, God decided He wanted us to drive in the rain, storm chasing all day.  The radar indicated that if we went south, we'd escape the rain. We drove around Ft. DeSoto just to see some of our favorite places, then headed south, but we never did get away from rain.  We did see some pretty towns south of St. Pete Beach that I had yet to see, but I have still yet to ride a jet ski.  Considering where I live, that's beyond pathetic.  The day wasn't a total wash because the rain cleared in time for our sail boat cruise of the inland waters around St. Pete Beach to actually set sail.  We were able to sit on the very front of the boat so my feet could dangle for two hours.  The whole evening brought up absolutely delightful memories of a week in the Bahamas with some amazing friends nine years ago.  What a treat!  The sunset was beautiful, and God thrilled me with two dolphins and a munching manatee.

Shell Key

Don Ce'sar...one of my mom's favorite hotels

We made it home today, just in time for professional development for school to start tomorrow.  I wish I had seen more sun, but the break was nice.  I said on Wednesday that I knew a trip wouldn't fix any of life's problems, but it was good to see more of what God has made beyond my little life at the moment.  There's a bigger picture out there, and God is constantly weaving it for His Glory.  It's a beautiful thing.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm loving that in 4 hours I'll be on a plane to Ft. DeSoto, Florida.  We booked this trip about an hour ago, maybe less.  Ha.  I love it.  August has not been a pleasant month in my house, and I am under no guise that a vacation fixes problems, but a break from germs (mine!) and routine has got to do something good for this spinning head of mine.  On the to do list is to visit my favorite giraffe family at Brevard Zoo, meet up with some manatees on a kayak, and sit out on the sand bar at Ft. DeSoto until the dolphins decided to come visit.  Thank You God for Your creation because they do help this soul!

From the last trip to Ft. DeSoto

I'm loving how cuddly my puppies have been this week.  They are precious!

I love these two songs right now.  Not Jesus related, but they make me smile:

Hunter Hayes:  Wanted

Dustin Lynch: Cowboys and Angels

I love my Jesus-sweet, precious, amazing redemption.

What are you loving this week?

Linking up with Jamie

Meal Planning Monday

I have been sick for a week and a half now, so cooking has been an afterthought at best lately.  I promise I just haven't gotten to the items that keep popping up over and over again.  I'm not that lazy!  I either haven't been eating or have been content with fruit, and Isaac has gotten to spend lots of time with friends who are much better company than I have been.  Maybe this week will turn out better. 

Sunday: Digiorno Pizza

Monday: Grilled Tilapia, Salad

Tuesday: Hot Dogs and fruit

Wednesday: Choir/Orchestra Pot luck; I'm making Watergate Salad

Thursday: Pizza Leftovers

Friday: Church Leadership Dinner at Space Center Houston

Saturday: Chicken Picata, Salad

Lessons from Little Girl Adventures

It's been a week since I took my sweet nieces home, and oh, how this big old house has resonated the quiet until it's barely tolerable!  These two precious girls taught me so much in one week:

~Rest time is important for everyone, including the dogs.

~My dogs (yes, both of them) are happiest with children under the roof.

~Swimming is great for getting everyone to sleep well, and the water is soothing for homesick souls.

~The heat can almost be forgotten while at the zoo.

~I won't have to give up my Tundra when I finally have kids.  Two carseats fit nicely in the back seat, along with a full week's worth of perishable groceries.  The non-perishables, a stroller, and anything else I need stay put in the bed of the truck with the bed cover.  AWESOME!

~Prayer time can happen anytime, and should happen anytime. 

~Little hands are just as capable of doing all I can do (putting away clothes, making the bed, clearing the table, etc), but might need more time to accomplish the task.  There's no reason to rush those sweet little hands.  Let them learn.

~It really is a treat to watch sweet girls sleep and sleep and sleep.

~Coloring books and library books are a perfect TV replacer.

~The library is a parent's life-saver.  Endless hours of free entertainment and wonder to all be enjoyed at home!

~Seeing my favorite places through the eyes of children is complete joy.

If You Really Know Me...

Many of you bloggers have been jumping on board with "If You Really Know Me" posts, so here's mine:

If you really know me, you know that:

I am a Diet Coke addict unlike any other.  It's sad.  I cap off at no more than two a day, and probably 6 days a week only have one, but I crave that bubbly goodness!

I think water bottles are stupid.  I have a stash that get washed, refilled at home, and stored in my fridge at school for convenience sake, but to pay for water is not a concept I fully grasp.

I love kids undyingly, but really don't have much of a desire to have my own until I can be a stay-at-home mom.  It just seems unfair to everybody, knowing how tired I am at the end of the day. 

I'd fall apart and melt away into nothingness if I didn't have a singing outlet.  I love the challenge music presents me, and two rehearsals a week for choir and Chamber Singers is a lovely thing.

I'm a people pleaser to the point of often neglecting myself, and I fear criticism because I desperately want to 'measure up'.  That's dumb, and it's gotten better, but it's still a struggle.

I have a strong dislike for red roses.  I can't explain that one, but I do.  I do however thrill at yellow roses as my great-grandmother grew them, and they bring back fond memories.  I also enjoy tulips, calla lilies, and gerbera daisies (just not frozen ones...that's bad).  To grow in my yard, fill up the landscaping with hibiscus.  I'm addicted. 

I've never been camping.  I think I'd enjoy it, but the opportunity has never presented itself.  

If I was given the option of only seeing mountains or tropical beaches for the rest of my life, I'd sit down right where I was and cry.  I love being a beach bum, and I love hiking in the mountains.  Don't make me choose!

It's easy to know if I skipped my morning quiet time; I'm a real grouch!

There are lots of new things I'm willing to try, but I'm incredibly fearful of high speeds where there is no quick control.  I don't like feeling out of control.

Typically, my snack of choice is air-popped popcorn.  The pre-popped stuff from the grocery is great, but movie theater popcorn is absolutely the best.  Throw in some M&Ms and a Diet Coke, and I'm a happy camper.

Jane Austen novels or movie adaptations make my day, without fail.

I don't just read books, I devour them.

I adore the socks off my church.  Really.  It's not perfect, but it's where God has made my home.

I dislike doing most things by myself.  99% of the time I'd rather do everything with someone.

I'm not much of a girly girl anymore (I was a total bow-head as a little girl), but a pedicure, massage, and cute pjs will make me swoon.

If I could live in my cowgirl boots and not melt in the Houston heat, I would.  During the winter, they're on my feet as often as I can get away with it.  And someday, I will own a pair of Lucheses.  Hopefully sooner rather than later.

If given a choice to give up absolutely 100% of all I have here in America (family, the dogs, my job, all of it) to move to Zambia to work at ACEZ, I wouldn't even think twice.  My heart is so totally buried there, and that's home.

It doesn't matter how hard I try, the 'teacher' is buried so deep in me that it doesn't turn off.  I see everything as a learning opportunity, but I try to not annoy folks with it though. 

I've yet to meet a horse I don't like, or that doesn't like me.  Doesn't mean I'm crazy enough to get on each of them, but in a field, we get along just fine.  They know I love them, I know I love them, and that seems to be enough.

I may have to live in the city the rest of my life, but the cowgirl in me isn't ever going to die.  :)

Painting with a Twist

Paining with a Twist is part of a national franchise that has finally creeped far enough south of Houston to make for great girls' night out.  A few of my friends and I decided to end summer with a stroke of artistic luck (ha) and try our hand at a masterpiece.

The set up is great for messy people like me: butcher paper everywhere, concrete floors, aprons, lots of paper towels.  Artists are allowed to bring any kind of beverages and snacks for grazing between paint stages.  My kind of place!  There were several groups there, anxious to begin.

Glinda, the owner and class teacher, did a great job of demonstrating techniques and then giving us time to explore and play on our own.  She'd help if asked or otherwise would go around offering more paint and paper towels.  I enjoyed the lack of pressure from the expert because goodness knows I put enough of it on myself.  We jammed out to Shania Twain, Abba, Aretha, Rascal Flats, and Kenny throughout the night-perfect painting tunes.

Overall, I'm pleased with my final product.  If I could change anything about the set up, it'd be getting to choose individual background colors.  Red is not my thing, but by itself, the painting looks nice.  The best part was how relaxing it was to be there with a small group of friends and visit, share ideas, and paint.  It did this weary heart good. 

Here's the masterpiece!

Kim, me, Kathleen, Danielle/Michelle (depending on from where you know this red-head!)

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm loving these songs:
Matt Redman: 10,000 Reasons

Jason Gray: Remind Me Who I Am

Big Daddy Weave: Redeemed

Building 429: Where I Belong

I love how clingy my sweet girl has been this week.  I think she knows I've been sick with strep throat. 

I'm loving Preschool Play Days at church this week.  I have kindergartners again (about to be 1st graders), so this is week 3 that I've spent with several of them this summer. We're having fun learning about the Armor of God.

I love my Jesus!

What are you loving this week?

Linking up with Jamie

Meal Planning Monday

;

Sunday: Dallas

Monday: Chuys

Tuesday:  Chick-fil-A

Wednesday: Leftovers to make BBQ Potatos

Thursday: Grilled fish and veggies

Friday: Hot Dogs

Saturday: Quesadillas

Little Girl Adventures Day 7

The morning began with a trip to Walmart to purchase Tina's school supplies for 2nd grade.  Um, I love buying school supplies!  It was so much fun to let her pick out the colors/styles she wanted of the items on the school's list.  Thank you Walmart for making it cheap and easy to get kids back to school!

The rest of the day was all about NASA!  We began at the NBL so the girls could see the big pool where the astronauts train.  We never figured out who was in the water today, but two astronauts were working on the Japanese module mock-up.  Tina loved seeing all of the divers 'blowing bubbles'.  Maybe she'll be encouraged to get her head wet more now!

 
Tina, Joelle, and I then headed to Space Center Houston to watch NASA movies, touch moon rocks, explore science, play in the play place, and much more.  I was a little let down because some of my favorite attractions are being remodeled, but the girls obviously didn't notice. 

Trying to dock the shuttle to the ISS

Lifting weights under various G forces

About to launch in an Apollo capsule

Apollo

 

We then met back up with Isaac to tour Historic Mission Control and the MCC for the Space Station.  We were about 30 minutes too early to see any action on the station as it wasn't quite yet time for the astronaut's wake up call, but the girls still enjoyed seeing the rooms and where all the 'action' takes place.  We drove over to Rocket Park for them to see the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo rockets as well.  "They're so big!" was heard a lot.  :)

I really don't want to take them home tomorrow.  It has been so much fun having little buddies and little helpers with me.  I'm exhausted, and Joelle has an upset stomach tonight, but even then, I love having them here.  They fill me up so much.  Thank You Jesus for this week!