Spring Break--The rest of the story

This was a continuation of Day Two of Spring Break:

Our trip to the Kennedy Space Center was amazing.  Here's Karina and Matthew driving on the moon.

Kimberley, as the "experienced" driver, helped Michael.  I don't think you need a learner's permit on the moon.

Trying to take pictures that captured the sheer size is difficult. At least these prove that we were there.

In the background, is the shuttle that launched a few days after we were there.  We could see the tracks in the road where the shuttle was transported to the launchpad.

Here's a closer picture.  The orange part is the shuttle that launched into space. Uncle Scott and his family woke up early to watch the launch from their home.

Again, the sizes are hard to show in pictures.

Day Three:

The next day we drove to Clearwater Beach, and went shelling, and castle building.

The castle was pretty sweet. It had a moat, and shells decorating the walls.

The boys didn't want to leave their castle, so we took a picture.

This was the scene in the back seat on the way home.  The girls looked like little sleeping kittens.

We ended our wonderful trip with Uncle Scott, Paul, and Aunt Marcie with a cookout in one of the camping areas that Paul built for his Eagle project. 

Just to make sure that our trip balanced out, and that we experienced all things....

So here we're on the freeway, unpacking the car to get the spare.

But that didn't take away anything from our trip.  What a wonderful, wonderful spring break. 

Spring Break in Florida

For Spring Break we climbed into our minivan and drove to Harmony to visit Uncle Scott and Aunt Marcie and Paul (and had a wonderful home cooked meal waiting!)

On Day One we went to SeaWorld.  Note the dolphins in the background.

The trainers no longer get into the water with Shamu, and the show has been cut a little shorter, but the whales are still amazing.

Proof that Kayla and Kimberley went on the Manta Ride (by themselves).  Kimberley (bottom row) is the second last on the right behind the hair, and Kayla is the last on the right, in the green shirt.

Here are the Farnsworth kids on display at Seaworld, thinking fishy thoughts:

Day Two: Uncle Scott came with us on an airboat ride to see the alligators.

 

The kids couldn't decide if Florida aligators were bigger and better than Mississippi alligators.

Kayla and Kimberley were brave enough to hold the critter. 

Michael didn't want to hold it, but did touch. (And then washed his hands.)

Matthew and Karina weren't too sure about the huge lizard. 

So they decided to share holding it.  Karina called the tail.

Stay tuned for pictures on the rest of our trip....

March Already?

As I'm hip deep in pirates for the stake Cub Scout activity coming up, it suddenly dawned on me that its already March! And in less than three months we'll have a major move on our hands!  Kimberley will be done with 9th grade, Kayla with 6th, Karina with 3rd and Matthew with 1st.  I'm enjoying Michael's last few months at home before Kindergarten, and lamenting "When did time suddenly start moving so fast?"

Answer:  When you're busy, you NEVER have enough time.

Churchwise (and don't my boys look handsome in their suits?) Brent is still teaching early morning seminary every morning, and on the high council, and playing piano for priesthood meetings.  Delwyn is still playing the organ, and the Activity Days leader, and the Stake Primary President.  (The reason she's hip deep in pirates! There are only two weeks until our stake Cub Scout activity, Harrr Mateys! (Said with a Mississippi/South African accent.) Want to walk on this nice little plank, anyone?)

Everyday-life wise, Brent is still working full time at Keesler, and juggling kids schedules during the evenings and on weekends.  We have the three youngest in soccer, and have one to two make up games a week EACH because of all the rained out games.  Luckily the two in swimming are having a little break because short season ended. But still, only Monday nights are "free" because that's our family rule.

My life still consists of trying to come up with the perfect meal that everyone eats, juggling dusting and laundry, and spending an hour or so in the car each day driving kids around. And explaining that "I'm sorry, I never learned that in school.  Do you think your older sister can help you with your homework?"  Huh.

Kimberley is thinking of taking up guitar.  (Her drums were great to get her rythms right for piano.)  She is nice enough to play the organ for church sometimes.

Kayla's oboe playing is taking off, as well as the piano. She's growing about three feet every time she takes a nap. And she has amazing taste in Superbowl picks.

Karina is still the cutest curly haired blonde you'll ever meet. Unless, of course, she's disguised as Elvis.  She sang and danced a "blue" Christmas number at a rest home in Biloxi.

Matthew won the spelling bee for first grade.  Smart little kid. Takes after my side of the family.

Michael is a killer wii player.  He keeps explaining that he can drive now, and doesn't understand why I don't hand over my car keys.

Here's some pictures out and about, taking in the sights.

 If you look closely past Kimberley's shoulder, you can see our local friendly alligator munching on something. We couldn't figure out what, exactly.  I counted kids and they're all accounted for.

This month we get to visit Scott and Marcy for spring break, and we're looking forward to the visit.

March already?  Amazing.

December, the busiest, busiest month....

December was a busy, but still pretty wonderful, month for us. 

Karina had a "friends" birthday.

Karina had a ladybug birthday party, which was a lot of fun.

She and her friends decorated their own little bug cupcakes.

She even had facepainting--thank you Kimberley, for the amazing artistic touches.

Michael didn't want a ladybug, so Kimberley gave him Thomas, instead. And Matthew asked for a space rocket.

We ended up putting up our outside Christmas lights three days before Christmas, as it rained every day beginning December 1st.  Luckily, it wasn't too wet to put out the magic reindeer food the night before...

And we waited for Christmas to arrive.  The stockings were set by the fire with care...and Santa came.  He even ate the cookies and drank the milk and gave the carrots to his reindeer.  You can see the empty Santa plate.

Michael said, "There must be one HUNDRED presents under the tree! It was the biggest number that he could think of.

Kayla and Karina made poinsettia napkin rings for the place settings for Christmas dinner.

This year we went to various venues around town, taking our Christmas pictures with a tripod and a timer.  Here we are at the Vetarans Memorial in D'iberville.

This is on the Biloxi beach, down the road from the Air Force base.

Michael had a birthday right after Christmas.  He was so excited. He had a "Mario" party, and asked for a mushroom cake.

He set the table all by himself.

Kimberley and Mom made a pin the moustache on Mario game.

All in all, December was fairly busy, but what a wonderful, wonderful month!

Happy Thanksgiving

from our house, to yours

Here's the result of a lot of family baking.  Note the individual pies.

With the color of our walls, we didn't have to do too much decorating for fall. 

The kids show off their decorating skills--Kayla and Karina made menus, and Karina decorated with some fall leaves.

The rest of the table.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving together.  We ate pies for breakfast, lunch and dinner, for days afterwards.  Each member of the family talked about what he or she was thankful for. 

Michael summed it up nicely: "I'm fangful for everyfing."