time trials

Grace has been trying to convince me that riding her bike to the bus stop will save her lots of time in the morning.  We live about 7 houses from the bus stop.   I have told her that by the time she opens the garage and puts on her helmet and gets down the road she could have walked there.

Anyway, this morning we decided to settle the debate once and for all.  On the mornings we drive the STEM carpool we have a lot of extra time in the morning and today was one of those mornings.

So first we did the bike.  I started the stop watch when she was at the door. She had to open the garage, get her bike out, get her hemet and ride to the corner.  1min.19.29 sec.  Then she put everything away and she started at the door again and walked to the bus stop.  She did a kind of jogish thing for the first two houses and then walked.  1min 22.11 sec.  So she was right, it is quicker...barely.

Sadly for her we are still going for the walking in case of a bus dash emergency plan because how does the bike get back??
Mom has to schlep it.  For 3/10ths of a second I think it's not worth it. And honestly we are mostly the first ones at the bus stop every morning anyway.  In fact sometimes she rides her bike down and back 10 times, puts the bike away and then walks to the bus stop and is still early.

A better back up plan is I drive her if we miss the bus.

FHE

Rob has been honing his camping skills since he's been called as the teachers quorum advisor.  This weekend they are going on a mini high adventure, camping, biking, zombie run, hiking.  To practice he made a dutch oven cobbler for our FHE treat tonight.

We had a wonderful lesson on developing Christlike qualities.  It comes straight from Preach My Gospel.  It was fun to see what the kids thought their strengths and weaknesses were.

Bye! Thanks for visiting!

Today we had to take our Christmas baby back to the airport :(  I am so glad she decided to surprise us! We had a fun long weekend together.  I loved watching movies, hearing about all the dumb boys she dates, cooking, shopping, laughing and doing fun things together.  We walked the dogs and she did homework and we fed the missionaries.  She and Hannah hung out a lot. Most of all I just loved the talking and being together.  Love you Si!!!

Boys day

They have front row seats!

Camping was great, wet, R didn't sleep but he reported that while he was really sleepy today Bub was happy and had a great time both days.

He's a good dad :)

more pics later

Renaissance Faire

Today was a fun day.  Rob and Ethan were on a camp out last night, a rainy scout camp out, then this morning they went to a merit badge clinic, then tonight they went to watch DC United.  They were busy.  Meanwhile the girls had even more fun :)...

We decided to go to the renaissance festival.  It has been rainy all week but it was more on and off today and we decided it would be worth it to be a little wet if we could do something fun that we don't do every day.

It was muddy and drizzly, which was great because it also wasn't crowded.  Grace really wanted to play some games, she tried her hand at Jacob's Ladder, darts and some kind of medieval bowling.

Everyone was excited for turkey legs, and the girls tried cheesecake on a stick...they sell everything on a stick!

We watched some magic shows, some talented musicians and some fun jousting.  We enjoyed the shops and people watching too.

Hannah got a henna painting and we sampled honey and Grace went to juggling school.  When we were done with our medieval fun we went home and stopped on the way for molton chocolate cake.  Yumm-o.

Surprise!!!

Sierra came to visit! She didn't tell anyone she was coming...well, actually she told me last night on my way to do some training in Anacostia but I kept it a secret over night :)  So fun! I'm really happy she's here.  We went to lunch at Ogas then sat around and chatted.  Then I fell asleep on the couch and she and Hannah made cookies for me to take to a meeting.  Sierra is a really good baker.  She spent the evening with the family while I went to the youth committee meeting, cookies in hand, and they were yummy! ( It's the beginning of a busy season for YW.)  Now we have a couple of days to enjoy together.  Yay!!

This morning I volunteered at the school book fair.  It was fun to see a lot of my school friends, and to hear everyone say how they have missed me.  I have missed them too, but don't miss going to work.

I was very disappointed because my leg was hurting after a couple hours.  I hoped it would do better.  I am doing better  but I want to be back in fighting form and not a 90 year old woman.  

Fishing

Tonight Rob wanted to try out a new fishing spot, he asked me to bring his fishing partner to him...so I did.  I'm nice that way.  Then they asked me to stay and watch them fish  I did...again, pretty nice :)  They didn't catch anything but it was pleasant out and I had thought to bring a book so that was good.

When we got home I made dinner for the kidlets then we went to Salsas for our usual Tuesday night date.  We actually haven't been in a few weeks and it was nice to be back.

Bonus picture, I love this video of Penny and Tate, they were roaring to music in the back of the car and seriously does it get any cuter?  No.  It doesn't.