Summer Vacation Begins

Today we headed to Mustang Island beach to kick off our summer vacation.  It is about two hours away.  I personally think the beach is great therapy.  What is better than sand, water, sun and the smell of the ocean breeze?  The seaweed was really deep today.  I have never seen a beach covered in seaweed like today.  However, that did not stop us from getting in the water and enjoying the beautiful day.  We had a picnic lunch and then got in the water or played in the sand.  Anna got to fly her kite and Andrew built a sand castle.  I love to watch the excitement and laughter on each of their faces when they play in the water and get knocked over by the waves.

 

See all the seaweed?

I am sure we will pay several visits to the beach this summer.  It is one of my favorite places to be at. We live close enough to go.

Last Day of School

Yesterday was the last day of school for the students and today was Alan's and my last day of school.  It has been a great year for Alan and for the rest of us it has been a year of transition and adjusting.  Andrew and Anna have learned that families like ours are very rare at their new school.  They have both been shocked by many things.  They have shined their lights the best they can at school.  One of Anna's teacher's told me that some kid said some outrageous thing out loud in class, and Anna's eyes got real big and had the expression on her face of "I can't believe I just heard that!"  She giggled and said, "I know Anna!"

I asked Andrew and Anna what their favorite thing was about this year.

Andrew: Music, PE, Recess, Lunch, Field Trip, Field Day and Just the Facts Celebration.

Anna:  Music, Reading, Recess, Science, Lunch, Field Trip, Field Day, AR Field Trip.

Abigail: Getting to teach my own children my love and passion of Music, getting many opportunities to have lunch with Andrew and Anna and opening the eyes of many students to the world of music.

Alan: Getting to do what he wanted to do as far as Athletics and Administration.

Next year I will not get to teach Anna.  I will move to the High School and Middle School and will only be at the Elementary for fourth and fifth grade.  I will miss teaching Anna but look forward to getting back to the age group I prefer.

Andrew and Ms. Manka

Kastyn and Anna

Anna's class

Anna and Ms. Martinez

Anna's two friends Janelle and Aubri.  Both are moving and will not be back next year.

Last Day of Fifth Grade and Second Grade



Awards Day!

Today we had the end of year awards.  Andrew and Anna did a great job in their first year of public school this past year.

Anna is one of eight students in the second grade to get A honor roll.  She also received outstanding Citizenship, Just the Facts award and she was named the "Kindest" in second grade.

Anna with her friend Janelle

Proud Mom!!!

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Now Andrew!!!

He was also voted "Kindest," in fifth grade, Received Outstanding Citizenship and AB Honor Roll.

 

He would not let me take a picture of just him with his awards.........

 

We are wrapping this school year up and on Thursday I will no longer have two children in Elementary but only one as Andrew moves on to Middle School.  Time sure does go fast.

 

A Houston Weekend

Yesterday we got up early and headed to Houston.  Andrew has been looking forward to going to NASA with WCS in the 6th grade.  Since we moved, he has been disappointed that he will not be attending that.  However, when we moved here, we told Andrew that we are only three hours from Houston and we can go to NASA.  When asking what he wanted to do for his Birthday since it was a long weekend, he chose going to Houston. 

Last Wednesday, I started planning this special weekend.  I got one of the last hotel rooms in the area(I guess everyone else had the same idea) and started mapping out the order of activities.

Here is what we did:

We arrived at the San Jacinto Battleground and took a look at the memorial and went up to the top.  We also went over to see the Battleship Texas.

  After about an hour, we headed towards Johnson Space Center and ate lunch at Fuddruckers and then Andrew was in amazement.  He had so much fun trying out all of the different activities to see what it would be like to be in space and especially Mars.  That is their next focus is getting someone to Mars by the year 2035. 

 

 

 

 

I love the movie Apollo 13 and found the flight plan and the filter they had to make on board.  Andrew was interested in this too as he has seen the movie a few times but his favorite was Apollo 11 and the landing on the moon.

Here is the new mission control

Saturn V

Apollo 11 crew

This is Judith Resnik's suite.  She is one of the astronauts that lost her life on the Challenger January 28, 1986.  One month before this incident my family and my Uncle Kent and cousins from California came to NASA for a tour.  We were outside walking and a female employee nearly ran into our group, and she said "Excuse me, I am so sorry."  At the time I didn't know who she was but when the unfortunate accident happened my Mom said, "Remember that lady that nearly ran into us and apologized at NASA?  That was her!" referring to Judith Resnik.

NASA has definitely changed in 28 years but even for me, it was fun.  I landed the space shuttle perfectly..............maybe I missed my calling..............Hmmm maybe not, I get motion sick to easily.

After NASA we headed toward the Kemah Boardwalk.  This is of course right on the gulf and there are restaurants, shops and a amusement park. Other than it being overcrowded, it was a really neat place to visit.  We ate at Bubba Gump and had a corner table view of the gulf and boardwalk.  It was perfect.

After this, it was time to head to the Hotel and crash and we all did.

Today we took Andrew to get his Birthday present at the Lego store and of course Anna had to make a run to the American Girl Doll Store.

 

Of course a trip to an area where I have lived would not be complete without a trip down memory lane :-)

 

Our house!

My High School for three years.  It may not be my favorite place, but it was a part of my life for three years.  When I went there, this fence was not up around the entire school.

 

We went by our Church but Alan was driving too fast to get a picture and then he didn't go back around for a second chance........he got right on 610 and headed out. :-(

 

As I reflected on the past year and how Andrew has struggled to adjust, I remember how I struggled also to adjust to this huge school, but remember fondly the family time I had when we visited San Jacinto, NASA, Astro World every Tuesday in the summer, Astro Games and of course all of the shopping and much more.  We do live in an area now that we can and have created some great memories.  Summer begins next Friday and of course many more memories to be made.