Road Tripping to DC

Taking the family trickster to DC where it will stay for our family adventures through 9/30!










Dinner in Natchez, MS on the river. First night's stop: Meridian, MS.

FaceTime Play!

So thankful for technology that lets me join in on Anna's important stuff from afar. ❤️❤️❤️










And this has been Anna's BFF for the last few years. Cuties!

I'm 2 months into a temporary assignment in Washington DC AT NASA HQ. Will be there through September. There's a lot of travel back and forth for me and them but we are having many adventures! And many more planned!

Monday we will start our spring break by driving my truck up to DC with a few nights' stay in Gatlinburg, TN. My dad told us what a fun time they had when they visited so we've wanted to go since. We finally get our turn, and get to use some of our timeshare benefits!

View of the pentagon and Washington monument from my apartment balcony.




My running track (finally outdoor running after months on treadmill in cold weather!










Anna's first snow experience :)
















So fun but bring on spring!!!

She's 8!

Anna says it was the best birthday EVER because all her favorite friends made it to her party, which for the 8th year in a row, was held at the house (her request). She had been dying to show her friends her home and introduce them to each other. They had a blast.

We had Splash Kids come out for a painting session, and before and after the girls went wild with playing! So much love. Such a happy day!
























She also helped daddy make her birthday breakfast: bacon, biscuits with chocolate gravy, and homemade cheesy grits.

Tons of Littlest Pet Shop toys for her birthday- that's her new thing :)

What a weekend!!! This kid loves life. She tells us all the time!
Love love love!

Sweet girl

I owe so many updates, including why I'm sitting on a new apartment staring at the DC Skyline, but this I had to post right away. How are we raising such awesomeness?!






And an extra dose of sugar:

Last day of 2014!

And so much to catch up on here...will do soon! Life is good. This girl is our heart 💜💜💜

Too precious

I'm behind on updates but this is too precious not to post.

Not bad!

Had some "environmental" photos done at work last week, after I was motivated my some my co-worker had done. These didn't come out so bad, and I'm super excited to have the NASA and ISS stuff in the background! I love NASA! I wish I'd had these for the TedX Houston talk I did last year.

First day of second grade

Man! She had such a great day!!! And looks like we hit the jackpot with another awesome teacher!

Anna says she's so funny and cool. And you have to love a teacher whose first homework assignment is for students to come dressed as a scientist! Anna is currently deciding between archaeologist are biologist :) The look on her face was priceless as I pulled out my old lab coat for her to try on!

































Woot! Bring on grade Two!

One last summer vacation

One last family trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Tx! We had a blast and we dined on junk food the whole time! Like a quick vacation should be :)



Mother-daughter ice cream pedis :)
She got strawberry and I got chocolate!



Junk! Woo-hooooo!




Wiped out before 10pm!





Ticket jackpot!!!









My dinner :) Yes!!!!



Love these guys. Now it's back to school...

Another tooth!

Her top left canine fell out on the drive to the camp in Morgan City after she spent good time messing with it :) August 1. The tooth fairy passed at the camp and left her a Baggie of change ❤️💜💚

More photos

Found these on Anna's iPod of our UK trip. Nice shots!








They let you sample the natural spring water ("healing waters") at Bath. Anna said it tasted like blood (she was right!)

I forgot: Scotland!

I forgot to mention, while in Scotland I met a woman at the university who has children, one of whom is 7. She invited Anna over to play at her house one afternoon while Paul and I worked the camp. She had a blast!! She was so excited to have a new Scottish friend, that she declared Scotland better than England :) Her friend's name is Elliah (Gaelic for Ellie) and her mom is Mhairi (Gaelic like Mary but pronounced "Very"). Such a nice family, such great people! We plan to keep the kids in touch. An overseas pen pal could be fun :) I didn't get any pictures but I think Mhairi did and will post them when I get them.


Updated to add picture of Eilidh (two days older than Anna) and Orlan (5, middle).