Saturday, April 30, 2011

Conowingo Dam


Today we went out to the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River, a Hydro Electric Plant.  The river is well above flood stage right now with all the rain we have had, plus all the snow to the north that is melting.


Typically, there are about 4-5 of the doors open, and today there were about 21-25 doors open.


The walkways are flooded and closed off.




All of the lights were flashing and the sirens were going off while we were there.   The power of the water is hard to even comprehend, the entire river was moving sooooo fast

















Mount Vernon 2011

This week Banana and I went on an overnight field trip with her class to visit Mount Vernon, Jamestown and Yorktown. I did this same trip with Punkin five years ago, and it's so hard to believe that Banana is old enough to go now.  When I went with Punkin, Banana was Boo's age.  I can't even imagine in five years Boo going on this trip. Time sure flies.


Mount Vernon was home to George Washington for more than 45 years, also known as America's First Home.   It is a beautiful mansion restored to it's appearance in 1799, the last year of his life.  It was really incredible to touch the same handrails George Washington touched on the stairways.  So much of the house is still the original woodwork, furniture, colors and decor.  They sure liked bright paint on the walls.   The bed he passed away in is even still there.


George Washington himself planted this tree.    This is the view from the stunning two-story porch that overlooks the Potomac River.
















His burial place on the grounds of Mount Vernon.












A view of Mount Vernon from the river.


We were even able to take a boat ride up and down the Potomac.





At the end of the day, we stayed at a local church and had a fun little sleepover.  Here Banana's teacher is reading the Bible before bed time.  Jamestown and Yorktown pictures coming soon.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Royal Wedding Apparel


I ran up to the school today to bring Banana home for lunch (I love that we can do that since we live so close), and discovered that the class was making some royal wedding attire.  We had watched some of the wedding before school, and she was able to see some more at school too.  Her very fun and creative teacher let them all create their own royal wedding hats.


I remember watching Princess Diana's wedding when I was about Banana's age and I love that she will be able to remember the royal wedding in this way.  Banana made a bird's nest hat, complete with robin eggs!








This is what a fun learning environment looks like - - (check out that floor!)





Tuesday, April 26, 2011

New Covenant Knights Varsity Soccer

Punkin is playing spring soccer this year with school.



Stacey apparently didn't get the memo that it was green day..... neither did I.






Go Mollie!!


Whatcha' lookin' for Maddie?


Punkin is number 11 - same number her Daddy always plays.






Sam is our professional player on the team.....