Space and Aviation

 No this is not an emergency landing, it's the entrance to the Space and Aviation museum in Mcminville! I was looking through our pictures of the last several months and realized we've done several fun field trips together since school started for us 3 months ago. This was one of the first back at the beginning of September.

 We had lunch out front near this bomber.

 This small one man craft sits in the movie theater, a 3D version with a screen and sound like OMSI's. We were to watch one on Jerusalem but the intro started off with an advertisement for another they were showing later on "monsters of the skies" (flying dinosaurs). There was a sudden and unanimous decision by all the small people in our party that this was NOT were they wanted to be , and we were thankful to have picked an exit door to sit by.

 We moved on to the Space center portion (the museums are split into 4 different buildings)and found this is a rep. of the first Mars rover that was sent. Completely controlled by computer signals from the command center on earth, it took 20 minutes for a command to reach between the two. At one point in the mission they had programed it to move forward straight ahead 500 yards or so and then found it had hit soft sand and was instead digging it's self in deeper and deeper. It was a very interesting documentary of the processes they went through to make it work. And there were no little green men not even enough moisture for them to think there could have been life at some time but it was interesting to see the surface of a planet and wonder what God's purpose was in putting them out there.

 A full size space rocket.

 A return module being lifted from the ocean by a navy helicopter.

 One massive rocket engine
 (I think I have that right)

 A moon buggy.

And an upstairs view of the first manned craft to land on the moon.

 Phi wanted his picture by this model of a Moon Rocket.

 This museum is a mix of space and aviation, I guess it had a lot of helicopters more so. Phi is observing a one man helicopter that I can't imagine flying. It said they were flown ...but never became too popular. :)  It's basically a flying seat and the control arm hangs down from above in front of the rider...seems it would be a bit breezy to say the least.

 This the other interesting one man "Flying Platform" as it was called. The rider stands in the metal cage in the center with his feet on the designated spots and then can "fly" for short distances. They were made for one of the wars when the military was searching for something to move their troops over mine fields. There were several made but they also, for reasons uncertain, never became widely used. :)

 Apparently we are one hot family!! :P

 Our family picture on an infrared, heat sensing, camera.

 Here's a better one for ya'. :)

One engine of the "Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird that can fly at speeds of over 2,000 miles per hour" (i copied that off the web page and I'm pretty sure this is the right jet, their informational signs were not as informational as they could be, and I also didn't have time to read and compute all, either, to be fair.)

 This is the jet that said it's wheels lasted for very few landings and then had to be replaced.

And below is a satellite that was hanging around as we left.

 Out front of this building are some very fun play structures in the shape of a rocket, a helicopter, and...

 a bi-plane ( that's the back side)

 One of the kids favorite places for sure.

 We started on the second building, but ran out of time for this trip. We didn't feel bad, as a 1 year membership is cheaper for us than a one time visit so we knew we would be back some time.

Ethan and his bi-plane, 

he even got the lady on the wing!

 This kid specific section is in the front of the Spruce Goose building. It had to be for another visit as we were out of time. We had been reading about the Wright Brothers and this was a fun field trip to build on that, and it worked in with a job of Mr. Tech's which made it even more enjoyable! Time together is always such a blessing!

Frosty Science

Our curriculum arrived last week and the kids began begging to start school again! 

I did a Timberdoodle Complete Core set for this year, I customized it by leaving out of few things and adding on a few more, like Horizon math,that I like better. They are really great at working with you and it takes away some of the stress to have things pre-picked to cover most subjects! 

 

 These are all educational games that are included (other than Chutes n Ladders that was accidentally in the picture) no wonder they wanted to get started! :)

This is also a piece of the Complete Core set, so cool! It kept them all busy for most of this evening accomplishing the first model!

Not sure why they are all shirtless, possibly it aids the mind... ;P

 Here is the finished product, it even has an engine installed that does forward and reverse! Coolness if you ask me! :)

Timberdoodle also includes a schedule that tells you how many pages you should do per week and per day to finish each book in an average school year. Very helpful! We started early so we will have more freedom throughout the year to take days off for other things! 

 And now for the chocolate! :) Science is necessary and when it includes chocolate that's even better!

Saw a sorbet version of this on line that gave the basic idea, but I think our version is much better! :)

So you start with:

 Chocolate milk*

 A Gallon bag half full of ice cubes**

 Salt ***

And a few extra little bags that will seal tight and fit inside the gallon bag. 

*(doesn't have to be Darigold)

** (a great idea for when your automatic freezer ice cube tray is getting too full) :D

***(doesn't have to be course salt that's just what I had the most of, I believe in the original version they just used normal table salt)

 Shake your Chocolate good!

Pour 1/2 cup of Salt 

 Fill your baggie with Chocolate milk and seal it good!!

 Put it in the ice cube bag and bury it.

 add the Salt

 And shake it all around in there for about 5 to 10 minutes depending how firm you want it.

 I found that sometimes the outside hardens first and there will still be a pocket of liquid inside. Just squish it around a bit and so the solid and liquid mix again. Return to the bag of ice again for another 2 minutes!

 And presto! soft serve!

 I emptied mine out and decorated it, just cause. But you can eat it right out of the bag too, just depends how long you've been craving chocolate ... ;)

Apparently the science behind it is that the salt forces the ice cube to melt quicker, which requires more heat. So the ice takes it out of the liquid milk and ya" get your ice cream quicker! That's what I got out of it anyway...

 New writing pens for our old chalk/dry erase board = fun!

 Sissy's the draw-er and Ethan is the eraser man...some days that's fun other days not so much. :)

And that brings us up to this evening, though when I up loaded these I saw that I have never posted about our fun beach trip with all the cousins that lasted several days! That will definitely have to wait for another day or days as the case may be.

This n That...

This is a post of random pictures from the last few days. We spent a fun evening roasting hot dogs and such in AJ n Ruth's back yard for AJ's b-day and  a Father's day get together Saturday evening. But of course I forgot the camera... Anyway here are a few things I've captured over the last couple days.

 Sissy  with Bubboo enjoying a ride in her dolly stroller. 

These two spend a lot time hanging out together.

 This is the 'making cookies" crew. Marcus is there with his ever present bike helmet. ..He wears it almost continuously these days, from AM till night except meeting time. .It probably looks a little strange in the grocery store but someday he will look back and laugh about it. :) Yesterday he found Daddy's hardhat and that is the hat of choice for today..

 I love the view from this wheat field.

Yesterday evening after a day of mixed thunderstorms and scattered showers we enjoyed a beautiful evening, without even the ever present breeze we usually have.

 It was Ethan's turn for some pictures.

The colors were so vibrant as sunset was nearing.

 His hardhat and bits of a robin egg he found.

 This road leads to the empty hay field...

Phi bought himself a "new" baseball at a garage sale last weekend and he was excited to be able to 'try" it out.

 The large open field gave great opportunity for that.

 Almost got it!

And here is our overgrown puppy Ivan patiently waiting for us back at home.

Enjoying Psalm 37 for today:

Delight thyself also in the Lord;

 and HE shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the Lord;

trust also in Him and HE shall bring it to pass.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently or HIM...