A Busy Two Months

I can't believe it has been almost two months since my last post.  I have been quite busy, but I still should have had time to post something.  I have no excuses other than I was lazy and didn't feel like writing one word.  I suppose it was partly due to the winter blahs, but also I was feeling a bit down after the elections.  And so I quit my blog.  But after reflecting a bit on how much I enjoyed my little project I have decided to take up my figurative pen and continue.

One of the C-17's

In November our family went out to Ohio to visit friends and we were able to tour Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.  My friend's husband flies the C-17 and we were able to go inside it.  I wish we could have seen the C-5 (a plane he formerly flew) as it would have been quite an experience being inside one of the largest military aircraft in the world, but we were grateful to be able to go on base and tour the plane he now pilots.

An experimental air-craft in the museum on base.

Being on base we were able to go directly to the museum that houses the Presidential and the experimental planes.





Then we headed over to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.  What a wonderful experience for the whole family.  We could have spent days there looking at the first planes to attempt flight and then continuing all the way to those that have been in space.

The plane that dropped the 2nd bomb on Japan and ended the war.

A few days later we headed down to Kentucky to the Creation Museum.  I highly recommend going to it.  It was a bit expensive, but the whole family enjoyed themselves - even the 5 year old.  But then who doesn't like dinosaurs?!





I would suggest going when it is a bit nicer as the weather was cold, even for use North Dakotans, but I did make a friend at the petting zoo.  He was so soft and gentle and I wish I could have taken him home, but I suppose the 1000 mile car ride would have been a bit cramped for the rest of us!





Then December came and I finished the Greek and Roman Mythology class from Coursera and began my yearly cookie and candy baking.  I make 12 different items and hand out my "12 Sweets of Christmas" to family and friends.  Of course we had Advent services to attend with the suppers provided by various groups in the church.  (I so look forward to not having to make a meal Wednesday nights for the family during the month of December.)  Then the kids put on their Christmas service and many of the children played their musical instruments.  My two oldest also contributed and they played the piano, oboe, clarinet and violin.  Not all at once of course!  I am truly blessed to have such talented kids.  We had 2 more 4-H meetings and finished the leathercraft project (they made book marks and used Sharpies to color in the designs) and a Christmas party.  More traveling ensued and we were gone over a week visiting both families.  On the way home our poor car was packed to the ceiling with kids, presents and dogs.

After the whirlwind of activity we are home and beginning our normal routine.  Yes, I am a wicked mom and we started school yesterday (New Year's Eve Day) and had it today too.  Living in the cold climate of North Dakota I feel that it is best to do our school during the coldest months so we can enjoy ourselves when the weather gets nicer.  My goal is to be done with school by the beginning of May and it is a blessed relief to be able to put books away and just enjoy the few precious months we have outdoors.

Now that our life has settled down I will try to be more diligent with my blog.  I have more curriculum to discuss and more recipes to post.  Plus we have 4-H projects coming up.  And so I look forward to writing again.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years.