A VISIT TO THE COUNTY AIRPORT

A friend and I had big plans to take the kids (her 1 and my 3) somewhere new and fun (we hoped) yesterday. We thought the place, Jurassic Journey, was in one town and planned for a 40-45 minute drive. As it turns out, it is actually in another town and when we mapped it the approximate travel time was 1 hour 14 minutes. Considering that the designated departure time was 11:30am, we determined that the natives would not be able to handle said drive during lunchtime on empty stomachs, and since the weather was less than ideal we decided to scrap the dino plan.

In an effort to save the day we struggled to come up with a Plan B because we had told the kids that we were going on a special trip and they were excited (lucky for us we hadn't told them any details). Since it was lunchtime we needed somewhere close and after several minutes of throwing ideas around I remembered that our trusty Aunt C had told us that they had once taken a picnic lunch to the County Airport to watch planes take off and land. So, even though the weather was not ideal we decided to give it a try and, although it was windy and a bit chilly, it was a success. Right as we were walking up to the picnic area a plane landed and as an added bonus one of the MedFlight helicopters was at the airport for practice maneuvers which we watched throughout our lunch. After lunch the super nice man working in the airport office took all of us into the hanger and let the kids see the planes, told them a little about them, and let them all sit in one (except Corinne who stubbornly declined). He also told us that we were fortunate to see anything that day because weekdays are slow air traffic days (so for anyone reading this and considering going Saturday mornings are the best day/time to go).

A TRIP TO THE LIBRARY

I have been trying to take the kids to the library once a week or every other week to pick out new books. Jordan is reading very well and loves to get books that she can read by herself. Carson has also been very interested in books lately as he has a fascination with dinosaurs; he likes to look at the pictures and have us read all the facts. So, although they like going to the library to get books, I have a strong suspicion that their main motive for going involves using the library computers. Even Corinne gets in on it and races over to the computers yelling "see Elmo" as soon as we arrive at the library.

"THE SCHOOL BOY"

I love to rise in a summer morn
When the birds sing on every tree;
The distant huntsman winds his horn.
And the skylark sings with me.
O! what sweet company.

But to go to school in a summer morn,
O! it drives all joy away;
Under a cruel eye outworn,
The little ones spend the day
In sighing and dismay.

Ah! then at times I drooping sit,
And spend many an anxious hour,
Nor in my book can I take delight,
Not sit in learning's bower,
Worn thro' with the dreary shower.

How can the bird that is born for joy
Sit in a cage and sing?
How can a child, when fears annoy,
But droop his tender wing,
And forget his youthful spring?

O! father & mother, if buds are nip'd
And blossoms blown away,
And if the tender plants are strip'd
Of their joy in the springing day,
By sorrow and care's dismay,

How shall the summer arise in joy,
Or the summer fruits appear?
Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy,
Or bless the mellowing year,
When the blasts of winter appear?

~William Blake

CHUCK E CHEESE

Two weeks ago the kids and I met Aunt Christy and cousins Tora and Caden at Chuck E Cheese. The kids always have a great time with Tora and Caden, and everyone loves going to CEC. Christy and I spent the time chasing Corinne and Caden, and discussing how quickly 5 kids can burn through 100 tokens (yes, Corinne uses tokens - she thinks that putting the token in the machine IS the game). The 4 older kids are pictured below with Chuck E; Corinne refused to pose with a giant mouse.