Wordless Wednesday

Space. The Final Frontier.

We went to the COOLEST place this past Saturday! The coolest. Ever. Ok, minus Titusville, FL... But still.

We went to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville!! WOOT!!

Andrew has been on a space kick for the past month. He builds rockets with his legos. "Flies" around the living room all the way to the moon (aka his room). I can't tell you how many space shuttle launches we have YouTube'd... He LOVES it all!

 Can you feel the excitement in his face?!

 We didn't tell either of them where we were going - except that it was super cool. Andrew saw a billboard for the Space Center before we turned at the junction and still wasn't completely sure. But he KNEW as soon as he saw a rocket off in the distance. THAT THING IS HUGE! Gotta love the Saturn V!!

 As we turned into the parking lot he saw something else that caught his eye...

WHOA. Space shuttle.

Alex was pretty excited, too! He kept saying "space! space!"

Funny story before I start  sharing pictures: When we got into the line to get our tickets (which thanks to our McWane Center membership - this was FREE!!), Andrew started freaking out. I asked him what was wrong he says, "I don't want to go to the moon!!" I'm sorry, but I busted out laughing at that. I had to explain to him that they don't send people to the moon anymore (boo, lame...) and that we were just going to see what those amazing people did to get there. He calmed down a bit, but was a bit worried again when we headed outside to see the rockets. Too funny.

 Looking at the different rockets  - they are so cute.

 I had to get a picture of this! A wagon with rockets. Classic boy life, right? This is a part of the Wernher von Braun exhibit they have on display right now. 

This is the V-2 Rocket Engine he developed in the 1930s. Awesome.

 In the next section of this building, Jason and Andrew had a blast with the MathAlive! exhibit. Basically, it is an exhibit that shows how math is involved in pretty much everything from sports to music to things used with the International Space Station (like the robotic arms). This is Andrew and Jason trying out a snowboard race.

 Jason and Andrew in the shuttle. Alex trying out all the touch screens.

 Andrew checking out a "super cool rocket" (his words - so cute. he like screamed it, too.)

He loved to watch these rovers. Some of them moved their cameras around and he would laugh and try to hid when one of the cameras "found him." Too funny.

 Saturn I Rocket

 A portion of the GIGANTIC Saturn V rocket - amazing

 Saturn V engines - I am such a nerd. I think that these are just so amazing. Beautiful engineering. Seriously. 

 Discovery - so proud of Andrew for remembering what I taught him about the fuel tank and rocket boosters. He knew what was what and what came off first. I am so sad I will never get to see a shuttle launch...that was on my bucket list, NASA... 

This is where Andrew got nervous again about going to the moon. Alex, Daddy and I all got into the space capsule. But Andrew wanted no part of that. 

 Look at that! Amazing! 

 Alex thought this moon car was pretty cool!

 And Andrew loved the lunar lander!

This guy though...they weren't too excited about. Thought, after I watched that scene in E.T. when they had guys wearing space suits go into the house...yeah, that was a little scary. But, the boys haven't seen that movie yet. Maybe it is because you can't see his face?? Still it is pretty cool.

I had to include this! After the astronauts get back to earth, they are quarantined immediately until everything has been checkout. This is a game they had set up in the quarantine unit. HA! Awesome.

It was such a fun day!! We all had a blast. The boys, of course, got a souvenir. 

 They got their very own space shuttles!

So, do you think we will ever go back to the moon? Think we will send someone to Mars? 

I think so...one day...

Who Am I?

Last Wednesday was a day full of costumes. Actually, these guys play "dress up" a lot. But, I think because we were headed to a Halloween party where they were going to try out their costumes that I made. Here are some pictures of the fun leading up to the party:

 

Alex and Andrew dressed as firemen. It cracks me up that Andrew refuses to wear the yellow fire hat. He says they wear red ones. Yet, we got black ones from the fire station when we visited. So, I don't know. Isn't that funny? 

Now here (from the top left, going clockwise), Andrew is a construction worker. Alex is a police man - complete with his sheriff's star. Then, Andrew decides to go exploring. While exploring, he found his engineer hat (thanks Grandpa Dave!) and start diving his train. Alex takes a peek through the binoculars, but find nothing interesting so hands them back to Andrew -- who found the triangle! "DINNER!!!!!!!"

Now who is ready to see the 2 most adorable --- er, spooky ghosts EVER?! 

 AHHHH!!!! Are they not the cutest?! Sorry, but they SO are!

 I LOVE IT!!!

And! HA! No one confused them for angels... We were going to the Church for the potluck, so ya know. But, we saw Father W pop in for a bit to say hi and he even said "spooky ghosts!" 

Andrew kept his on the whole time. Alex was over it after I took pictures. I have to altar his a bit, as you can see from the picture. It was tricky to figure out the ghost costumes without having stuff over their heads - too dangerous for toddlers in my opinion. But, I saw this tutorial and made it my own. It's a no-sew pattern, but with as much as they are going to wear them I chose to sew it for extra toddler-strength. 

So, what are you kids going to be for Halloween??

Want to know how we stock our dress up box? Wait a few days after Halloween and get those cheap-o costumes on clearance!! That fireman jacket (came with the yellow fire hat) was $3 when I got it last year - 70% off!! That was day 3 after Halloween. And it is a NICE hat - hard, hard plastic. We also find stuff in the dollar spot (the red fire hat, police hat, and construction hat - all $1) and in the party favor section (pirate eye patches, sunglasses, etc - packs of #s for $2 or so). I also try to get random fun items at consignment sales. Like the vest for $2 (from Andrew's costume last year - he was Dino Dan) Cheap fun!

Any secrets to stocking your dress up clothes?

Simples Things

little. tiny. feet. 

Wordless Wednesday

Meet Frank and Spooky

Did you see those pumpkins the boys picked out at the patch this weekend? They were perfect for carving!

LOL Carve that pumpkin!

 Got the top off - time to clean it out. Ew, it's brains!!! LOL

 Alex was SO quiet while watching his Daddy clean up the pumpkin.

While he finished up hollowing out the pumpkins, I pulled up some easy pictures on the computer for the boys to choose from. Alex wanted a "guy" (aka a skeleton head - why he says it's a guy, I have no idea...). Andrew asked for a scary but happy face. Hmmm....

I drew them on while the cookies were baking.

 Cookies are the perfect treat during a pumpkin carving session!

Time to carve!! Jason did a great job!!

 Watching carefully as Daddy turns the pumpkin into....

 Jack O'Lanterns!!!!!
We would like to introduce Frank (on the left) and Spooky (right)!!
Cute!!

Mmmwwuuhahahahaha!
(that's a spooky laugh - go on... you know you wanna do it!)

 ~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn something today? Keep reading.

Halloween is NOT an evil holiday. It is MADE to appear that way by some due to media, Hollywood, and stupid people in this world who are just as miserable as can be. It actually has a very interesting history behind it. Google it sometime. There are lots of things that you can do to make this a FUN and SAFE holiday for your family and children. I'm sure your community has a lot to offer. Ask your local community center/town hall/etc for information. Read a few local blogs. The festivities are endless! Our whole week is packed with so much fun -- I cannot wait!

From Catholic.org:
"The vigil of the Feast (the eve) has come, in the English speaking world, to be known as "All Hallows Eve" or Halloween. While some consider Halloween to be "pagan" in origin it is actually the eve of the great Christian Feast of All Saints. Many of the customs which surround it reflect the Christian confidence in our triumph over death in Christ and our bold rejection of the claim that evil has any more power over us."

The morning after Halloween for us is a Holy Day of Obligation - All Saints' Day. And, yes, we will be attending Mass. On this day we honor all those who are in Heaven. Want to learn more? Click here.

The day after, All Souls' Day, is not an obligation, but a prayer will be added in our day for the souls in Purgatory on their way to Heaven.