Whittier College

June 15-22, 2010

I was nauseated driving Emma down to Whittier. She has been away before, but it was always with someone I knew, and it wasn't for a week. I was really nervous driving down there. It got worse as we got closer. Emma wasn't nervous at all, until we got there, then she was a little nervous.



This is Harris Hall at Whittier College, Emma's dorm for the week of Tech Trek.

Inside her dorm room

 We checked in and drove up to the dorms. Emma met her dorm mom Nancy,

and her peer counselor Peggy. We got her all situated in her room and then it

was time for dinner. The girls all left with Peggy to walk down to the cafeteria,

and the parents were told to say good-bye.  She must not have been that
nervous because she didn't even look back when they started walking away!
It was harder for me than it was for her!

Girls Camp

June 11-15, 2010

For girls camp this year, it was ward only. We went to the

Sequoia National Forest. It was beautiful there!



This is a river/pool the girls went swimming in.

This is the river/pool from the other direction

My beautiful daughter, who is growing up WAY too fast!

We also went to some hot springs that turned out to be pretty lame.

There was this great place for swimming though, so it wasn't a total loss.

The girls had a great time!

Tech Trek

March 2010

In the NASA post I talked about the Tech Trek. Tech Trek is a math and science camp for girls going into the 8th grade. You have to be nominated by your math or science teacher. You have to fill out an application and write an essay. You are also interviewed by a panel of women involved in a math or science career. After that, you wait to see if you are selected. If you are selected, you get to spend a week on a college campus, living in the dorms, eating in the cafeteria, and taking classes of your choosing from a list of options.

Emma was CHOSEN!!!

Accepting a certificate from one of the sponsers of the camp.

After the ceremony 

Emma was selected by the panel to receive one of the scholarships to attend

Tech Trek. She was chosen for the camp at Whittier College.

Success!!!

Jacob has been trying to ride the ripstick for a while now.

He was becoming very frustrated, but then one day, he just got it!



Allie's New Wheels

One of Gracie's best friends moved away this summer. 

Before they left she brought her Barbie Jeep over and gave it to Allie.

Allie is having a blast driving this around, thank you Nikki!

California Science Center

April 2012



We went to the California Science Center with
Grandma and Grandpa when they were here.

A truck set up to show how a lever works.

Lifting the truck

My cute kids!

The kids in infrared

Grandma and Grandpa

Jacob is concentrating on his solar powered car race

Playing virtual soccer

Handsome guys!

A flash flood example, it was cool!

We had a great time! There is a ton of stuff to see and do,

and it was free! My favorite price!

Easter Party

Michaels work party Easter celebration!

Grandma and Gracie

 

Michael and Jacob

Allie and Grandma

They do such a great job with this! There are donuts and juice for breakfast, an Easter egg hunt, coloring pages, crafts to make, the Easter bunny, and each child gets a goody bag to take home!

The Cat House

April 2012

At Easter time, Michaels parents came to visit and we went to the cat park. I wasn't expecting much, but it was actually really nice! Click on the link to learn more about it.

The Cat House

Panther

Snow Leopard

I couldn't get over the size of this guys tail!!!

This leopard had his tail amputated because he wouldn't stop chewing on it.

The man working there told us it was like a child sucking their thumb. It was continually infected.

 

Another cool thing we learned about this place, it is the home of Jasmine the lion from

the movie Secondhand Lions (one of my favorites). But we didn't get to see her, so sad!

There are also peacocks roaming about the park. This is a male and a female.

They kept making this LOUD horrendous noise while we were there, the man told us it was mating season and that's how they attract a mate. I don't think I could handle working there during mating season, they are SO loud!!!

A gorgeous tail!

I was trying to take a picture of this one with its tail spread, but the timing was always off. I am happy with this picture though, it is just cool!! 

The Dog House

March 2012

Jacob is helping Michael to build a dog house.

Planting our garden this year.

N.A.S.A.

February 2012

In December Emma was nominated for something called Tech Trek. It is a math and science camp for girls going into the 8th grade. She was nominated by her math and science teacher and she is the only one from her school nominated this year.

All of the girls that were nominated had the opportunity to take a tour of NASA out at the Air Force Base. I was able to go with them and I am SO glad I went. NASA no longer offers tours, except for the Tech Trek groups.

Emma and me with our tour guide Paul. He was the best!







I don't remember most of the names of these planes, but I remember what some of them are used for. This particular one is used for reconnaissance missions. It is able to fly virtually silent.

A one man F18

A few of Emma's friends that were also nominated.

I don't remember the name of this one, but it is used to fly top NASA officials around the world to different places.

When the space shuttle can't land in Florida, it lands here at Edwards AFB. This is the plane that takes the shuttle back to Texas. It is a 747. I don't think I ever thought about how they got the shuttle back to Texas, but I never thought it went like this!

Emma in the F18 simulator. It has a huge screen in front that wraps around the room in a curve, and you are supposed to land your plane on the runway. Emma did VERY well, I was impressed. A few (most) of the other girls made me really glad I was not actually in a plane!!!

This is the Global Hawk. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It is operated by remote, there aren't any seats even if someone wanted to fly in it. It is used for reconnaissance and surveillance.

This is the Ikhana UAV. Click on the link to learn more about it. The white trailer above is where Ikhana is operated from.

This is to teach people about ejection seats and the pressurized suits pilots have to wear. I forgot the instructors name, but he told us that when a pilot ejects from his plane, his spine is compressed 1 inch, and you never get it back! The amount of force used to eject from the plane is tremendous! He also told us that a pilot is usually grounded (no more flying) after three ejections.

It was a long but fun day! As we were leaving NASA, the B2 was out flying!

We don't get to see it very often, it doesn't look like it's flying, it looks like a kite floating!