Flat Stanley and the Museum of Flight

Our sweet cousin Lily sent us Flat Stanley in the mail.  We had to show Flat Stanley around the area we live and take him fun places.  He just happened to show up when we had a field trip, gymnastics and volunteer time at the school.  So we took him with us.  I think he had a lot of fun and I know the kiddos had a blast with him.  There were lots of other things he did with us too because he hitched a ride in the pocket of my purse.  Of course we didn't get pictures everywhere, but here are a few we did get.  

Here is Sydney in her Kindergarten class.  Flat Stanley and I helped out at their centers.  This one they were stamping parts of words with pictures and filling in the blanks.  

After our visit to the museum Abby and I stopped by Dave's office and had a picture with the giant AFLAC duck.  Flat Stanley also got to sit in Dave's chair behind the big desk.  

Here is Jacob and Sydney at the start of gymnastics.  They both take and so does Abby on a different day.  Flat Stanley had great balance when he was laying down.

At the beginning of the museum.  It looks promising.  

A little blurry.  This is Abby in front of a giant parachute.  I really liked how bright it is.  My guess is so you could see it.  But it's just a guess.

In the cockpit of a blackbird.  I think that's what it was called.  Anyway a little too cozy for my comfort.  

Abby even went into space.  Just for a short while.   

In front of a space capsule.  Way to tiny for floating around outer space.  I would definitely need more room to float around.  Who am I kidding?  I can't even fly on airplanes with out stressing out.  

Moon buggy or rover or car.  Whatever it's called.  It was pretty cool.

This is an old Air Force One.  I think it was from the '70's or early '80's.  It was cool to go in and see.  They had tables and chairs, TV's, bunks that folded down.  Kitchen areas.  There was a bathroom complete with shower.  Oddly though the area with the toilets, still really small.  I guess you really don't need too much leg room but still.  You can't fit too many people on it but it would be a more relaxing way to fly.  

Here is Abby and her friend Megan (also Flat Stanley) about to board the Concorde.  I was really surprised at how skinny it was inside.  Really long.  Seats were 2 and 2.  I'm guessing the whole plane was pretty much 1st class since tickets cost $6000 - $12,000 one way.  I think the seats at the back of the plane were the cheap ones even though they all looked the same.  There were some plaques in there that also said the plane flew so fast that it actually stretched in the air.  Crazy. Sounds like my kind of flight.  Instead of 6 hours to England it was 3.  They also were only allowed to fly over seas because they caused the sonic bomb.  Or breaking the sound barrier.  I'm never sure if I use the right words.  I'm sort of the goonies mom. (you know what I mean if you've seen the movie.  If not...I recommend seeing it.)

One of the Blue Angels planes.  There were all sorts of other kinds of planes, helicopters,  jets, biplanes, gliders, you name it.  If you are ever up in Seattle I'd suggest going and taking a peek.  It was pretty cool.
I thought a lot about my Grandpa Rich while I was at the museum and how much he would have loved to be there.  He loves planes and everything flying.  I wish my kids could have known him.  Jacob is writing a report on Orville Wright, and I bet my grandpa would have had fun talking to Jacob about the planes.  

We had a fabulous time hanging with our friends and Flat Stanley.  I can't wait to take the rest of my kids to the museum.  I also hope Lily and her class enjoy our adventures.  

Another year gone by...

Here we are another year gone by.  I can't believe that my baby is 4.  That is her showing us how big she is.  I can remember the day exactly.  Abby was my last baby and my very first induction.  I had never been able to prepare for a baby to come.  They usually came all on their own.  We lived 1 hour from the hospital in Portland.  I was wanting to have the Dr. who delivered Noah to deliver Abby because he is awesome.  So he decided to induce because I have quick labors.  So 3 weeks early we went in on a Wednesday at 1:00.  We were ready.  They got me all hooked up and Dave and I started watching a movie.

The nurse kept checking on us to make sure I was doing ok.  I wasn't in pain or anything but according to their monitors I was in labor.  So after a couple of hours she came in and upped the pitocin.  She wanted me to deliver by the end of her shift which was 7.  Otherwise she would have to stay late.  She was nice about it, joking really so we were all in a good mood.  About 20 minutes after she upped the dose of piton things started working.  I called her in... We shut off the movie, and called the Dr.  He came over and got all ready in his scrubs and birthing shoes.  Made me laugh a little bit.  And sort of grossed me out.  But I bet he saves a lot of money on buying shoes he messes up.  

We got to work, and by we I mean me.  Dave is awesome as always and my mom too.  She has been at the birth of all my kids.  They kept me focused and Dave kept giving me my ice chips.  Finally, and by that I mean 4 1/2 hours after they first hooked me up to the pitocin our sweetest baby was born.  At 6:40 pm so the nurse got her wish and was able to go home on time.  

She reminded me a lot of Jacob and so as I looked at her I had a hard time deciding who she was.  Was she Abigail or was she Laurel?  Finally I spent the whole night with my sweet baby girl and knew she was definitely Abby.  So that is what we named her, one day later...Abigail Laurel Hannant.  What a blessing she has been.

Here she is showing us how old she is now.  The big 4.  I'm sorry I fixed the picture in my photos to be upright and blogger switched it back and I am just challenged enough to not know how to fix it.  I'll work on.  It might get fixed someday.  

Here are the start of her gifts.  She got a set of Princess story books.  

Again challenged.  Here is her new princess CD player with special princess songs.  She loves it and dances around to it.  So cute.  I know, I know... Still she is soooooo cute.  

This is her Tinkerbell art easel.  Abby loves to draw and paint and make a mess so this is perfect for her.  

I think this is her favorite toy.  It is a puppy that walks and barks.  If she puts her  (she named her Lucy, all her toys are named Lucy) down she walks back to her and makes Abby so happy.

The final present is Skipper and her little sister Chelsea.  Abby says Sydney is Skipper and she is the Chelsea doll.  

Abby wanted a Dora cake for her birthday for the second year in a row.  I couldn't stand to do the same thing again so here are her Dora Cupcakes.  They were fun to make and tasty too.

A close up.  

So challenged.  Sorry.  Here is Abigail blowing out her candles which read ABIGAIL.  I know she was only 4, but I couldn't find ABBY.  I guess I should have gotten one that said BABY, but I didn't think about that at the time.

We had a wonderful day with miss Abby and the cupcakes went really fast.  I think Abby ate 4 on her own.  Ok she only eats the frosting, but who doesn't?