Fall Ball

.
Another game of baseball tonight! Caleb played third base tonight. He also had two at-bats with a single and a walk. Even though this is non-competitive fall ball, we won tonight's game! The girls took the photos above, they like playing with my camera!

On the Road Again!

Today we brought Sissy back from Oklahoma! Can you tell the little kids missed her! All is right with the world, my babies are home! Abigail read 200+ pages on the ride up and back, Caleb well, Mr. Baseball slept through most of the ride.

TxDOT Dallas Transit

.

Because you can never have too much 'hands-on learning', we also ventured out to the new Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDoT) transportation management center, DalTrans.

.

Our group learned about traffic congestion in larger metropolitan cities and how TxDoT keeps traffic moving. DalTrans operates 175 closed circuit TV cameras, dynamic message signs and vehicle detection units. In their media room we were given a turtorial of TxDoT's responsibility. Then we ventured out on to the floor, to see how they operate the cameras. Can you believe, they can rotate those cameras 360 degrees and zoom for up to 10 miles.

.

There was an accident on a Texas highway (imagine that) and we watched as they dispatched emergency vehicles, re-route traffic using the flashing signs, and send crews out to clean up the highway.

Nasher Sculpture Center Home School Class

We visited the Nasher Sculpture Center today for a fabulous art class! The Nasher Sculpture Center was the personal collection of Raymond & Patsy Nasher. The Nashers collected over 300 pieces and the museum houses between 80 to 90 of those pieces at any one time.

.

One distinguishing feature between the Nasher Sculpture Center and traditional art museums is the sculptures are three dimensional, offering different perspective to each viewer. The Nasher has fantastic pieces by artists, including Henri Matisse (with eleven sculptures), Pablo Picasso (seven), even modern artist like Andy Warhol! Warhol did renderings of Patsy and the Nasher's three daughters. There is also a lovely sculpture garden gallery.

.

In the class today, Caleb and Abigail sketched pieces in the collection with Nasher's Education Coordinator, Ms. Anna. They learned great museum terminology like accession (add) and de-accession (remove)! The class also sculpted their own collections using air-dry putty. After all that inspiration, what did they sculpt . . . . drum-roll, please . . . . Star Wars!

A Thousand Pieces

All three children enjoy putting puzzles together, something they inherited from their Granny! The latest project they completed today, 1,00 piece puzzle with the state of Texas. I'm too OCD to help them, they don't start with the border! Jon enjoys helping them, and yes, he starts with the border!

More Baseball. . .

Our 2nd game was this evening. Even though it's recreational ball, and no official score is kept, we won! Caleb played first base and out field. He had 3 at bats, one strike out, one walk, and a single. Good game!

Fall Ball

.
.
Fall ball has begun. We started out today with 2 hours of ball practice, and finished up the day with Caleb's first game of the season. He played third base and pitched. His team did well, we a are fortunate that he is with a really good group of boys. Padme' enjoyed entertaining the little brothers and sisters.

Uncle Mike & Aunt Misty

Uncle Mike and Aunt Misty came to visit us today! It was so good to see them! We usually only get to spent a small amount of time with them at Christmas. I was so excited this morning because they were coming to visit, I told the kids, "my brother is coming to see us!" Abigail says, "I understand, brothers are special," as she hugged Caleb!! Awwwww, isn't she sweet! Misty's birthday is this week, so we celebrated with a little cake!

Just the facts, ma'am . . .

.
We visited KLTY 94.9 FM radio station for a tour. The people at the radio station were very kind. They toured us around, even letting us in one of the sound booths while weekend personality John Hundson was on-air. He showed us how he does digital re-mixing and programming. The station is a Christian family-friendly station with offices adjoining to their sister station, 660 AM K*SKY Christian talk radio. Oh, I guess I should explain the photo of Abigail . . . she put on one of Caleb's ties, a fedora, and glasses and went to the radio station as a reporter!

Run, Kirkwoods, Run!

.
.

Three days a week we run at 5:30 in the morning. Jon and the big kids run a couple of miles, then Frankie and Caleb take Padme' out for a one mile cool down walk. While the big kids take Padme' out, Jon or I take Abigail out to run for a couple of miles. Some days I want to go without her, so she'll run with Jon. She can go the same distance as the big kids, just not as fast. Mainly because she talks the whole way! The rest of us are gasping for air and she's singing Hannah Montana songs and asking a million questions! She also has to stop for water breaks! As you can see from the photos we are all worn out when we get back!

Fabulous Fall

.

.

Fall has arrived and the weather is just exquisite. Following school today we got in some much needed yard work. I trimmed the hedges while the kids dug up bulbs and weeded. Caleb and Abigail raked up all my clippings and bagged them. At one point Caleb bagged Abigail! As you can see, Padme' was disconcerted with all the commotion! And yes, I was wielding the hedge trimmers but I was wearing my brace, and no one was injured!

Hurricane Ike

.
Even with pending land bound hurricane Ike, we still had baseball practice. I snapped several great shots of the ever moving clouds. Padme' came to Caleb's practice. As you can see, she was really worked up over the strong winds and rain. . . . hmmm!

Psych You Out. . . .

.
.
If we are home on a Friday night, it is fairly certain that we will be watching Psych. The show is about a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara, California Police Department whose "heightened observational skills and impressive detective instincts allow him to convince people that he is psychic. The best part about this show is that Abigail has made up a little dance, or as we CofC's say choreographed, the theme song.