Sports Schedules Posted

Allright! Soccer & Baseball schedules posted for our Busy Boys! Now if Derek & I can just keep up we'll be doing great... So marvelous that Aletha got to come see both boys play on their first Spring soccer games, and the weather was mostly decent for it (if it weren't for that occasional icy wind I'd way it was perfect!)

BACK TO CORVALLIS

They made it back home, safe & sound, tired but exhilarated. Lots of stories, lots of pictures. Now Alex gets to work on his DC Scrap Book for school!

DC Day 8! (Thursday)

While we are soggy & wet & dismal & cold, Derek sent me a text announcing it's sunny & 70 degrees in DC!! I'm so grateful they had some good weather!

They went to the Pentagon|9-11 Memorial today (in the photo Alex & good buddy are checking out one of the 'benches' bearing the name of someone who lost their life on 9-11.

Derek got to take a group in to see the Senate operate (should I have that word in quotes?) ... it took two separate security sweeps where he had to remove his belt, so pretty tight security there!

Arlington cemetery where they and a buhzillion onlookers saw the changing of the guard, Iwo Jima, Washington Cathedral, and a stroll through the National Zoo where the 7th graders were let off the leash to explore. More night hikes & kid presentations, dinner at Union Station again, then back to the hotel rooms so everyone could start packing up. Hopefully Alex can fit his stuff plus any new DC commemorative "booty" in his suitcase :)

Teachers/chaperones have been complimented all along that this class is so polite & has such good behavior. They even got a compliment from public transit after getting on the Metro one morning, the driver came on the PA system & announced "The large group that just got on the train - nice job, thank you."

DC Crew up at 5am tomorrow to finish packing & move out of the rooms, then it's a travel day and we expect the yellow school bus to roll back into town around 7:30pm Friday! I for one can't wait to see my boys!!

DC Day 7! (Wednesday)

Alex at the National Gallery of Art with one of his roomies, looking at his notebook, & wearing a mischevious half-smile at the Botanical Garden. After exploring the art museum for a good long time today they had 90 mins of "free time" wherever they wanted to go, as long as it was in groups. Derek's group chose the Botanical garden and Derek enjoyed sitting on a bench with his shoes of while the boys explored the garden! Here it looks like Alex enjoyed the bench a little bit too.

Arlington Cemetery, National Japanese Memorial, followed by their first diner out (Union Station). Derek enjoyed a fab tuna fish sandwich and apple... he said the food has been more processed than he likes so it was a treat to go out and buy something specific!

Now they're gearing up for a night tour of the Memorials (Korean War, Lincoln, FDR, & Jefferson) and they're expecting to get back to their rooms by 10:30 Eastern time... another long day! Derek's been calling it a "Death March".

Hard to believe there's only one last full day, then Friday is the travel day... I wonder if kids remembered to pack something GREEN for St Patty's Day? I tucked a sheet of shamrock stickers into Alex's suitcase & slipped more to the teachers, so hopefully everyone who wants to be covered can wear green. Some of those 7th graders might choose to "forget" in hopes of getting pinched!

DC Day 6! (Tuesday)

Holocaust Museum today. This was Alex's presentation... but because they don't allow groups to stand around & speak with amplifiers (microphones) he didn't give his speech in the building, but back in the hotel during "class time". They did not explore the entire place and the chaperones were instructed to avoid specific rooms that were too intense (let the kids go back there & have their parents with them to handle those horrible images). Alex bought some sort of "remembrance pin" in the gift shop. Derek said it was a very sobering place and the kids all sure did some heavy thinking and discussing. The main hall is designed to look like a giant brick oven.

2 trips to the Kennedy Center today. Possibly Derek's least favorite place so far because it's so fancy schmancy, hands-off, no touching of the precious art!

They were scheduled to take a night tour of the memorials but shuffled plans due to Rain. Hopefully drier weather tomorrow night.

Derek's boys were a bit mellow this evening, everyone sank down onto beds & chairs in the hotel room to read.... it's been a busy busy lots of walking trip that might have caught up to them today :) But Derek said "Alex is having an awesome time". I'm thrilled to see his face in some of the official blog pics! Karen said she was beginning to wonder if he & Derek were even

on that trip, and I'd been thinking the same thing! Come on mister camara man, how about some variety! I'm so glad he's doing that blog though, I eat it up like candy every night.... no wait I don't really care for candy... I eat it up like it's Dark Chocolate!

Wednesday, then Thursday, then Friday travel back home, expected to arrive back at Corvallis at 7:30pm

DC Days 4 & 5! (Sunday & Monday)

US Navy Memorial & Shopping. They each took no more than $50 spending money and get a chance to buy souveniers that catch their eyes. The kids found fun sunglasses they're all wearing, along with snazzy DC ball caps! I can't wait to see what little goodies they come back with.

Supreme Court! They learned that there's a higher court than the Supreme one ... turns out they have a basketball court on the roof so THAT'S the highest court in the land! Hopefully this is the one & only time any of my family sits in that building!

US Botanic Garden (only 30 mins!)

Museum of the American Indian (only 30 mins!!!!!! Alex was very disappointed and wanted to explore way more of this... I don't blame him, I could be happy skipping every other thing on this tour & just hang out in this building!)

Millennium Stage - Dance from India (beautiful, wonderful show, very cool performance but they're running around so much that poor Alex fell asleep & Derek nodded off!!)

DC Days 2 & 3!

CASEY DIVING! & SLEEPOVER BUDDY & CASEY MAKES PLANKTON

Adventure, adventure, adventure... the 7th graders are exploring, learning, and eating! The 7th graders cook their own dinner, Derek says tonight they had "clumpy noodles, cold meatballs, "bite" sized lettuce the size of saucers, but it's the best meal!"

I haven't seen enough pictures of Alex on the official Franklin blog so hopefully he'll start dashing in front of the camara for the remaining days!! I look forward to seeing what treasures are on Derek's camara, & what's on Alex's!! What does a 12-almost-13-yr old take pictures of in Washington DC? We're about to find out! My mom always said "put a person in there!" Years later you won't remember where that giant tree was, or the big rock, or the majestic mountain (ok maybe you'll remember that one) but if someone dear is standing in front of it--that's a picture! And I dare say the majestic mountain is better off with a beloved in front of it too...

Casey and I had an adventure of our own. Went to Newport Saturday afternoon & let the pups run around on the beach, then we went to the aquarium for a "sleepover" which ended up being much more than that! We got a special tour while the kids did a scavenger hunt, room by neato room. Then they sat in small groups and manipulated pieces of kitchen sponge, clay, straws, and toothpicks to create Plankton that would float just beneath the surface of water (see photo!) Then it was off to the shark tunnel where we lined our sleeping bags up & tucked children into "bed" (see second photo). Followed by lights out and many many many many many minutes of whispers, giggles, inappropriate body sounds, laughter, then finally all was quiet except for the sounds of snores from the various fathers scattered around the tunnel. Did I mention all of these sounds echo fabulously in the tunnel? I think all in all I might have slept for 12 mins or so...

Then up & at 'em for Daylight Savings Time, and a very special treat of behind-the-scenes in the aviary and seal/sea lion feeding which was extremely cool!!! We saw the creatures doing tricks and earning treats, leaping out of the water, it was like a mini Sea World visit. Cutest of all was the seal baby which started out following the verbal & visual cues very closely and then just blew off its trainer to swim around the pool : ) The overnight stay came with free admission today, so after a night in the aquarium we went back for more! Extremely fun, super fun and I'm so glad we went!! (see photo!)

DC Day 1!

White House Tour! After much waiting in line, the group was told that Franklin was on the tour list but not the individual Students. So un-line. Then re-line because they sorted it out! One of the 7th graders asked if Obama was in the white house, a security dude corrected his too-casual question "do you mean President Obama? He's at his desk working." Derek said it was interesting but they filed thru pretty quickly.

Numerous war memorials later (sobering) everyone was back at the hotel for dinner. The kids make their dinners in the kitchenette; tonight Alex browned/seasoned taco meat while other kids chopped veggies so they could eat Tacos.

Alex called me when they got in LATE LAST NIGHT (I think all the kids had dropped off to sleep by 1 or 2am Eastern time...) and he called me again tonight. He is having a very good time, they were cold walking around today especially at the Washington monument which is on a hill.. but they are DRY. He didn't say specifically that he missed ME but evidently he does miss the DOGS and wondered what exuberant welcome he could expect from them!

Casey and I hung out after school to play, like we nearly always do, but I told him we could stay AS LONG AS HE WANTED so we pretty much shut that place down, even the office was closed! Then we went up to Albany for Burgerville (Casey's request) so he could get ice cream and soda (two very special treats!!) We've been having a very good time just us two :)

tomorrow (Saturday)... National Archives, Natural History Museum, Lunch at Old Post Office Pavillion, American History Museum, Millennium State "Puppets from India" !

DC Travel Day!

Casey & I took Alex & Derek to school this morning at 7:30, got hugs and Casey had big old tears in his eyes!! His 2nd grade teacher was gonna watch extra close today to make sure he was feeling ok. We'll have our own adventures here on our coast but we miss them already!

It's almost 2 and they're up in the air still on their way to a layover in Denver. Hopefully the backpack full of beef jerky, leftover pizza, Goji bars, sunflower seeds, popcorn, etc etc etc will tide Alex over for lunch and dinner, they don't expect to get to the hotel room in DC until 10 or 11 tonight!

Friday 03/11 is their first DC Adventure Day! They plan to get up at 7:00 for breakfast at the hotel, then a White House tour, Lafayette Square Eisenhower Exe Office Building, Zero Milestone Boy Scout Mem, stop to eat sack lunches at the Ellipse, then Washington Monument, Korean War Memorial, World War II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Einstein National Academy of Sciences, then back to the hotel for dinner and lights out at 9:30.

WOW!

Follow their blog on: http://2011franklindctrip.blogspot.com/

Boys Soccer Schedule posted

I don't know yet what games I'm Ref-ing so will add those times later. Practices start after Spring Break which is sure coming up fast!

My biggest boys are gearing up for their Washington DC trip, they leave Thursday morning bright and early!! Alex had a headache/sore throat all weekend so stayed home today to Recoup! Gotta be healthy for the big trip! His teachers were appreciative that he kept those germs at home, I'm wishing the other families had done the same last week (I spoke with several parents this morning who said "oh yeah, my so-&-so had that same thing last week!")

Casey and I will help our handiman install sliding glass doors on Saturday, then head to the Newport Aquarium for an exciting night ....... we'll be 2 of 20 people allowed in after hours to explore and (try to) sleep in the Shark Tunnel!! Bwa ha haaaaa!! Then we get to see all the aquarium critters being fed Sunday morning, before the Public is allowed in. I think Sunday we'll try to crash Vancouver & hang with our Wester-friends but they don't know about it yet...

Washington DC updates to follow!