2024 Solar Eclipse

I saw a solar eclipse through box pinhole when I was little.  (My Mom made sure we saw it.) I had no idea how neat it was and just kind on said, "Oh cool."  Then we went to the one in Idaho 7 years ago and I realized how neat it really is.  After that one, Jer asked Margaret if we could do an Eclipse party with them when the 2024 one came around.  We joked about how Ada could do a lot of the driving cause she would be 16 at that point.  And now that it's past... she did do a lot of the driving and it was really cool.  I love how the colors and temperature changes just before the eclipse.  I love the shadow snakes and most of all, I love sharing it with my kiddos. I'm grateful for a Mom that took time to point out neat things going on.  I'm grateful for a husband that's up for adventure.  I'm grateful that the kids think most of what we do is fun.

Seth was showing Hal how to make shadows on the ground to see the eclipse.

Cy wore both his regular glasses and his eclipse glasses. Cutie pie.

It was hard to pull Seth out to watch the eclipse.  He wanted to play on his cousin's arcade machine. He did eventually come watch.

Grace watching in style.

I think this is my favorite. Seth was standing like a superhero, so I asked him to pose... the rest of these guys heard me and joined in. Hehehehehehehe.

Watching shadow snakes.

The full corona with a very rare solar prominence. (the red blip)

 

Tarkingtons

 

It was a fun and busy whirlwind visit. I loved seeing the kids play with the Tarkingtons, Clary's and James Robertson cousins.

Ada took a fall from the tree swing and had to go clean up.

These guys took a run in the park nearby.

Clary family and Conference

We drove right out to the Clary's house.  We watched conference with them, had dinner and chatted.  

Unfortunately, this many people on the trampoline, Ada tripped and smacked her head on the metal bar.  Ow.

 

Eclipse trip

The 2024 total eclipse was going to be over the Tarkington's home. So, after the last daycare kid left on Friday, we headed out for our 25 hour drive. Mary let us know that the I-80 was closed with storms, so after a prayer, we left over the Colorado pass. It was snowy and slippery, but not the worst time we've been over the pass. We drove as far as we could that night and found a hotel just before Denver.  Saturday there was a severe windstorm warning for Colorado and Kansas. Half the day was nice easy driving.  The other half was fighting a dust storm across Kansas and taking back roads before the freeway was open again.

There was a random alien gas station that we stopped at to use the bathroom. 

I thought that the dust storms in Kansas were beautiful and that the sound of the wind was eerie and definitely sounded like the Wizard of Oz.

Ada's windblown hair.  We'd stopped to switch drivers and this is what we ended up with.

 

Wisdom

Ada had her wisdom teeth out.  She lost all control of her body but kept insisting that she had to stand up and walk on the treadmill. My favorite thing that she said was that after she got the anesthesia she asked the anesthesiologist if he had done a primary assessment. When I told her that I didn't want her walking on the treadmill so she didn't hit her head and end up in the ER she said, "Well I could help them do a primary assessment. I know how..." and the she described each step.  Her healing has gone pretty well. She's taken good care of her mouth.  Seth kept asking how long "the funny" was going to last.

 

random

The Komen's came over for a game night and pointed out that Sam and Jer accidentally matched.

Sam's first parking job.  Not bad.