Spotting Andrew

If you need me over the next 4 days I will likely be at the computer watching ("Spotting") Andrew via his SPOT GPS tracking device. I know what your thinking and it is probably one of two things. First, what are you talking about? or Sounds a little bit much right? Probably but whatever lets you sleep at night (and in this case me) works. 

For those who asked the first question here are the details:

Andrew is off for the next 4 days doing a mountaineering course. I know he will be doing dangerous things which require too much safety equipment and and ice axes up on a glacier. Truth is he will probably die. I am now creating his funeral program for next Thursday. Joking aside it make me nervous because their there is no cell service and there is no way for me to know that there is a problem until after he hasn't returned home. Andrew and his parents love me very much. They are very patient and kind with my nervous tendencies and for his birthday one year they got him a SPOT and I love it.

It lets me track him online and he can send my 1 of 3 pre-programmed messages. One is a generic I'm having a great time and I miss you and the kids.  The second is I am running behind schedule but I am fine.  The third basically says I am in big trouble and I have sent for rescue.  Thankfully, I have never received that message.

Here is what I see:

This what the screen looks like that sends me his auto-pinged location.

Then when he checks in it sends me the message  and his location at the time of the check-in.

It's kinda fun and it's super helpful especially when he is off hiking and camping by himself.  

Hannah and Nathanael

As I look through photos and watch the kids play, I've begun noticing that certain sibling pair up.  Yes they all love each other but they also tend to pair off for different things.  I remember distinctly the pairing off with my own siblings.  It's one of the reasons that the loss from 4 to 3 is so difficult. This is my own thoughts my sisters might not agree.  Anyway, I love watching the pairs and seeing what it is that goes on.  Recently (over the last couple of months), Hannah and Nathanael have popped up together in a bunch of pictures.

He does everything she does including brushing his teeth and getting his jammies on.

Snuggling together when sick.

She is always talking Nathanael into doing something goofy.

She takes very good care of him.  Thankfully he will let her do almost anything that needs to be done, like taking off muddy pants before coming in.

Favorite School Pictures from May

 

Ethan has decided that he LOVES reading like Hannah.  They will often sit side by side reading together.  Each with their own book and reading aloud. 

Wednesday Morning Art with Ben.  This was one of their favorite art activities for the last little while.  When we are in the car driving they point out every time they see Lupines on the side of the road. 

Hannah at the share fair at school.  Think science fair but not limited to science.

Ethan at the share fair.  The both did projects about space.  Originally it was just Hannah but then Ethan also wanted to do space.  Win for me.

Moses and Hannah. Moses did a diorama about "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe".  It was fantastic but you can barely see it behind his head in this picture.

I love how Hannah and Ben are leaned into each other.

Drawing bean plants.  The sprouted beans and then drew about how it looked.

Oceans and continent puzzles.  Doing puzzles with Nathanael is not fun.  So I can appreciate the level of patience seen in this picture.

Working in their math books.  They like math but they don't always enjoying practicing in their books.