Sterner Family | Made of Sterner Stuff

Road Trip 2013 – Part 5 – Dulles

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Robert

We went to Dulles on the way from Baltimore to North Carolina to see the National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. If you don’t know what that is just imagine planes, lots of them, in a giant building. Oh, and also a space shuttle and a bunch of rockets. Its pure awesome.

Can't skip out on getting a smashed penny.

Just some of the planes, including some biplanes

A Boeing 707 from way back when

The Enola Gay, plane that dropped the the first atomic bomb.

More about the plane

So very different from todays stealth bombers and such

They also restore planes there. Here's some waiting for work.

What that, oh its just a Space Shuttle

Discovery is the shuttle we saw launch when Kendra was pregnant with Levi.

One of the astronaut isolation vans to keep them from getting sick.

An SR-71 Blackbird with the Skunkworks marks

Happy little girl has no idea what all these things are, but she's with family so she's good.

Levi did a really good job taking pictures.

The shuttle

Levi and I. The lighting is odd, there's no way to get a good photo of you and the whole shuttle because this wing has no lighting in the hallway leading to it.

Shuttle astronaut suit and manuevering unit, which they don't use now.

By the nose.

Those big rectangle holes are to equalize pressure in the atmosphere after being in space.

Lots of cool stuff. That space suite was worn on the moon, hence the grey dust on it. It was worn by Jim Irwin, who I went to church with as a young child.

Levi and some capsules

Engines, or at least models of them.

Posing by the crashed display. I find it hilarious when windows crashes on a display.

Under the shuttle's tail.

The hatch

Levi loves the paint jobs on all the old school planes.

After eating at McDonalds, which really jacks its prices up in there.

In front of an old helicopter.

My little miss is so lady like with her feet up.

Bethany doesn't always cooperate with pictures

And Levi gets tired of it, but it worked out. This is a statue called Ascent, outside the center.

Next, on to North Carolina.

Posted in Astronauts, Bethany, Levi, NASA, Trips, Vacation Tagged with: Kids, space, vacation

Road Trip 2013 – Part 4 – Baltimore

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Robert

These pictures below are from our visit to Baltimore this year. My mom is from Baltimore, so there is lots of family to visit up there, especially since she is one of 8 children.

When we visit we usually stay with my Uncle Larry and Aunt Sallie, here's Uncle Larry playing with Bethany.

Here’s Levi’s First Trip up to Baltimore, which was for Thanksgiving. We had a lot of fun then and we did again this time with another little one.

Bethany was slightly younger than Levi on his first trip.

But she liked playing on the hard wood floors just as much.

Levi is obviously a lot different, and spent some time coloring with Uncle Larry.

We went to visit my granny a few days before her birthday party. We got a four generations picture with all of us.

My grandmother just turned 90 and is doing pretty well for that age, though she's had some falls that make her nervous to move around much.

Bethany made herself at home in Aunt Carol's chair.

Levi couldn't let her get all the attention, so he hopped in too.

We have pictures of Levi being held by Barb as an infant and now we have one with Bethany. She does a great job with kids.

All smiles

My cousin Thomas hates his picture being taken, so this required stealth and got me glared at afterwards.

My Aunt Doris is always ready to hold a baby.

My cousins Liz and Laura held Bethany and Isabella for this shot. Isabella is my second cousin, daughter of Christina.

Adriana on Isabella's lap, next to Thomas and Levi.

Thomas obviously didn't notice Kendra taking pictures.

Levi was out with the big kids I'm sure talking their ears off.

Lots of cousins

I'm not sure how Levi talked them into this

He had a lot of fun

He loves playing with all the big kids.

There were a lot of kids

This is Hannah, who is obviously very tolerant of 5 year olds riding piggy back style

Most of the adults stuck inside with the air conditioning.

Granny and her cake. I think that is Granny's childhood friend Betty at the table. I am sure my mom can correct me.

The crowd watching

Singing happy birthday.

Bethany was a trooper with all those people around.

Hanging out with her cousin.

Aunt Carol got to spend some time with her and even change a dirty diaper.

Bethany enjoyed her lunch.

Raymond was hanging out with Levi, who was playing games on his leap pad. Obviously Thomas saw the camera this time.

Levi had a very interesting Phineas and Ferb game

We had a lot of cars there, my family is definitely not small.

My Uncle Kenny, Aunt Linda and Bethany

Isabella joining in.

Another 4 generations picture, Granny, Aunt Doris, Christina and Isabella.

My mom got some time snuggling with Levi.

My mom and her 7 siblings all together for the first time in 15 years

Its hard to coordinate 8 family's schedules and travel to get everyone together often

Its also hard to get them all to hold still for a picture

My mom, the oldest is bossing them around through most of this.

Levi is downstairs watching TV with another cousin.

They were quite content chilling in the basement.

All 8 with Granny.

Bethany had a good time playing with everyone

Learning to clap with Aunt Janet

Still more pictures to come.

Posted in Baltimore, Bethany, birthdays, Levi, Trips, Vacation Tagged with: Baltimore, Birthdays, granny, Kids

Road Trip 2013 – Part 3 – Camden Yards

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Robert

When we got to Baltimore we stated with my Uncle Larry and Aunt Sallie. On our first dart there we had planned to go visit family, but instead got to go to the emergency room because Bethany had a fever that wouldn’t go away. It turned out she had a urinary tract infection. Luckily the next day she was feeling well enough that we could go to Camden Yards for a tour of the Baltimore Orioles beautiful ballpark.

Levi by Brooks Robinson's number, also his age.

Statue of Herman Babe Ruth, who was born a few blocks from the stadium and actually started as an Oriole minor leager.

Next to number 8, Cal Ripkin, who I grew up watching.

The warehouse next to the stadium, which has quite a history and actually dictated the theme of the stadium.

The warehouse, which is part of the outfield at Camden Yards.

A building next door that was a railroad station

Little Miss is ready to tour the stadium.

The view from a park you can eat at and look at the field.

The bullpen is tiered and really easy to see.

The logo.

And old sign

Another sign.

Uncle Larry and Levi in a suite on the tour.

One of the orange seats in the field, one where Eddie Murray's 500th home run landed and one where Ripken's 278th as a short stop hit (setting a record)

Bethany and I in the suite.

More old logos

Cal Ripken's record stuff.

In the old school media area.

Scoreboard. Neat story, when there is a hit the H lights up and an error the E lights up.

Standing on the warning track on the field behind home plate

Me, Bethany, Uncle Larry, Levi, Aunt Sallie and Kendra on the field

Levi in the batter's box.

The dugout

Heading back into the stands

The original foul pole, moved from the previous stadium.

They have flags for all American League teams and show them in standing order. This pole is brand new added for the Astros. Its also last place, so its just for the Astros.

In the walkway by the warehouse every homerun that has every hit is marked where it hits. Only one has ever hit the building, but a local favorite of ours, Lance Berkman has a spot on the walkway.