I am a lucky girl.  My school has a special partnership with NASA and I am proud to be on the team.

Today, I had the opportunity to witness a spectacular event — the flyover of the space shuttle Endeavour over our State Capitol.  Surrounding me were 40 amazing and interested students, 4 colleagues and thousands of people (many of whom were children pulled out of school by their parents).  If there was ever a good reason to miss school, this was it.  If I were not working today, my boy would have been right beside me.  (He was actually with me ‘in utero’ when I had the opportunity to watch the final launch of Discovery in 2010 but due to weather and mechanical issues, the launch was delayed and we departed Florida with a souvenir shirt that says, “I was there.  Discovery Launch.  2010.”)

Here are some of the images I captured from today’s historical event:

Upon our arrival, we met with Donald James from NASA Ames Research Center.  Our students were giddy and full of excitement — they were all asking him for his autograph.  It was the cutest thing ever.

Our students have had a lot of media attention in the last few days.  You can find us in the news here and here.

Me and my peeps — hanging out and waiting for the flyover.

Our group in front of the State Capitol before it got super crowded.  (We were one of the early arrivers — got there at 7:20 am and we didn’t see the flyover until 9:50 am.)

We were on KCRA 3 this morning — live!

Hanging out with news reporters, Lisa Gonzales and Richard Sharp.

More showed up after 8:30 am.  We were a big deal to the general public with our official NASA Explorer Schools shirts.  People came up to me and my colleagues asking if we work for NASA, what our affiliation is with NASA, etc.

Some of our students followed this Post Doc like puppies, asking him a gazillion questions.  I love their energy, enthusiasm and drive.

This Sacramento Bee reporter hung out with us for awhile.  Hopefully, she’ll quote some of the students in an article that comes out tomorrow.  Our students felt like they were a pretty big deal — and they loved every minute of it!

The crowd at 9:30 am … there was much excitement in the air.

Amazing.  There is nothing like it.

I rented a 70-300 mm lens for this momentous occasion.  It was absolutely worth the $50!

Our students with the KCRA 3 news reporters Lisa Gonzales and Richard Sharp.

A post wouldn’t be complete without a photo of my little guy.

Plane.  That’s what he calls it.

He can pretty much identify the NASA meatball anywhere.  That’s my boy!