Pay it Foward!

This is how it works..... The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a hand made gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise! But, what you need to do in return is "pay if forward" by making the same promise on your blog. That means that sometime during this year you will send a gift to 3 people as well. Get it? I'd love for you to join me! Will you? Other comments are welcome, but only the first three will be my Pay It Forward recipients. Come and join me who doesn't love a gift or giving gifts???.

Kids are so Funny!

So yesterday when we were driving home from picking the kids up from school. Brody decided to put the TV screen down and watch a movie. Well we have the controls in the front, so he couldn't watch anything.

Brody said he didn't care, he was watching a pretend movie.

Then Kaleb says "oh here comes the funny part" and all the kids bust up laughing! Of course Scott and I do too.

So after that I said, "Well since you like it so much you get to watch this movie first the next time we go anywhere far."

Emmi pipes up in the back, " Good thing it is only 2 minutes long!"

We were laughing so hard, Emmi pulled a fast one on us!

So sad :-(

So last week Scott needed his drill for something, and I was the last one to use it. I was sure that I put it back, but we couldn't find it anywhere. Well a couple days ago Kaleb went to go ride his bike and it was gone, and so was Brodys new one that he got from Santa. They all were stolen. So we called the police and they said the bikes were probably already painted and there wasn't a good chance that we would see them again. What is crazy about this whole story is that who ever took the bikes and drill were pretty stupid. There was so much other stuff in the garage that was worth so much more, like the big tool box with all the other expensive tools in it, and the more expensive bikes. Needless to say, they really took the cheapest things in the garage. Stupids!!

Breaking the law...

even when it is unintentional, sometimes you have to answer to THE MAN. That's right, I was speeding on base the other day while talking with Jennifer. Little did I realize I was doing 37 in a 30. However, the observant police noticed and brought it to my attention.

Jennifer was having the time of her life! She has received a few tickets, yet this was the first time a cop has pulled me over and given me a speeding ticket. I've been given warnings, I've had lights flashed at me, but this was a first.

Completer treats

So there are differences in traditions between the jet pilots last flight and a prop pilots last flight. In the Jet community it is a special day. When you exit the plane a crew is always waiting to soak the student, then the commanding officer replaces the students name patch with the aviator wings patch. It is awesome.

Prop world is different. No one notices, and the only ones who seem to care are the ones finishing. We don't even get to wear our wings until our ceremony. For me, that will be March 13th (Friday). Yes, I know, poor me.

However, Jennifer wanted it to be special, so when I got home the whole family came out to greet me. What I didn't know is that they each had a cup full of water to throw on me!


Also, Jennifer made an awesome meal to celebrate. Home made rolls, the works. She even made frog eye salad, but I didn't have enough room on the plate for it.



I am so loved!

My last graded flight

was called an ONAV (overwater navigation). It was to introduce us to low flight over the ocean, and techniques for "rigging" ships. Here is a picture from one pass.

old pictures

Here is an old picture I found of Jennifer dressed up for Halloween. Her friend dressed up as a sailor also, except she wore whites (her husband had been in the navy too).

Always comfortable

So Jennifer and Kaleb were watching television the other day when a commercial came on. A woman was laying in bed, tossing and turning, not able to get comfortable.

Commercial - Tired of trying to get comfortable at night?
Commercial - Use Stayfree pads.

Kaleb - I want that so I can sleep comfortably.

Jennifer - roaring laughter

Kaleb - What's so funny?

Jennifer then had a little discussion about womanhood with Kaleb.

Kaleb - I DON'T WANT THAT!

Oh, growing pains.

Tradition

True to tradition, Jennifer made me my annual valentines day note. She is so awesome!

Work, work work

So Thursday at work was really rough for me. For the last week or two I've been stressed to say the least. I was in the stage of flights called "Review Stage". Basically, the flights are flown off instruments, simulating we are constantly in the clouds. The instructors must really get bored because they are constantly messing with the student flying. We have everything from simulated engine failures, fires, electrical failures, etc. Most approaches are done with one engine purring along at idle, simulated shut down. These lead up to our final check ride...and yes, I finally passed that flight.

As a reward for all the pain we have our "Airnav solo" flight. Two students are given a plane for the day and we fly out for lunch somewhere without an instructor. For mine, we flew up to Houston. I bought this $1.00 t-shirt and had a $1.00 lunch.

I know, I know, rough day at work.

Oh, and I only have one flight left. YEAH!

running update

Elizabeth,

Today we had a family 3-mile run. Jennifer ran. Scott pushed Mia and Brody in the stroller. Emmi and Kaleb rode their bikes. One week down, ten miles to go!

Half -Marathon

My sister in law decided she would issue a challenge to her friends and family to see who could lose 10 pounds first. So I have decided that will start training for a half-marathon. I found a first timers guide and should be able to finish in 8 weeks. So I figured if I posted this, then I will have to be more accountable, and kill two birds with one stone. Wish me luck and keep checking up on me!

St. Louis

So last weekend I flew to St. Louis for work. I know, I know, you are all glad you don't have to work as hard as me :-) Here are some pictures I took while I was sight seeing, enjoy!


Of course I had to go to the arch and ride to the top...what a view! You can feel it sway with the wind.


Here you can see, 630 feet high! With a 150 mile per hour wind the arch would sway 18 inches to the side.

I know it does not look like much, but this is called Monks Mound and is at the Cahokia Mound State Historic Site in Illinois. It was pretty interesting, click here for more information on it.



Here is the St Louis temple. I only saw it from the outside, someday Jennifer and I want to visit all the temples in the states.

Awards all around

The kids had award ceremonies at the school last week. Brody received a good behavior award. Unfortunately he was sick and didn't get his perfect attendance this time and kindergarten does not receive the standard letter grades. The camera decided it didn't like the pictures on the flash card and ate them, so no pictures of him. Kaleb received a staight "A" honor roll. Emmi's grade doesn't do awards, otherwise she would have been up there too. Mia was bored waiting for the ceremony to start when I took her picture.

Let the beatings continue!

Lorinda, I didn't want you to feel like you're the only whose children appearances might bring CPS knocking. Our neighbor has gymnastic style rings hanging from his ceiling in the garage, and also has a couch nearby. What does that mean to kids...something to swing from. What does that mean after they are getting tired and hot...slippery hands.

The final result...a fresh bruise for Brody, and luckily no concussion!