Monday, December 28, 2009
My Texas Trip Part Three: Off Base Sightseeing
Remember the Alamo!!
It's always exciting to be in the middle of history and imagine what happened
in the exact place I'm standing.
It's always exciting to be in the middle of history and imagine what happened
in the exact place I'm standing.
We went to the wax museum. (My dad trying to be tough.)
So can I say I've met Oprah?
Then we went to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum. Talk about some crazy stuff!!
Can you tell what this picture is made of? Look really close.
Can you tell what this picture is made of? Look really close.
It's made from toast.
How about Elvis? What is he made from?
How about Elvis? What is he made from?
Take a closer look.
Yeah, he's made entirely of real butterflies.
Do you think this real chicken head clock would look good in my living room?
This is made from sculpted sea shells.
Three eyed turtle....Believe it? Or Not?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
My TexasTrip Part Two: Life On An Air Force Base
Remember that I was so excited to go to Texas where it was warmer? Forget it!! A cold spell moved over them just in time for our trip. It was freezing outside and my brother's graduation was outside. We bundled up as best as we could but, yeah, we froze. After more than two hours outside my fingers no longer worked and I couldn't stop shivering. Colby was bundled up warmly in a couple blankets but he kept poking one hand out. He was warmer than anyone.
The graduation was an amazing sight, though. It was amazing to see hundreds of people moving in perfect formation. It was pretty impressive.
The first video is of my brother's flight passing for inspection. The second is of the entire mass moving forward together.
On the bus ride back from the parade grounds. The heater worked on the bus!
This is Blake's underwear rolled into neat, tight rolls with no wrinkles.
This drawer amused me. Blake had everything so precise and I teased him about how he had the items laid out. He said they had to be that way and showed me in his booklet a picture showing EXACTLY how to lay out the toiletries. Who decides this stuff? He said that they will check the inside of the toothpaste and his razor and if they are dirty he gets demerits.
Blake was made the Latrine Queen and was in charge of other trainees who had toilet detail. If the bathroom wasn't immaculate, Blake got in trouble for it. This is a big bathroom to have spotless every single day.
My niece Grace loved to push Colby around.
On Sunday we went to church with Blake at 7:00 am (that's Central time, folks! 5:00am where I live.) Very interesting! All the trainees were in their uniforms and didn't do much talking. I wouldn't either if I was getting yelled at all the time; I'd keep quiet, too. After the service, quite a few trainees came up to see Colby. You don't get a lot of babies on base. One trainee in particular zoomed right onto Colby and asked how old he was. I said he was seven months and the trainee started to cry. He said he had a five month old at home. We let him hold Colby to get a baby fix. Another trainee said he had a three WEEK old at home. He was just starting basic training.
It's hard for me to understand why people with families would want to join the military. I have seen how hard it is for my niece Gracie. I just don't understand. But being with my brother and being on the base has increased my sense of patriotism. I am proud of my brother and all other airmen that are sacrificing their lives for me, for my freedoms and beliefs. I may not get why they would want to do this (especially the women) but I am grateful that they are willing to do this. It was such an amazing experience and I'm so glad that I was able to go. I am glad to say that I am proud to be an American.
I love you, Blakie.
Coming soon: Part Three: Off-Base Sightseeing
The graduation was an amazing sight, though. It was amazing to see hundreds of people moving in perfect formation. It was pretty impressive.
The first video is of my brother's flight passing for inspection. The second is of the entire mass moving forward together.
My brother's flight is in the middle.
My brother's flight earned recognition as the Warrior Flight. They earned the most points of all the flights during BEAST week. (Which I guess lives up to its name.)
Blake is standing with the glasses on.
Blake is standing with the glasses on.
On the bus ride back from the parade grounds. The heater worked on the bus!
We got to have a little tour of Blake's dorm. I was fascinated by how precise everything (and I mean everything) has to be. You hear about it, but it was interesting to see it.
This is the inside of Blake's locker. Notice how the hangers are evenly spaced.
This is the inside of Blake's locker. Notice how the hangers are evenly spaced.
This is Blake's underwear rolled into neat, tight rolls with no wrinkles.
Blake's flashlight has to be center and flush with the edge.
Hat has to be on the left flush with the edge, too.
Hat has to be on the left flush with the edge, too.
This drawer amused me. Blake had everything so precise and I teased him about how he had the items laid out. He said they had to be that way and showed me in his booklet a picture showing EXACTLY how to lay out the toiletries. Who decides this stuff? He said that they will check the inside of the toothpaste and his razor and if they are dirty he gets demerits.
Blake's bed with his shoes neatly lined up.
Blake was made the Latrine Queen and was in charge of other trainees who had toilet detail. If the bathroom wasn't immaculate, Blake got in trouble for it. This is a big bathroom to have spotless every single day.
Airman Johnson
Around the parade grounds they had airplanes. (What else??) They had been retired from active duty.
Colby posing in front of an airplane. It was warm this day finally!
Colby posing in front of an airplane. It was warm this day finally!
My niece Grace loved to push Colby around.
This huge airplane kept taking off and landing around us. They are very loud and very big.
Colby's exhausted after all that walking!
On Sunday we went to church with Blake at 7:00 am (that's Central time, folks! 5:00am where I live.) Very interesting! All the trainees were in their uniforms and didn't do much talking. I wouldn't either if I was getting yelled at all the time; I'd keep quiet, too. After the service, quite a few trainees came up to see Colby. You don't get a lot of babies on base. One trainee in particular zoomed right onto Colby and asked how old he was. I said he was seven months and the trainee started to cry. He said he had a five month old at home. We let him hold Colby to get a baby fix. Another trainee said he had a three WEEK old at home. He was just starting basic training.
It's hard for me to understand why people with families would want to join the military. I have seen how hard it is for my niece Gracie. I just don't understand. But being with my brother and being on the base has increased my sense of patriotism. I am proud of my brother and all other airmen that are sacrificing their lives for me, for my freedoms and beliefs. I may not get why they would want to do this (especially the women) but I am grateful that they are willing to do this. It was such an amazing experience and I'm so glad that I was able to go. I am glad to say that I am proud to be an American.
I love you, Blakie.
Coming soon: Part Three: Off-Base Sightseeing
Friday, December 18, 2009
My Texas Trip Part One: Traveling
Colby is hands down the best baby in the world. He was such a good traveler. I was worried about how he would do on the airplanes. I wondered if he would cry the whole time like you always see babies do in the movies. When he got tired he would fight it a little, he did do some yelling, but then he would settle down and sleep for the rest of the flight. On two airplane rides he just fell asleep. I looked down at him and he was asleep. I wondered what the people we ended up sitting next to thought when they realized that the baby was going to be sitting next to them but he proved to them what a good baby he is. He liked looking out the window. And of course he made friends wherever he went. Everybody stops to talk to babies. It is so funny.
People are more helpful when you travel with a baby, too. At the end of every flight I would have to wait for the stroller and every time someone would unfold it for me. On the plane people would let me go ahead of them and help me get my bags over my shoulder. They even offered to help me buckle my seatbelt. Colby would smile at everyone around us and one time I looked behind me to find this old man playing peek a boo with Colby. Babies bring out the best in people.
Colby spent most of his time in the car seat or the stroller. As long as he could see he was happy. I don't know how many times me and my mom said, "He's such a good baby!"
My last flight was delayed for a while and at that point I just wanted to get home so it was a little frustrating to have to wait. But we hadn't waited long when I realized that Colby was poopy so I hurried to change him. In the bathroom I realized that he had pooped up his back all the way to his armpits. So if our plane had been on time I would have been flying high with a poopy mess in the sky. It was a blessing in disguise that it was late so I could have a big bathroom to take care of the mess.
A couple things I learned:
It's "stinky" to forget my deodorant.
It's "dizzying" to forget my medicine.
And nursing Colby on an airplane completely surrounded by men is really uncomfortable.
Stayed tuned for Part Two: Life On An Air Force Base!
People are more helpful when you travel with a baby, too. At the end of every flight I would have to wait for the stroller and every time someone would unfold it for me. On the plane people would let me go ahead of them and help me get my bags over my shoulder. They even offered to help me buckle my seatbelt. Colby would smile at everyone around us and one time I looked behind me to find this old man playing peek a boo with Colby. Babies bring out the best in people.
Colby spent most of his time in the car seat or the stroller. As long as he could see he was happy. I don't know how many times me and my mom said, "He's such a good baby!"
My last flight was delayed for a while and at that point I just wanted to get home so it was a little frustrating to have to wait. But we hadn't waited long when I realized that Colby was poopy so I hurried to change him. In the bathroom I realized that he had pooped up his back all the way to his armpits. So if our plane had been on time I would have been flying high with a poopy mess in the sky. It was a blessing in disguise that it was late so I could have a big bathroom to take care of the mess.
A couple things I learned:
It's "stinky" to forget my deodorant.
It's "dizzying" to forget my medicine.
And nursing Colby on an airplane completely surrounded by men is really uncomfortable.
Stayed tuned for Part Two: Life On An Air Force Base!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Leavin' On a Jet Plane
Tomorrow Colby and I are going on a trip for 6 whole days!!!!! My brother joined the Air Force and I am going to his Basic Training graduation in Texas. This trip is great for several reasons:
1. I was unable to go to Blakie's farewell party and was the only sibling that missed it. Now I'm the only sibling able to go to his graduation. I'm excited to see him because I don't know when I'll see him again. He could be stationed in Malaysia for the next 6 years.
2. I have always wanted to go to Texas. Not for any special reason, I just wanted to go there.
3. I've been in a motherhood rut lately and need to do something different!! I'll be able to chill for a few days and get out of my usual schedule.
4. It's good to have the dad be charge of EVERYTHING for a while. Clay will have to get the girls ready for school and take them to school, do their hair, check for homework, make dinner, etc. I'm sure when I come home I'll be a little more appreciated. (Not that he doesn't appreciate me now, but he'll realize just how much I do.)
5. It's 68 degrees in Texas!!!! Where I live, we're at a cool 22 degrees at this moment. It was around 6 degrees when I woke up this morning. Hooray for 68 degrees!!!!
This is the longest I've been away from my girls. They will be taken care by some fabulous friends and of course their dad, but when I'm with them in and out every day it makes me sad to leave them for so long. (I also worry about what they'll look like when they go out in public. Let everyone know that the dad is doing the hair!) Well, I couldn't be leaving them in better hands.
See you next week!
1. I was unable to go to Blakie's farewell party and was the only sibling that missed it. Now I'm the only sibling able to go to his graduation. I'm excited to see him because I don't know when I'll see him again. He could be stationed in Malaysia for the next 6 years.
2. I have always wanted to go to Texas. Not for any special reason, I just wanted to go there.
3. I've been in a motherhood rut lately and need to do something different!! I'll be able to chill for a few days and get out of my usual schedule.
4. It's good to have the dad be charge of EVERYTHING for a while. Clay will have to get the girls ready for school and take them to school, do their hair, check for homework, make dinner, etc. I'm sure when I come home I'll be a little more appreciated. (Not that he doesn't appreciate me now, but he'll realize just how much I do.)
5. It's 68 degrees in Texas!!!! Where I live, we're at a cool 22 degrees at this moment. It was around 6 degrees when I woke up this morning. Hooray for 68 degrees!!!!
This is the longest I've been away from my girls. They will be taken care by some fabulous friends and of course their dad, but when I'm with them in and out every day it makes me sad to leave them for so long. (I also worry about what they'll look like when they go out in public. Let everyone know that the dad is doing the hair!) Well, I couldn't be leaving them in better hands.
See you next week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)