Family Beach Day

After working around the house all day we decided that everyone needed a break so we packed a picnic dinner and headed to the beach. Last time we were at this beach we found all sorts of neat things and several sand dollars. Evidently it's pretty picked over by Sunday night but we did have a good time playing in the sand. We're sad to say goodbye to the beautiful beaches we have here but happy that we will still have quick access to the water, it just wont be as blue. I forsee a few more of these nights in our future because the kids were wipped out when we got home and the kitchen was nice and clean since we ate dinner on a blanket outside.

The best place to read is....

No not on the potty contrary to popular belief, but rather in the tub.

Princess Soup Backyard Style

My sweet friend Candace offered to let my kids come over and play while I attended Henry's going away lunch for the wing and in return I offered her a little me time since her husband is deployed. Her daughter, Camryn, is one of Addie's besties and these two had so much fun playing in the backyard sprinkler. They made up this silly game about how the grass was princess soup and they had to eat it with a leaf spoon. They also showed me some of their awesome growl faces. We've got our fingers and toes crossed that they will soon be moving to Langley and that we will get to hang out for several more years. Please say a quick prayer for her husband when you think about and for them to make it through the next six months.

Sometimes You Just Gotta Wear Shades

Look at Mr. Cool...

Sprinklers!

After picking berries they were FILTHY and so we came home and I turned on the sprinklers. I had bought this cool spraying ball for Addie's 2nd birthday and we pulled it back out to play with today. It was awesome. Carter has learned a few new words this past week and one of them is outside. He is constantly asking to go outside and he runs straight for the sandbox when I do let him out. He could dig in the sand all day long. And does anyone who has been a long time blog reader think Addie's suit looks familiar? Well it should... considering she wore this very one the night before Carter was born outside playing in the sprinklers. Yes, our skinny girl still wears a 24 month suit.

It's that time of year... Strawberry Picking

Yesterday we went to out favorite strawberry farm to pick berries for the first time this year. Because of our cool spring they had to open later than usual and the crop was smaller but we didn't care. Addie actually tried to pick the "good ones" this time around while Carter decided that the all you can eat buffet of strawberries was pretty awesome. Thank goodness for bleach! After we gathered our berries we headed over to look at the animals and just like last year their favorite was the big steer. I'm so happy that they love animals and aren't afraid of them. We're really going to miss our yearly treks to the farm once we move.

Running off to get the berries

Carter's first strawberry

And the picking soon ended once he found out he could eat them

Addie took this one, and he's still eating

Our attempt at a self portrait.  Too bad we cut off Carter's head.

Eglin Air Show

This past weekend was the Eglin Air Show and Henry and I got the chance to spend it with some awesome friends. Henry flew a yet over on Thursday and another on Friday for Zeke, the current demo pilot, and then he basically shadowed him for the rest of the day/weekend seeing what went into the demo besides flying. We got the chance to talk to not only Zeke and his wife Kristene (who is going to all the shows this year... how cool is that!) but also some of the amazing maintainers who not only work on the jets but narrate the show, sell stuff, and keep the team running. It's such a neat group of people and we are so excited to be a part of it. I also found out that there's a lot more that goes into being a demo pilot than just flying around looking cool. They speak at local schools, recruit for the Air Force, and donate a lot of money to worth causes. When they were in Chile (the country) for the first air show of the season they donated money to the disaster relief fund. In Hampton, where we used to live, one of the principals of an elementary school embezzled quite a large sum of money and therefore left the students without a lot of supplies. The demo team donated money from selling t-shirts and such at the shows to that school to get the kids supplies. It's things like this that make me so proud that we were chosen for this opportunity and that we can contribute to the community in such a positive way.

Here's the demo (not from this past weekend) for those who have no idea what I am talking about or who want to see what on earth Henry will be doing. And yes, my palms get sweaty with nerves every time I watch this. It's funny because the moves that make me nervous are "easy" according to Henry and the ones that are "dangerous" I can watch with no problem.


On a side note... did you all know there is a website call Air Show Buzz that basically follows air show performers. The people who post on their are "groupies" and it's kind of crazy. So, with that said, feel free to check it out but know that once Henry starts traveling this summer with Zeke and then takes over the team next year I will be making our blog private. These people know WAY too much about the family members of not only Zeke, but his maintainers and I'd like to keep some parts of our life private. I'm beyond excited for this experience but I'd rather not everyone in the world be able to read about what we do outside the demo.

We also had the opportunity to hang out with our dear friends the Cunninghams. Basket used to be our DO here and was chosen last year to be the commander of the Thunderbirds, TB#1. We watched his show with his wife, Krisanne, on Saturday and while I've seen their show before, it was awesome knowing that he was the one leading it. We're so happy that next year we will be seeing them more as we all travel on the air show circuit.

And what would a blog post be without pictures...

Mommy and Carter... he did not want to wear his ear protection

Goofing around on the bleachers in the DV tent (we got to be distinguished visitors)

He looks so cute with them on

Addie's turn... she has pink ones on order

Taking flying lessons

43rd Ladies

43rd group

Thunderbirds- Basket is the one in the lead

Tea... well actually pink lemonade

This past week was spring break and one of Addie's classmates, Kayleigh, had a tea party for all the girls. They dressed in cute dresses and Kayleigh's mom, Tammy, set her little table with china and made tea (pink lemonade), little sandwiches, and fruit. They even had the chance to make fun bracelets with cute beads which Addie hasn't taken off yet! We can't wait to host the next get together... Addie's already insisted that it be a pinkalicious theme :)

Being super careful with her tea

Addie and Kayleigh

Morgan and Rowan

The two Addie's- our Addie and Addie Kate

Making bracelets

Renters

We have them!!!! Last Friday I got a phone call from a couple who is relocating from New Jersey to be near their family. They came and looked at the house, after I scrambled to clean up, and the first thing she said was, "I love it. It feels like home." They asked to sign a lease at once, we checked their credit, and as of tonight we have a signed lease in hand. Sam and Rania we hope you enjoy our house as much as we have. Now onto bigger and better things... finding a new house at Langley.

Happy Easter

I love having people over and growing up we spent most of our Easter's hanging out with lots of people at Katie's house so I thought that I'd like to carry on that tradition this year. We had 27 people over for an egg hunt and dinner. It was potluck and we had so much yummy food (thanks to those who left some of their yummy goodness here I don't have to cook dinner tonight) and great company. We are going to miss everyone that was here so much because not only are we moving this summer but most of them are too. So, Hiatt's, Kassebaum's, Register's, Flottmann's, Shuck's, and Arkama's thank you for making our Easter special. Here's pictures of the egg hunt and a few of our family after church.

All of the big kids, we are missing Addie Shuck and the babies, Mace and Elliot.