Here's the surprise

For the last 3 weeks or so I hoped that Chris would be home for Christmas. In typical military fashion they kept changing the dates. He was suppose to originally be home for Thanksgiving and that didn't work too well. I didn't want to jinx it so NO ONE knew. I didn't tell any friends, family, co-workers, NO ONE.

Wednesday morning Nate and I were off and we went to the base around 8:15am. Nate didn't know why we were going. He thought we were going to get to taxi in a B-52. I didn't tell him that he just made that assumption. Two planes were landing with people from the island. The 1st plane landed around 8:32am (so says Chris). We were bussed out to the flightline and waiting for the plane to come to a complete stop. We waited and waited and waited. I didn't know at the time but there were 10 people aboard that plane. Chris was in the back and was one of the last ones off. Nate and I were both talking to people and not paying attention when Chris snuck up on us and surprised Nate.

Nathan was so shocked. His face said it all. It took him a minute to register that his Dad was there in person. What a great Christmas present. Unfortunately you can't top that.

Here we are making our 1st Gingerbread house. Never again. What a nightmare. It caved in within 30 minutes of completition.

I have a surprise and it's KILLING me

So, I have done a really good job this year. Usually I'm a sneak. I have been known to completely unwrap presents to check them out and rewrap them. Chris has to work REALLY hard to keep things from me. This year with him being gone he sent my Christmas to a friend. Boo on both of them for THAT one. But here's what is killing me. I have got a really big Christmas surprise but have to keep it secret for 36 more hours. AHHHHH!!!!!!!

The Polar Express

Nate and I at the entrance of the park. It was a little chilly but NOTHING like it has been the last couple of days. The Texas State Railroad does all sorts of theme rides. The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, New Years Eve, Valentine's Day, etc...I don't know who was more excited-Me? Or Nate? I think we both had a great time. We went with some good friends and luckily they drove. We didn't get home until 11pm and I would have probably killed us somewhere on the 2.5 hour drive home.








This is one of waiters. He was such a ham. The boys loved him. He really earned his money. He was constantly in the boys seat joking and messin' with them.

The boys

The Girls

The waiters spent A LOT of time with our boys.

Hillary and I with Santa. Only the kids got a bell off of Santa's sleigh. Cheap. The adult tickets were more expensive then the children's. I wanted a bell because I BELIEVE.

The whole gang. Kaye, Jared, Hillary, Nate, Nathan, and Joshua. Chris you were missed.

Nate playing on the tracks after the ride to the North Pole.

Going Private

Well, I think we've finally reached that point. If you are interested in seeing our blog you MUST send me your email address so I can add you. We will be going private in 30 days.

Love ya all.

Elfis at the North Pole

Tonight was Nathan's Christmas program. It was Elvis (Elfis) at the North Pole. Nathan was a dancing elf. I have to say that the costumes are a little cheesy but not once did Nate complain that he looked like a dork. He even had to ride the school bus dressed like this. I guess when all of 4th and 5th grade look like this it's not so bad. I thought he did a great job. He is such a handsome elf. We ordered the profession DVD so Chris can watch it later.

Nathan and Girls

Today I took Nate out to lunch for some Mom/Son time. It's a cold, rainy day and some soup and sandwiches sounded really good. We went to McCallister's and Nate was being really talkative. So I decided to broach the subject of "going out" with a girl. Oh, you should have seen that poor boys face. 3 different shades of red.

I told him I'd heard that 5th graders were "going out". He told me that was true. I asked him if HE was going out with a girl. NO, MOM!!! I'M NOT. I asked him why. He told me, "because you and Dad said I shouldn't until I was in High School". Pretty good answer, but are you interested in girls? His response, "geez mom, Girls are bosy and know-it-alls except for you...but you're not really a girl, you're a Mom.

Yeah, thanks kid. So then I ask if he's kissing girls. He gets this horrified look on his face and says "Mom, that is so gross. What if they have the swine flu or something? No, Kissing. Yuck!

That's my boy. I can't wait to talk to him again about this subject again. Like maybe after he's met his wife. I'll be sure to ask if his wife has been vaccinated properly.

Natchigoches in LA

Nathan & I in Natchigoches, LA for the festival of lights. We went w/ friends Saturday night. It was so cold. It was about 32 degrees and we were bundle up. The only bad thing were my toes were frozen. We had dinner at Merci Beaucoup. I thought it was fabulous.

Fireworks

Hillary & I waiting for dinner.

The boys.

Christmas time fun

Decorating the tree. What a time. We had flown back into Dallas Saturday the 28th of November. After a 3 hour flight, a 3.25 hour car ride, unpacking of the car, and getting something small to eat I got a bee in my bonnet to get our tree. I really wanted to decorate it on Sunday and I knew I needed to get it in water.
At 7pm Nate and I started looking for trees. We tried Home Depot (Christmas tree section closes at 6pm), the Lowes (same thing), then Wal-Mart. My FAVORITE place. We found a tree and pretty much just picked one out of the bins. We got it home where I had to saw off some bottom branches to fit in the tree stand and cut off the bottom for water to absorb.

I am feeling pretty good at this point until I try to center the tree. This is crazy. The stupid thing only works facing one direction and that NOT the direction I want. The tree is actually fuller now in the back facing the wall because my OCD won't allow it not to be straight up and down.

We did get it decorated on Sunday. We had to be a little bit sparing with our ornaments because our tree this year is about half the size as last year. Without Chris here to carry the stupid thing I wasn't about to do it on my own. I feel very accomplished though. Somewhat like a mountain woman just with shaved legs.

Our finished tree

I somehow got nominated for chairperson for the 20th BS Children's christmas party. Due to great ladies who stepped up to the plate I really didn't have to do much. Santa was awesome and I had to ask for a special Christmas gift. I'll let you know if it arrived on the 25th. Poor santa informed me immediately he had no control over my wish though. I think he better start believing.

Nate refused to sit on Santa's lap. I guess he's getting too old. We haven't broached the subject yet of if Santa if for real. I almost told him last night but if he's willing to pretend so am I. Personally, I love Santa. He rocks.

Exhausting

So I must have had the same idea as everyone else. Do my holiday parties the 1st week before it gets busy. This is my week.

Monday: Easy day. Work, Ride, Bake 4 dozen cookies, Sylvan, Grocery shopping.

Tuesday: Work, Physical therapy (mean man hurt me), Bake 4 more dozen cookies, Christmas party.

Wednesday: Work, Host luncheon, Christmas shopping, sylvan, scouts for Nate, Home Depot.

Thursday: Work, Ride, Decorate for Christmas party at squadron, take 30 minute nap (YES), soccer party, get ready for party tomorrow.

Friday: Work, Physical Therapy, Christmas party that I'm chairperson of at squadron (please go well), Snow?

Saturday: Ride, Sam's club (Yuck), Natchodghes, finish getting ready for Christmas party, shopping

Sunday: Church, Hosting party for work at my house, Fireside/caroling

Monday: I'm thinking the spa is calling my name. What do you think?

November Happenings

The final pic is of Dad's tomestone. I realize I'm ruining the pic with my shirt not tucked in. What a slob.

Thanksgiving Day 2009 Football game. Man, was it nice outside. The key players in this game are...Don, Tyler, Gavin, Stuart, Kaye and Nate, Ross, Norma and William, and Kyle and Amy. Nate made some spectacular plays and while doing so he got a really good shiner. People are going to think he got in a fight but honestly, it was just some football. He even scored a touchdown. While I didn't score any touchdowns I did get the ball a few times. For a girl, it wasn't a bad effort.

So many things have happened in the month of November it's hard to keep up. Here are my best efforts.
Nate and Don playing football in Utah. Hard to believe this is Utah the end of November. Short sleeve shirts. Who would have thought?

Nate was pretty excited to get snow at least one night. Sunday night we had a swirling vortex of snow. Man was the wind blowing hard. Of course no one else wanted to go outside in it so Nate had to entertain himself. He lasted about 5 minutes before he came inside and got his snow gear on. It was really cold.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention another milestone that was passed in November. My 34th birthday. My Mom came out to Louisiana to help me celebrate it. It was so nice to have her out here. She cooks, cleans, and basically spoils me rotten. I had forgotten how nice it is to have a guest who takes care of herself and ME.

Nate got me a cookbook. I haven't had time to try out any of the recipes but I will.

Australia and Thanksgiving

About a week ago, we flew down and participated in an exercise off the east coast of Australia. I never been to Australia or flown that far south of the equator. Weather was pretty good on the way down there, we just had to avoid a typhoon on the way back, no problem. The first picture is of the Northern coast of Papa New Guinea. Really not much on the island, in fact flying back we crossed it at night and there were only a handful of lights. Most of those were camp fires. The second picture is of Australia and the turquios looking thing in the water is part of the Great Barrier reef. I can say I have seen it, although at 28,000 feet it looks like stuff underwater. Anyway, from the most northern tip of Australia all the way down the east coast you can see the reef. Hopefully I can get a closer inspection of the reef some day. Airline tickets can't be that much right?

We also hosted a Thanksgiving dinner block party and invited all of those from home to it. We planned on 200 but only got just over 100. There were 15 or so Turkeys, 5 hams and all of the sides. Really it was some of the best food I have had here on the island. The chow hall has become known as the Hall of Disappointment, cause all you get is plate after plate of disappointment. I heard there were left overs but never got any. Although I have two trays of Jell-O salad that were hardly touched. Guess I know what I will be eating for snacks.

From a different prespective

About a week ago I got offered a chance to sign up for a KC-135 ride. Since my schedule was fairly light this week I signed up. It offered a different perspective of what A/R is really like. Usually, I am staring at the underside of the tanker and trying to keep connected to the boom, needless to say, its hard work. Today, it was all about sitting there and watching the whole thing.

After level-off I wandered up to the flight deck to see what was going on. You can see the "glass" cockpit, glass meaning computer generated flight instruments, definitely high tech.

The planes start out in "pre-contact" about 50 feet apart. The "contact" position is at about 12 feet of boom extension. Yep, you are close. You have a "window" or "envelope" that the boom can move freely around in before it will kick you off. On a -135 the window is not that big and it takes a lot of work to remain there. Day time refueling is a little easier as you can see the tanker the whole time, night on the other hand, all you see are rotating lights until you are about 100 feet behind them and then you can kind of see some of the references you use in the day time.

Weather today was a little on the bumpy side so the pilots had to work extra hard to get the gas. Not like pulling up to the Shell station and filling up the tank.

Not sure if you can make out the maroon thing on the glare shield, but the co-pilot went to Alabama. Guess that is alright, they are having a good season, although not as good as Texas! Hook'em Horns!

About the only thing I would have changed about today was my camera. It's a little dated and the focal length of the lens doesn't really accommodate some of what I thought were cool pictures.

Flintstone Housing

You may have been wondering what they provided for housing on Guam, or maybe you haven't. Either way here it is. We affectionately call them the Flintstone houses. As you can see they resemble the greatest cartoon family home ever.