Flying with Dad Part 2

So, that was the plan, great family flying time! I really do love flying - it is one of my favorite past times in which I have great memories of my dad. He was a pilot before he could drive, an amazing flight instructor and taught me how to fly when I was 16 years old. Unfortunately, I never got my license due to problems with motion sickness - which I was told I would eventually out grow. Well, I never did, but it doesn't stop me from the love of flying (as long as I have drugs :)) I even sometimes get sick if I am driving and carnival rides are out of the question - even with a double dose of Dramamine. (I can't even do swing sets or most video games.)



But, with Dramamine, I usually don't get too sick when flying (I have to fly quite a bit for work). For this flight, Blake couldn't find me my normal chewable Dramamine, so he got something called Bonine. Needless to say, the new Bonine drug did not work at all!


We took off, turned south and before we were even to Kuna, I was asking how long the flight was and was desperately trying to get the air on my face and started my "breathing so I don't puke" technique. We were barely over Kuna and I was begging for him to land in Nampa. He called the tower and got us down in record time. I felt SO badly! I hated that I was so sick (Little Sarah wasn't feeling so great either) So I didn't know what to do - I was going to walk before I got back in the plane to fly back to Boise. I tried calling my mom to see if she could come pick us (me and L. Sarah) up, but couldn't get ahold of her. Blake was going to have to fly back to Boise, get the car and drive to Nampa to get us and take us home. He only had the plane for a couple hours and I couldn't let that happen. I finally got ahold of my mom and she graciously came to the rescue.


I really wanted Blake to continue the planned flight with Brandon and that is just what they did. When Brandon found out he was going to get to ride in the front seat - he was smiling ear to ear. He kept boasting how he had a stomach of steel and was just fine. Here is our elated 10 year old.

Still smiling - I think he had this smile on his face ALL day!

It was getting pretty dark when they got back

The Boise airport at dusk

They had a great flight and some quality father-son time together. Little Sarah and I made it home and had a great time together too - we made popcorn balls and caramel corn and enjoyed hanging out without the boys!

Flying with Dad

New Year's Day was a very special day for Blake and the kids. Even though Blake got his pilot's license in 1995, this day was the first time they ever got to fly with him! Since Blake is now going back to school for aviation and working on his instrument and commercial license (and thanks to some much needed loans) he has been putting in the hours towards those goals. Thankfully, one of his scheduled flights was this day and we also had the kids, so we made a family day of it.

Brandon being Brandon

Sweet Sarah

Blake testing the fuel as part of the pre-flight check

Excited for the flight

Blake in front of the Cessna 172 (101 golf victor)

Me (thinking I was excited)

SO, Blake had this flight all planned out (we were both very excited). We were going to leave Boise and head southwest and fly over our house in Kuna, then head west to Ontario -land and then go to Weiser - land and then go to Nampa - land and head back to Boise. A great family outing and time in the air for Blake.

So far, so good - just before take-off - happy kids!

To Be Continued...

Birthdays and Babies

There is a lot happening in the month of February for our families! First, February 3rd - it has been 9 years since the passing of my dad. Incidentally, it is also my cousin Josh's daughter Leah's birthday (7 years old this year). Then there is February 12th which was my parent's anniversary - so I always think of that. Next is February 14th - Blake's sister Jennifer's birthday and of course Valentine's Day! February 16th is my brother Ben's birthday. February 19th is Blake's birthday and February 22nd is my step-father-in-law, Les' birthday! Phew!

So for Blake's side of the family, we got together on February 15th to celebrate birthdays for Jennifer, Blake and Les!

Make a wish!

While at Jennifer's, we just can't get enough of those sweet new babies! This day they were 3 months and one day old. Chloe now weighs 10lbs 4oz and Rylie is close behind at 10lbs. It is interesting to think that some newborns are 10lbs and here the girls are 3 months old and are about the size of newborns.
Chloe and Jennifer

Chloe with Uncle Blake (Rylie was sleeping)

Me and Rylie (similar to the picture from my previous blog when she was 6 weeks old) She has changed so much and really filled out!

The girls are smiling and cooeing a lot, but it is so hard to catch the smiles with the camera! Here I finally got one! So precious!

Me and Chloe - she was talking to me and telling great stories

Funny expression from Rylie :) She was smiling too, but couldn't get the camera to take fast enough!

Brandon trying to hold Rylie - this only lasted seconds before she sensed how uncomfortable he was and she wasn't having any of it. Grammy Patti came to the rescue.

Me with Chloe, L. Sarah with Rylie - you can see how much they look alike now and how much Rylie has caught up to her sister Chloe - they are only 4 ounces apart!

Happy Birthday Blake and Ben!

Saturday we celebrated Blake's 37th BD (February 19th) and my brother Ben's 32nd BD (February 16th) at our house! We had a great time and felt blessed to get us all together on a Saturday we had Blake's kids too. Thanks to everyone we had a great spaghetti dinner topped off with Anita's chocolate cake! We decided to forgo all the candles but still sang happy birthday. All the kids play so well together - they are a joy to be around. Thanks for the memories and mom, thanks for jumping in and helping with the chaos when you first came over :)
Love you all!

Blake

Ben

Brandon and Sarah

Mom

Angela

Ben

Sarah and Blake

Our New Nieces

Blake's sister Jennifer gave birth to two beautiful baby girls on November 14th, 2008 - Chloe Joan and Rylie June. Rylie spent several days in the NICU, but all three went home together. These pics are from Christmas (about six weeks old) - Rylie was still trying to catch up to her bigger sister here, I think they were still over a pound apart. They are now three months old and only 4 ounces separates them and now, to the outsider, are very hard to tell apart! They are so very precious and so well loved by their older brother and sister, Ashton and Kenzie. Here are some pics from Christmas, I still need to upload the pics from last week, but will get some of those posted soon too. Love you girls!

Jennifer and Chloe



Chloe

Rylie and Chloe

Me and Rylie

Me and Chloe

Chloe and proud mama

Chloe

Some of the girls - Kenzie, Megan (Blake's youngest sister), Me, Rylie and Little Sarah

The Big Girls - Patti (Blake's mom), Jennifer, L. Sarah, Megan, Kenzie and me

Me and Rylie

Back in the Day

How fun is this...my CeCe (Aunt Tracy) posted these old pics on Facebook the other day. Thank goodness for cameras! When I was younger, I dreaded the fact that my mom always had a camera in her hand and she was always making us take group pictures, but now I am eternally greatful. Now I am the one the kids, friends, and family dread as I am always trying to take pictures to capture the moments as well as everyday life. My favorite of these pics is the one of me and Ben (we all wonder what he is laughing about) and the one of my dad and Ben walking down the sidewalk.

Me and Ben

Dad and Ben

Mom and Ben

Ben - how sweet

Ben apparently trying to blow grass like his uncle Dan

After CeCe's wedding: me, Great Grandma Wilder, Ben and cousin Josh

Ben, me and cousin Josh on steps of PUBs (Uncle Bryan) apartment in Rupert

MIA

So I have been missing in action since October with this blogging thing. Not for lack of trying though - I have had more frustrations with this thing than I can really explain - I have spent hours trying to change my background and template and have about had it! I finally got this kind of changed without losing too much, but I am not sure I have the patience for this! So here are a few pics from the past few months.

Blake embarrasing his 13 year old daughter by trying to get a picture with her and his Christmas tie and suspenders - she was mortified!

Becky and me after the YMCA Christmas Run!

Fun with lifelong friends - me, Lori and Laura


Little Sarah

Mom's Birthday - a toast to us all!