Academy Graduation

Almost 12 years to the day have passed between my first Air Force Academy graduation and my second. Twelve years ago, I watched Derick graduate and our future was laid before us. Since then, we were engaged and married. I finished my Master's degree and Derick completed pilot training (and later, his Master's.) We have had two healthy children and have moved together seven times (counting the move in which we are currently involved).

Twelve years have passed in the blink of an eye. I wonder what the next 12 will hold. Twelve years from today, Mattie will be 19 and Caroline will be within weeks of turning 17. Will USAFA be back in the picture again, but for a new Steed cadet? Or will we simply return every ten years to celebrate the passing of time with Derick's classmates?

Only time will tell, but if the past is any indication of the future, we will reach that point in our lives in just a few minutes.

Sieze the day!

MOVING Right Along

We are in Colorado Springs tonight. Tomorrow we will go to USAFA graduation before hitting the road to Kansas. We will be camping at a KOA tomorrow night right smack dab in the middle of the state. Wakeney I do believe. Today's drive took much, much longer than it should have due to someone (me) needing to stop early-on at a bathroom and a jeep that requires a new tank of gas every two hours or so. Oh, also, the jeep is not fun to drive faster than 70mph. That is my opinion of course, but since I am driving it, it is the one that counts.

We are at a really nice hotel tonight with a beautiful view of the Academy in the distance. There is an indoor pool, and outdoor hot tub and an outdoor fire. The girls and I have taken advantage of all amenities. 

I have lots of fabulous pictures to share. They are all on my camera and I apparently let the movers pack the cord that connects my camera to my computer. So....that stinks.

Stayed up far too late last night visiting with friends before our departure. Ready to CRASH.

The Great Hotel Caper

Last night, we arrived at our hotel after a very long day of preparing the house for movers. Normally, we would stay in TLF (temporary living facility) which is basically a house or suite of rooms on base with a kitchen, washer/dryer access, etc. Some GENIUS decided to renovate ALL of the TLFs at once and of course they are running behind on the completion. Therefore, we are staying in a hotel about 10 minutes from our house (as opposed to TLF, which is walking distance from our house). 

We arrived at our hotel last night about 7. Just enough time to unload everything, get baths for the girls and get them in bed--remember, Mattie is still in school. Well, we open the door to our room and it is super tiny. Just enough room to walk between the pull out couch and the end of the bed, but not enough room to get between the end of the pull out couch and the TV stand. Keep in mind, we are staying here a full week with all of the items we didn't want the movers to take (clothes, computers, beach bag, shoes, etc.).

Derick stews as we unpack and try to get organized. Mattie and I rearrange furniture in an attempt to get all of our suitcases to fit. Derick goes to front desk. No more two bedrooms available until Friday. Derick fumes. I wrangle excited children into bed. Derick calls lodging and asks what they were thinking booking a room this size for 4 people. They apologize but can't help until the morning. Derick blows smoke out his ears. I wrestle with children who don't want to sleep (by now it is 9). Derick returns to front desk...

And returns with a key to a new room!!!! Yay, Derick!!! So we get the kids, who are finally on the verge of sleep, and haul them down to the next room. Two queen beds and a sofa with enough room for our stuff. 

Once I got into bed, I realized the only time I sat down all day was to eat supper and ride in the car. Yay for bed.

See what you are missing all you non-military people. Tara, I bet you will be begging Cope to go back to active duty after reading this post!

Terminator Salvation

Many of you know that the Wing here at Kirtland did a lot of the flying for the movie Terminator Salvation. A lot (if not all) of the movie was filmed here. Derick did some flying for the movie and that has afforded us an opportunity to see a different side of film making. Back while the movie was still being filmed, Derick met (and eventually introduce me) to the producer, MCG. We also attended a wrap party for the movie. Many of the main characters also attended the party, but Christian Bale (main character) did not attend.

WELL. Today Kirtland AFB was treated to a premiere showing of the movie. We had reserved seats and everything. I don't like those kind of movies, but this one was really good & more interesting because it was filmed here. Unfortunately, the scene with the C-130's was cut. However, after the showing, there was a real live, in person, right there in the little movie theater, interview with the producer MCG AND Chrsitian Bale. How bout them apples. I am convinced this is the closet brush we will ever have with Hollywood!

I did not get to see the interview or the movie star as I had to leave in time to pick up the girls (and did not know at the time that Bale would be there, it was a total surprise). Derick, however, stayed and got to see him. 

Pretty cool and a lot more interesting than me boring you with details about moving. BTW, our internet gets turned off tomorrow (Monday). I think we will have access at the hotel, but I doubt blogging will be a priority! See many of you within just a few weeks.

Jelly Bean No More

Last night was Caroline's Jelly Bean graduation. That is code for 4-year old preschool graduation. We enjoyed a great program where the kids sang for us and then we had refreshments together.  Here are some pictures from the big event.

The first picture (which was supposed to be last) is from Mattie's Jelly Bean Graduation in May 2007. I thought it would be fun to see how both girls have changed in the last two years. In the old picture, Mattie was 5 years and 7 months old and Caroline was 2 years and 10 months.  Caroline is now only 4 years and 10 months, of course...but the changes are remarkable.

The kids process in to "Proud to be an American."

Posing in front of the church.

Fini Flight

Pretty sure you will see this pic on a Christmas card later this year...

Today was the very last day that Derick will fly a military aircraft for a long time. We know it will be at least a year, it could be many more. The girls and I were honored to attend his "fini flight" and even got to spray some water on him as he emerged from the plane. Derick has just under 3,000 hours in the C-130. Wow. I think he deserves a pat on the back.

How will it be to live with him when he doesn't get to fly? I don't know because I've never had to do it. That's right, almost 11 years of marriage and a couple of years of dating and he has always been flying one plane or another. The adventure continues...

Mother's Day Weekend

Silly Hat Day at Jelly Bean Class

Mattie really likes to play goalie.

One last stop for milkshakes at Rt 66 Diner.

Mother's Day at Sandia Crest.

We are busy getting in "one last time" at all of our favorite places and Mother's Day was no exception. We drove up to Sandia Crest and had lunch at the grill there. I LOVE the taquitos and guacamole. It was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed it.

Monday, Derick and Caroline went to the zoo. Last night, Derick and Mattie went to an Isotopes baseball game. 

This week is Caroline's graduation from preschool (although she will go again next year) and her end of school picnic.

We leave ABQ in 16 days!

Daughters

One refuses to wear skorts, the other cut holes in her shorts at school today. New shorts. From the Easter Bunny. 

So, I made a Target run with my yard sale money and bought Caroline SHORTS not SKORTS with elastic waistbands (the only kind she really cares to wear) and Mattie shorts WITHOUT holes so that she can look nice this summer (she will be wearing the holey ones to school for the rest of the season).

It gets better.

At bedtime, I showed Caroline her new shorts, pointing out that one pair is exactly like a pair she already has, but these are dark blue and those are light. Mattie peers over the edge of her bunk at this time and says, "The light blue ones are in the trash."

What!? This is especially alarming because Mattie, in an attempt to earn allowance for a Star Wars toy, emptied all of the little trash cans into the big one this afternoon. 

"The heart shirt is in there, too," explains Caroline, big brown eyes looking so sad and innocent. You see, Caroline did not like the clothes I selected for her this morning. Since I was busy with the yard sale, she dressed herself (in a t-shirt and winter pants, though the high today was 91) and I thought nothing else of the light blue shorts and heart t-shirt I had chosen for her. Until now.

So, in going through the trash three times, I not only discovered the missing shirt and shorts, but a bag full of clothes that I had set aside to give a friend of mine. Mattie had also grabbed those in her exuberance to empty as many trash cans as possible. Seven total. She counted. 

Overload

Here is a day in the life...

For two years, I have been picking up the kids at school on Wednesday afternoon at 1.

At 1:10 today, I am browsing in Black & White and my phone rings. It is the school..."please come pick up your kids, school was over at 1."

What!! I bet the people in the store thought I was crazy the way I went running from there. 

Here's my story...Caroline had to go to school today (as opposed to her our normal Wednesday schedule which includes dance at 10). Well, I thought, I will just leave her for lunch bunch, pick her up at 1:30 and have plenty of time to get to the other kids by 2.

I had this planned out for DAYS.

I may have fooled everyone by taking a morning off for shopping (I got some good stuff) and lunch with a friend, but I am not fooling myself. There is still a lot to accomplish...and time is getting shorter, and shorter, and shorter...

Sunday in Jemez

Picnic at the perfect camp spot.

Girls on a rock.

Bridge crossing.

Today we visited one of my favorite places in the whole world...the Jemez Mountains. We hiked out to the perfect camping spot and had a picnic lunch. It was great!

On Saturday, Mattie watched Blue Planet and before it was over she had made all sorts of tree hugger signs. She has posted them in her window. Derick is threatening to send her to Santa Fe to live.

2009 Mother's Day Tea at St Paul's

I can't believe it is our last two weeks at St Paul's preschool. When Mattie started there as a 4-year-old and Caroline a 2-year-old, it seemed like we would be in Albuquerque forever. Now Caroline is getting ready to "graduate" from the 4-year class!

I just can't tell you how cute she looked--the picture doesn't do her justice!

My favorite part of preschool is the Mother's Day Tea. I loved it when Mattie did it and I loved it Friday when I attended with Caroline. The kids from the Jelly Bean class stand on risers and sing songs to their mothers (I did video for summer viewing), the teacher reads what each child had to say about their moms and they give out flower pots (with a flower) and cards that they made for each mom. It is absolutely the sweetest thing ever. Afterwards, we have refreshments and the table is covered in a cloth decorated by the kids. I LOVE IT! Who needs more of a Mother's Day gift than that?