Wordless Wednesday

Operation Field Trip

After gymnastics class, all the boys and their moms loaded up in the car and made a trip to the airfield.  Our friend's husband flies a C-130 (also known as Hercules) and invited us for a little field trip.  Pretty soon, the planes will be leaving the Nashville airfield, so we had to squeeze it in before April.  

We had to go through security and park our cars at different points.  We had to ride in a "bread truck". That's what it looked like but the boys enjoyed bouncing around and throwing themselves all around the place. 

 As we got on the airfield, the boys got really excited to see all the planes.

 Here is Captain Chris, giving us a little history on the planes.  These planes can hold a hummer and can drop them from the air without actually landing. He described how it felt when that much weight left the plane and how he had to correct the plane to compensate for it.  These planes do a lot of aid efforts by dropping off supplies. (I am writing this blog weeks after our field trip, so I wish I could remember more details.)

 Dylan got a chance to take the plane up in the air...ok not really, but on the way there, he asked if we were going to fly to Africa.  Everything is about Africa when we talk about flying.  Guess this boy wants to go to Africa. (One day he said, when I get older can we go to Africa so I can see if I can run faster than a cheetah.)

 Here he is with his bud Thomas (Captain Chris' son).  He has a look like, oh no, we are in trouble :)

 Lots of buttons and levers to push. Captain Chris assured us that they were ok to touch anything. It still made us moms nervous.

 Here the boys are looking at the side...what it would be like to sky dive out the side of the plane...they can only imagine.

 He looks so small compared to this aircraft.

 After the tour of the plane, we went inside to check out some other goodies. First up, the night vision goggles. obviously, I don't have a picture of them wearing the night vision goggles as the light would hurt their eyes with the googles on. Here are the googles though...

 Captain Chris took them in a closet and broke a glow stick. The boys thought it was way cool. Then myself and another mom had to check it out.  I asked, if I wanted to buy a pair, what would they cost, like $500?  No, more like a few thousands...here you go. Let me give you these back before I break them.

After the night googles, the boys got to do a parachute simulator. They put on googles that made it look like they were really falling from the sky. It was pretty cool.

 Here are the boys with Captain Chris.  Trying to get a serious picture of 4 energetic boys, mission impossible.

Thank you so much Captain Chris for giving us the tour. Best Wishes at your next mission.

February Read

The Hunger Games was all the rage last year.  Everyone was reading them and talking about how good they were.  However, I didn't have time to read. Then a few weeks ago, I saw that they were making a movie out of the book. I still hadn't read them, but I wasn't going to see the movie without reading the book.  One of the best books I have read in a while. I didn't even know what it was about and still enjoyed it.  Fabulous.  It's a must read before you see the movie.

Birthday Celebration #2

The family came out after church on Sunday to celebrate Natalie's birthday.  PawPaw, Nana, Grandmother, Granddaddy, Nanny, Aunt Tonya, Trinity and Janice all came out.  Of course, Nana spoiled Natalie. That's her love language, gifts. 

 Dylan, Trinity and Natalie playing in Natalie's princess tent.  (Dylan plays in this a lot)

 Cousins

 Happy Birthday Natalie

Look Whoooo's 1

At first, I wasn't going to do a theme for Natalie's birthday, just colors.  Thanks to pinterest and the abundance of ideas, I decided to go with a cute little owl theme (also a little Chi Omega shout out).  Every year, I try to say, I am not going to do anything big. I am really going to scale back. I know it's not like they remember, but there are always pictures. Plus, I really can't help myself. 

This will  be my new way of doing balloons.  It was so easy, very festive and a lot cheaper than helium balloons.  

 "Look Whooo's Grown"  --- I made a little tree with pictures of Natalie from Newborn to 1 year.

 I found a cute idea of making paper lanterns into owls, so they were scattered throughout the downstairs.

 Thanks to my friend, Kirsten, I had this cute little banner for Natalie.

 I love me some T@rget cupcakes, but for Natalie's party, I put some trimmings on the cupcakes to make a little owl.  This was such a cute idea.

 Then there's the cute little birthday girl.  

 She's so excited to be 1 finally!

 I did not go all out on games, that's for sure...but we did have one game....."whooo can get back into the nest"  Yes, I thought of this one all on my own.  One of the original ideas....although I am sure I was not the first.

 We had a little craft for the kiddos...what was I thinking opening up paint inside. Thankfully there were no accidents and my couches did not get painted.

After they finished the craft, they could hang to dry. 

 Natalie had cake a few times by the time her birthday rolled around.  I knew she wouldn't cry like Dylan, but I also knew that she wouldn't dig in.

 We had lots of sweet friends come to celebrate Natalie's first year.  I cannot wait to see what the next year has in store for us.

Valentines Party

I got to Dylan's school early to set up and got a sneak peek of the kids outside the bathroom saying their prayer before lunch.  Damien mentioned how he will miss this when he goes to public school...so will I. 

 Here he is sneaking a peek himself.

 After lunch, we had craft time. The kids got to decorate their very own heart mailbox so they could exchange valentines.  Dylan was ecstatic...okay maybe he's just a goof all the time.

 I don't know if the teachers sat them this way, but all boys at this table. Working so manly like with their dainty little hearts and tissue paper.

 Uh oh, someone snuck in the shot. While it is her birthday week, she has not been partying that hard as though it appears she has.

 Showing off their valentines mailbox

 After exchanging valentines, dessert was to be had.  Ice Cream Sundaes always hit the spot.

I love helping out with his school parties. I am so grateful that God has allowed me the opportunity to be a stay at home mom.  I once said I would never be one, but now I couldn't imagine not being one.