Tyler the Texan's Birthday Party

Well the third year has come! Tyler celebrated his Birthday on Saturday with lots of friends. We went to the indoor playroom/partyroom at the on-base activity center where the kids got cowboy hats, paper vests to decorate and shiny sheriff badges. We ate barbecue and had cake...an all 'round fun time was had by all. Tyler is grateful for his gifts, two dinosaurs, cars and Play-doh! He loves his tonka garbage truck from Grammy and Grandad (he picked it out). He also loves his transformer that came from Grandpa Bill, and the soccer ball, football helmets and airplane launcher from the Fifes. Thanks to Laurie for getting a portable airplane gift...Hot Wheels "Snake Escape" - which has made as many trips to preschool as Tyler. Thanks to you all.

My Stint on Youtube

OK, so it was kind of fun thinking that if I got enough of my friends to "pity vote" for me, I might be able to win some credit towards "Liken" products by entering LIken Star 2 contest. (They really are amazing videos awesome for the whole family, check them out at: http://www.likenthebible.com/affiliates//idevaffiliate.php?id=133). So after hemming and hawing, I finally got the nerve on Friday night and the submission deadline was on Saturday. Tyler's Birthday party was that day so I couldn't do any videoing, so I made Kurt stand on the bed with our ancient digital camera at 11pm as I sang just loud enough to be heard by the camera and not by the other people in the TLF (military hotel). That was a blast...NOT. So it came out well enough or so I thought until I got blasted on YouTube by a 43 year-old computer junkie who has nothing better to do than sit around writing nasty things about people. Have to say that didn't do anything for the confidence level! Guess I will stick to acting and leave the singing to the professionals!

Fall in Arkansas

Well, so far we have survived the TLF (two-bedroom hotel) that we have been in since August. We took advantage of the base pool and the local "Splash Zone" as well as Chuck-E-Cheese and the indoor and outdoor playgrounds on base. Recently we took a trip to the Longeway's "Farm" where the kids got to see the community garden. Hannah and Tyler have started morning pre-school programs to keep them busy now. They are at the Jacksonville Christian Academy which has the ABEKA curriculum that worked so well for Sarah. Both kids are so smart and are doing well.

Sarah is attending Arnold Drive Elementary School on base and is doing really well. She was the top scorer in her class in reading and very high for her age on Math! Hannah and Sarah are both in Soccer and are doing really well.

Hannah is getting more agressive on the field, and stopped making eyes at the boys (no, really) and Sarah has gotten a piece of the ball numerous times during her games. Tyler loves to help his sisters "practice." Team Mom keeps me plenty busy as does the party I am planning for Tyler's Birthday...pictures to come soon.

We all have taken every opportunity to have sushi in preparation for Japan. Our sponsors sent us each our own set of chopsticks too and some Japanese candy and snacks. This has made each of us that much more excited to go, although it is nice catching up with our friends here in Arkansas.

Kurt is doing very well in his school, although he is his typical modest self when asked. He starts flying the C-130 again next week and can't wait - simulators just aren't the same. He only has six flights until he is finished so depending on weather and scheduling, we could be gone right at the beginning of November...will keep you all posted!

Homeless

Right now we are officially homeless. We moved out of our Del Rio house, which we were blessed to have sold in this terrible market, on June 28th. We drove to Arkansas and then got on a plane two days later for New York. We had a nice visit with the Campbells; the whole family was there and we had a lot of activities: Saratoga County fair, Hoffman's playland, Clifton Park Library (where Sarah got to learn a dance from High School Musical from two girls who were dancers in the movie), day at Sacandaga Lake, rainy day at indoor bouncy castle/land, date night with Laurie and Billy, and of course time at Grammy and Grandads.

We then got on a plane and made it to Charlotte, NC where we got laid over for 24 hours because of weather. We spend the day at the Concord Mills Mall and ate, saw "Space Chimps," walked, shopped, ate, played on indoor playground, walked, napped in car, and then went to the airport. It was exciting when someone had broken through security and the entire airport locked down including departing flights. They got the guy so business resumed shortly thereafter and we got to Little Rock at about 1 am. We turned around the next morning and drove to Utah. It was really cool driving through Kansas...there was a double rainbow, didn't see what was "over" it as we were going pretty fast, but it was neat nonetheless. We stopped in Stratton, Colorado at the Best Western, a really nice little place, newly renovated and very reasonably priced. We did get the last room and at one point there were four of us in the King bed and one on the rollaway. After hot buffet breakfast (was included) we hit the road and made it to Brigham City about 8pm, where we were greeted by Great Grandpa Gunther and "George the Weiner Dog" whom we had saved from the streets about a year ago, and who was hand-delivered by us to Utah as an early Christmas present for Great Grandpa last year. Anyway, we had a big family dinner for Aunt Jennifer's belated Birthday and it was great to see the cousins...who knows what other adventures await us here in Utah.

Javelina Movie

I was really lucky to have gotten involved in another movie here in Del Rio. "Javelina" turned out to be better than I expected. I didn't know anything about the movie when I answered the extras casting call, by the end, I had made some great new friends and worked with some very talented people. Barry Tubb ("Wolfman" in Top Gun..."Where'd who go?") is the director and is quite a character on and off the set. I also got to meet and observe Kate, a very talented actress from Ireland. We got to chatting and the subject of the Oscars came up. She finds going a terrible bore and more like work than anything else. Three hours of traffic for three blocks, then you get there and sit for seven more hours. When you get up to use the bathroom, your seat is taken by a designated seat filler so the audience is always at top capacity for the cameras. When anyone performs, the television cameras completely surround the stage and it is impossible to see anything from the audience. So how does Kate get invited to the Oscars? She goes with her Father, Peter O'Toole! You never know who you will meet in the most unlikely of places. Lets just say, my six degrees of separation has gotten quite a bit more star-studded! Anyway, I am grateful to have had the opportunity and for Mr. Tubb to have had us back for multiple scenes. Will have to wait at least a year...am still awaiting fruits of last May's labors and "The Man Who Came Back."

Easter in Del Rio

So I know I am going back in time a bit, but it was the last major holiday and a time for great pictures too. The kids dressed in their Easter clothes for church were so adorable. Tyler looks like such a big little man. Afterwards, we went to some friends' house for a dinner and egg hunt. The kids had a blast with their cascarones...Tyler even cracked one on his own head...not sure he gets the point, but he had fun. We also played a really fun game called the Great Dalmudi. It gets pretty funny since the winner ends up the "President" and the loser ends up, well...embarrassed (sitting on a bucket wearing a wig)! This guy is the President of our Church branch - and F-15 pilot!