Can't get pictures!

Two weeks ago I was convinced Micah would not being walking anytime in the next 6 months and would be nursing until he was 3 years old. He still wants to nurse every 3 hours in the day (and he'll be a YEAR at the end of this week!), and really really wants it, and refused to walk. We suddenly realized he was already past the point where all 3 other boys walked, so Trav decided to do some intensive training. He would walk him around the house letting him just hold one hand. One of Micah's favorite past times is holding onto the back of various little vehicles while any one of his brothers rides them and pulls him around the house. He has a huge grin on his face the whole time he does it. Anyway, suddenly he is standing without holding onto anything for a few seconds at a time and has taken as many as 7-8 steps walking back and forth between Trav and me. Usually it's more like 3, but you know. Crazy. And also, since I had to leave him with my friend, Candie, last week for 6+ hours, I started trying to offer more cups and stretch his feedings a few days before. And he did great with Candie, not getting cranky or needy--and chugging a whole cup of milk and going down for the usual 2-3 hour nap. So now I see in him a future of walking and independance--and suddenly I want to cling to the baby/dependance again. I didn't want to wean him right this minute--just to know he wouldn't be a teenager first. In a way I feel the need to cling to his babyhood and not let him grow any more. It always goes too fast, but the past year has been way faster than it was even with my other boys. I guess life just gets busier and busier. And here I babble about nothing and haven't even gotten the little video of Micah walking so I can post it together. Someday. Sigh.

More Easter Goodness

I have looked at a few of the youtube Easter clips over the past couple of days, and wanted to share this one...

Powerful Easter Message

I know most everyone has seen this. It seems like every conference Elder Holland gives such powerful talks and talks that I need the most at the time. This was a great one. We are still trying to figure out how to make Easter the kind of powerful and bunniless celebration that it should be. Actually I love all of the egg coloring and fun, but I always hope it doesn't detract from the really meaning, you know? Anyway, I am so thankful and awed at the sacrifice our Savior gave to us. I can't really adequately express it and because of that I probably don't express it often enough.

Lucky Me

This past week the squadrons here at Langley did a special deal for the spouses where we were able to go up in a KC135 and watch our husbands refuel. I've seen an F-15 refuel a few years ago and that was awesome. I remember being glad that Trav wasn't flying that day so he could watch the kids and I could go watch the refueling. Then I remember seeing some of the wives actually get to watch their husbands refuel and talk to them and thought that it might be quite amazing. This time my friend Candie and I traded with watching each others' kids so we could both go on different days. My experience couldn't have been more perfect. I almost don't even feel like it happened now, so I'm glad I took pictures. Above is actually Candie's picture of the KC135 from the front. This is where the boom is that they get gas from, and the window that the boom operator (and in our case, the wives) looks out of.

Erin and I before the flight. We were incredibly lucky. There were originally 10 jets flying, and only 2 ended up being able to fly, and people were nice enought to make it our husbands. And since it was just the 2 of us (so surprised there weren't a lot more), and an OB Dr from the clinic, we got to monopolize and not having to split time watching.

Me laying where the boom operator lays.

We are 28,000 ft in the air waiting the the guys to come, and the boom operator let us practice moving the boom around. He promised I couldn't hurt it. I totally felt like I would brake the thing, though. Or accidently fire a missile or something (no, they don't even have missiles, but pushing buttons that I don't know the function of makes me nervous).

This is Erin in the cockpit on the take-off. I was in the cockpit, too, a little further back.

My first sighting of Travis. This was the coolest moment.

Getting closer...

On the boom...Getting lots of gas...I mean lots...

Done getting gas.

About to fly away...

Flying away...

So then they went and did lots of cool things which we didn't seen and were back in not time for a second refueling...

So we got to wear a headset and everything to hear what the pilots, and Trav, and the boom operator were all saying and I could talk to Trav anytime I wanted. What to do say to your husband at 28,000 ft in the air, with everyone listening in? And for some reason I didn't want to break his concentration. That's a pretty crazy way to get gas!

Isn't he incredibly good looking?

Done getting gas. This time the 135 pilot told Trav to go to the right and front of the plane, wait just a minute (for me to run up front), and then do something cool for me. If all the other jets had been flying at the time, they couldn't have done that. It was amazing.

Here he goes...

And because of the delay, I took a picture too early and it was all over by the time it reset itself. It could have been a much cooler picture. Or a videocamera...yeah, that's what I need next time!

And the timing of everything couldn't have been any better, because just after we landed and got out of the tanker, the guys were ready to land and we watched them land and taxi.

I need to find a way to thank everyone who made this possible. It was so much fun. And I realize Travis has a pretty cool job, but it was really something seeing it from that point of view.

My happy helping sunbeam

A couple of weeks ago, our home teachers came to visit and sat down with the kids and sang "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam" and then talked about ways to be a sunbeam for Jesus, especially around the house. So for some reason the conversation really stuck with Kaden because for 3 days now, and especially today, he will do little things, like getting dressed before coming down in the morning, and picking up toys, and my favorite--saying "yeah!" every time it's time for rest time or bed or leaving a friends house. And he will make little comments to himself once in awhile, like the other day I heard him say "I'm going to be a good sunbeam today and pick up these toys". Mind you, this is not the norm in our house, but it has been so so nice. Today he labeled himself as Mom's helper and has gone out of his way to be nice and helpful. My sweet Kaden, who I don't always give enough credit to. He really loves to know he makes me happy and has the cutest dimpled grin. He's the primary kid waving wildly to his parents while he sings in a sacrament meeting program (or yesterday waving as he is kicking wildly and trying to stay afloat in swim lessons). I am grateful for him.

Day 7--Virginia Beach

The great thing about going to Virginia beach on a very cold day was that it was pretty deserted and everyone was dressed adequately. The kids didn't even seem to notice it was cold in their bare feet and coats. I, however was quite chilly and very glad I brought Micah's little parka (especially so I could later use his blanket for a scarf for myself =).

Neptune Statue--this was very big and cool...

Noah, Kaden and Ammon

View from the shore--I think this is both Tara's and my first view of the Atlantic Ocean. The whole reason we had to go despite the cold. It was Tara's last day with us...

Ammon

Kaden

Tara and Micah

I guess I look grumpy when I'm cold, but I wasn't feeling grumpy. Really!

We only saw after this picture that kids are not cupposed to climb on the artwork...

This was a coast guard station many years ago which is now a Coast Guard museum. Inside they had all kinds of information of methods they used to save ships in trouble (or at least all the people they could). I can't imagine how much worse it would have been when they didn't have the means to predict and follow hurricanes.

Day 6--Part 2--The Living Musem

We just left right after Noah got home from school this same day (which meant getting Micah up from quite a short nap) to catch the last hour of the living museum. We have a membership and they were nice to let Tara in for free since it was not open much longer. Totally worth it. The jellyfish are always my favorite. What amazing creatures.