My dear friend Alexis was heading to Boise for a weekend, so she invited us to tag along. We crammed into her van and headed to B-town! We arrived Friday night after a, thankfully, uneventful road-trip. Two pregnant ladies + 5 kids could = chaos! But the kids were wonderful, and had a great time in the car.
On Saturday, my brother Mike took me and the kids and a couple of cousins out to see his Apache helicopter. Have I mentioned I have the coolest brother around, and that he flys Apaches?! It was so fun seeing him in his element. You can just tell he loves every second of his job! And I feel so secure knowing amazing men like him are protecting our country and freedoms!!
He first showed us the Blackhawk helicopters, which of course, are NOT as cool as the Apache. Save the best for last you know? Apparently the Apache pilots and Blackhawk pilots have quite the rivalry going on. Pretty funny. So, here is an overload of Apache and Blackhawk pictures.
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| Mike showing how the gun works on the Blackhawk. |
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| The kids holding their hands they way they would be holding the gun if they were shooting it. |
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| So fun! |
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| Blackhawk pilot Troy :) |
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| Blackhawk pilot Brooklyn :) |
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| Finally on to the good stuff...the Apache! |
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| Cousin Elena in the front pilot seat of the Apache. |
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| Cousin Gabe in the second pilot seat. This guy does most of the shooting...this is where Mike sits. :) |
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| Looking down the HUGE gun barrel...(I think that's the gun?! I can't remember, there were quite a few weapons on this thing!) |
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| You would have thought Mike was a kid in a candy shop. His excitement is contagious!! |
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| The missile!! This baby can track and travel 5 miles!!! |
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| Mike showing the eye piece that goes in their helmets. This baby is infrared, so they can see even tiny little bunnies from way up in the sky. Pretty amazing. This technology actually detonates if they are ever taken hostage. The helmet it goes in costs $27,000! He couldn't get the helmets because it was a Saturday and the base is closed. So when we go in the summer, we are definitely going again so we can try the helmet on! |
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| Showing our "mean" faces! "We are gonna get all you bad guys!" Funny how I just look like a dork, and Brooklyn still looks sweet. I guess we weren't meant to be Apache pilots! lol |
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| Such an incredible, and amazing machine. Thanks again Mike for the taking the time to show us!! |
It's hard to believe, but my Dad is turning 80! On February 7th to be exact. Well, we decided since I was in town, to throw him a little surprise party. We kept it secret until literally 30 minutes before party time. He was so thrilled! And it was just what my mom needed too. She had just gotten out of the hospital a few days before because of another bad case of pneumonia and pleurisy. The party really perked her spirits up,and seemed to make her feel better. And it was just what my dad needed too I think to get his mind off of more serious matters, my mom's health. I love seeing them still so in love. It is so evident with how they treat each other. I have been truly blessed with amazing examples.
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| I simply ADORE this picture. |
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| The spread. We kept it simple, cookies, cake and water. :) |
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| Some of their dear friends, who have known them forever. The Johnsons, and Brinkerhoffs. |
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| Girls on one side... |
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| Boys on the other! lol |
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| Mom's dearest friend, Karen Call. |
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| Love this. These two together = constant laughter and silliness!! |
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| Bug Walker, Andra Walker Shosted, Mike and Cassie, and our cousin Jana and her husband. |
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Melanie and cousin Shel.
I am so thankful for the knowledge and blessing of eternal families. With my parents getting older, it is a constant comfort to know that we will be together again when the time does come for them to pass on. I am so thankful I was able to visit. We miss them all already. |
1 comments:
prepare for a novel (just warning you)
I loved this post!!! First it was so fun to hear about you and Ali taking a road trip together. HOw come you couldn't come another little bitty 5 hours? I mean sheesh. ;) How fun though!! Man I miss you guys so much. Have I mentioned that lately?
That was super cool to see the pics of the helicopters and hear details about them. THat stuff is fascinating. And I love those tough military guys... good thing I"m married and your brother is married or I'd be pretty annoying. haha! jk :) I've been reading some books lately about our military and the special forces - very interesting and humbling what they train for and go through for our country and freedom. so tell him thanks!
The party for your dad looked so fun! I feel like I totally know your parents since I spent one Thanksgiving with them, ha! :) THey are so cute. I love hearing updates on how they are doing. I hope your mom is continuing to get better now. One of these times when you're in Boise I want to meet up with you. Is that crazy? Probably. It might never work out. I'm just lonely and miss ya! :) Hope everything is going well - call me sometime!
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