Just the Highlights

I am way behind in my blogging. I know that it probably doesn't matter to anyone but me, but it does matter to me. This blog is kind of like our family journal. It helps me keep a record of what we are up to....so for the sake of remembering....I took almost 1000 pictures on our little trip across the country. I am just going to stick to the highlights of our trip and hopefully it won't take me too long to get caught up.

First I have to say that we didn't get to see a lot of people that we really wanted to. Lack of time, poor planning maybe, and a sick baby. Sorry. Please know that we tried really hard to see everyone and it just didn't work out. We love you though.

On to the highlights.

Jimmy and I drove in separate cars. I wouldn't recommend traveling across country that way. We really didn't have a choice though. I took Madeline with me and the puppies kept Jimmy company. Madeline was a trooper and a great traveler. She was good for about 400 miles and around that time we would have to call it a day. I listened to Baby Signing Times the entire trip. I could probably sing it backwards, blindfolded.

We got lucky and found hotels that allowed the dogs to stay with us, nice hotels too...I was very surprised. The puppies were in heaven sleeping on a king size bed. As you can see, so was Madeline.

On this trip Madeline started eating rice cereal and oatmeal. She has now expanded her palate to include bananas, apricots, peaches, pears, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, chicken, mac and cheese....she pretty much eats anything and loves it.

I loved this trip because we decided to just take our time and do whatever we wanted. Like stopping to see....

That's right, we went to Graceland. It was pretty awesome. Especially the carpet room. Green shag carpet from floor to ceiling. I don't think I have ever seen anything so hideous. It was so crowded and get this, they recieve flowers on a daily basis....still! Crazy.

A few more pictures of Graceland...

If you're ever in Memphis you should go see Graceland.

It's worth it just to say you have been there.

On our way to Utah we stopped off in Fort Collins to see Joanna and Greg and their family. I don't know how we did this, but we managed to leave their house with only pictures of Madeline and Merideth. Not sure how that happened. Anyway here are the two cuties...

While in Fort Collins we made a little trip to Estes Park. It was beautiful and very very cold! Joanna and Greg told us about some great taffy so we stopped and bought a box and had lunch at a little italian restaurant. It was pretty rainy so we didn't stay too long. Long enough to see how beautiful it was and to buy a t-shirt for Becky. (hee hee)

Thank you Greg and Joanna! We had a great time at your house and were so glad that we got to see everyone.

Thanks for putting up with our noisy and naughty pups.

We drove over the mountain on our way to St. George and hit a snowstorm. It was scary. I thought we were going to die. I am glad that I grew up in Utah and that I know how to drive in the snow. It was slippery, and downhill, and in a mountain and everything else you can imagine about driving in the snow that would be bad. We made it safely to Vail and stopped to let Madeline and the pups experience snow for the first time. Madeline was all bundled up.

We decided to stay in Moab for the night and then hit Arches the next morning before heading to St. George.

Those pictures and more on the next post....

Licky Licky Boom Boom

Madeline has discovered her tongue....

Need I say more???

Flight School Graduation

Jimmy is now officially a rated aviator! Yahoo!

Graduation was on October 16th. I am so proud of my hubby. He has been at Fort Rucker since August of 2006 and now he's moving on. He worked so hard and did so well in his training. Flight school is a ton of work and Jimmy did a great job. He was so dedicated to learning the material and put in his time. We are so proud of him and all of his hard work. Here's to our Chinook pilot! We love you!

Me and Madeline pinned on his wings. It was a happy happy day!

Graduation Ball

The ball has come and gone. I am happy to say that with the assistance of a rib crushing girdle and sacrificing the need to breathe for the evening I was able to squeeze myself into my dress. Yes, I could have just gone out and bought a new one, but that would have been too easy. I like a challenge. Besides an evening isn't complete until you have to go and pretend to be using the nearby ATM machine just so you can conspicuously unzip your dress for a few seconds and take a few deep breaths. More than once. I suppose it would have added a little excitement if I just passed out but I wasn't really up for that.

The ball was fun. I like it when Jimmy gets all dressed up in his fancy schmancy uniform. He's hot. We had fun, the food was okay. My favorite was the piece of sheet cake with blue frosting that dyed my lips, teeth, and tongue. Awesome!

We got lucky and were able to spend the evening with some of our favorite people, the ever so entertaining Sara and Jackson Gray, and the ever so delightful Katie and Ryan Whipple.

We ate, had a program, the spouses got wings (well, some of the spouses got wings...hee hee), and danced a few dances. It was fun.

Becky, this one is for you....

Fort Bragg

We took advantage of a four day weekend and went on a road trip to Fort Bragg. It was our trial run before driving to the west coast with Madeline. She really did great, that may have something to do with the fact that she always had someone in the back seat to entertain her. The next trip will be a different story.

We are so glad we went! We stayed with our friends Josy, William, and Arianna Basel...oh and don't forget Jake. They had a very full house. Steve and Adriana Souza and their little girl Isabella stayed there also. So in total there were 6 adults, 3 babies, and 5 dogs. It was super fun.

We also got to see our friends Adam and Lauren Davies before they head off to Germany, the Stonemans, and Jim Nguyen.

It was a wonderful weekend. It was full of good friends, good breakfast, dogs, the labrynth, x-box, babies, dogs, and more dogs. Thanks for letting us come and visit! We were so glad to see everyone!

Daleville High School Football Game

We went to the Daleville High football game and it was so fun! Minus the bug that flew down my shirt and got lost.

The people in Alabama love their football...so does my hubby. It was Madeline's first football game and she seemed to really enjoy being outside listening to the loud screaming fans. Our friend Todd Cooper came with us. Daleville ended up winning so there were some happy fans. Good for them, it was their homecoming game too.

Halloween Bunko

Okay, I have a ton to catch up on so just pretend that these aren't going waaaay back....

My last Bunko in Alabama. It was of course a Halloween theme. Mindy did such a great job. The food and decorations were awesome. Everyone went all out and got all dressed up in their costumes. It was so fun!

Here's a little group picture:



Jen Cooper (Sara Palin) she won the best costume...she really looked like her, it was great!, Jenny Khuni (pink power ranger), Natalie Kattelman (Masquerade due to child traumatization her mask is not shown), Holly Dippold (Cinderella), Lori Stockton (lighting strikes again), Amy Ellington (playboy bunny), Amanda Magonigal (spider & web), Carmella (something really great but I don't know exactly what), Shanell Dawson (goth girl), Raquel Shepard (ninja, awesome numchucks too!), Mindy Salisbury (firefighter), Jennie Taylor (80's girl), Missy (Pirate), Kristen Symes (baby), Sara Allen & Kylee Kunzler (Giant), Katie Whipple (Crocodile Hunter), Sara Gray (Office watcher)

What a fun group of girls! I sure am going to miss you all!

Home Sweet Hawaii

10 bags, one stroller, one carseat, flat tired luggage cart, one teething baby, an extra night in a hotel to score $1800 in travel vouchers, one migrane, three hungry bellies, and a rental car that luckily fit all of the 10 bags...later, we are in Hawaii!

ALOHA! We made it here safe and sound. Things have been kind of crazy and I have a lot to update on so that will be coming. We had a great trip across the country and visiting family in Utah but I must say it is good to be here and to know that we will be here for a while.

Hawaii is beautiful. We have been house hunting, which has taken us all over the island. The mountains are so green and just beautiful. Yesterday we went out to the North Shore and I loved it! The scenery is just amazing and guess what...we live here! Yahoo! It seems so strange to me that we aren't here on vacation. We have hit it hard with looking for a house, the Utah BYU game is coming quickly and we're going to need Direct TV asap! Thankfully, after the stress of looking we think we have found one that will be fabulous! We are just waiting on an ok for the pups (who we miss terribly) Thank you Larry and Becky for puppysitting. It is only 10 minutes from where Jimmy will be working, there's hardly any traffic, the neighborhood is awesome, and we will actually save some money. It's a little four bedroom house and I am absolutely excited about it. We should find out on Monday.

I will update some more in the next few days. You have to see Madeline, she is getting so big! She has a tooth pushing it's way out on the bottom and the poor little girl is feeling it! She has been such a trooper and a great little traveler!

Start planning your trips now! You're more than welcome to stay with us! Yahoo, pinch me....we live in Hawaii!