Take Flight!

The other day we decided to have an adventure, so the boys chose a trip to the Palm Springs Air Museum. I cannot believe that we have never been there, and it is right here in the desert.

It is really a great place. We were very impressed!

This is an air museum, but the emphasis is mostly WWII. There are two wings - the Pacific and the European. We started in the Pacific wing.

The docents there were wonderful! The were all WWII vets and so proud and anxious to share their stories with us. They were very helpful, and let the kids be kids - climbing into planes and simulators. So fun!

Almost all of the planes in the museum still fly! Some were still dripping oil so there were oil pans under the planes.

The kids had a blast in the simulators!

There are also a mot of planes and helicopters in the back right beside the tarmac for the PS airport.

There was also a M*A*S*H* style tent set up back there that the boys enjoyed exploring.

And helicopters and jeeps to climb on.

This helio was huge!

We could watch the planes at the airport take off and land.

Back inside the museum we explored the Europe wing where they have a great area just for kids. They could try on military uniforms, color and craft.

There were also more vehicles, flying and non-flying, to climb on.

Nate was having too much fun with the machine guns on the biplane.

And they played and pretended for a long time that they were behind enemy lines. We decided that we need an old airplane in our backyard! How fun would that be? I promised them I'd look for one at a garage sale.

There also was a real airplane that they could paint!

The whole museum was really fascinating and the boys learned a lot.

Upstairs, there is a really impressive WWII library with some really knowledgeable and helpful docents. If my kids ever need to do a report on WWII I will certainly send them there first.

They also have a bank of computers that have WWII airplane simulator programs. The docents were wonderful! They patiently showed the older boys how to do the controls (they made it very clear that these are NOT video games!), then they took the two boys who were too young and helped them with another game and shewed Mom and I off to go watch some movies. They told us to go enjoy ourselves and kept all the kids entertained.

It was wonderful because we some some short documentaries where WWII vets talked about their experiences. One 99 year old vet told about his experience as a paratrooper in Normandy. Having recently been to Normandy, I found his story very moving! We were both so touched and cried like crazy as he reminded us of the price of freedom. We are so grateful!

It was a wonderful visit! We will come back for sure!

18 years...That's Amore!

Yesterday, Dennis and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary!

This was our picture that was in our wedding announcement. We were so young and so excited about what was in store for us! We looked forward with anticipation to our wedding, finishing school, buying a home, careers, callings, and kids, ... especially kids. We had plans, but they were only just plans - nothing concrete, except each other.

And that was all we needed to get started.

Now, 18 years later, there is so much that is set in stone. Dennis well settled into his career, we are well settled into our home, and our family is here and set. 6 boys. Who would have thought?

And our exciting, giddy, make-my-heart-go-pitter-patter, the-world-is-our-oyster love has settled into something else, too - a deeper love that can only come from sharing a life, with all of its ups and downs, together, loving and working together for a common purpose - from counting on each other to make it all work. It is a comfortable kind of love that is intertwined with so much more than a love for each other. It includes with it a love for my children, and family, my home, and every memory that we have created together - I wouldn't trade it for anything.

(But he can still make my heart go pitter-patter. Definitely!)

We still can look forward with anticipation and excitement, but now we can do it from a nice settled vantage point, and have something to look back on as well. I like the view from up here just fine.

You know, I moved out of my parents' home when I was 18, which means I have lived with Dennis for just as long as I had lived with my own parents. Amazing.

Yesterday, on our anniversary, we spent most of the day just working on stuff around the house. I had my responsibilities to take care of, and he had his. We didn't see a whole lot of each other except for maybe a "Happy Anniversary, honey" and a kiss as we passed now and then in the hallway. But when the evening came we got all gussied up, and went on a date - just the two of us, just the way it all started.

We went to Amore Ristorante. We had never been before. It was a perfect choice! The food was wonderful and the atmosphere was so romantic. It brought us back to our trip to Italy together, which brought us back to our trip to France together, which reminded us of all the trips we have taken together, and trips we have taken with our kids, and other things we have done together - 18 years worth of memories.

One funny thing I noticed quite a while back is how different Dennis and I are when it comes to anniversaries. I tend to use that time to think about our past and all we have done while Dennis always uses that time to look forward to what the future will bring. I ask "What were we doing 18 years ago?" and he asks "Where will we be 18 years from now?" For him, and anniversary is a time to measure how far we have come and where we are compared to where we are going. I just like to reminisce.

We are so different like that in so many ways, and most of them I had no idea about until well after we were married. But I think that's what makes us great together - we round each other out quite nicely, and we have more to offer our children that way.

Happy Anniversary, Dennis!

Here's to the last 18 wonderful years...

and to the next 18...

and to all the years and years after that!

I LOVE YOU!

Daddy's Day

Now, I am no father, so I am not really the one to judge, but I am going to say that Father's Day was wonderful. At least the boys tried to make it special, and Dennis sure looked like he was enjoying himself. The kids made him a big banner, and Dylan gave him an extensive foot rub while he read his Log Cabin Living magazine. The royal treatment.

The kids couldn't wait for the time to open presents, especially the ones the made themselves. (You never know what Caleb or Luke will put into a gift bag. In this case, Caleb put a vase full of lavender and water into the bag and when Dennis pulled it out water poured down his pants. Wooo-weee! It's the thought that counts, right?)

Dennis is such a wonderful dad! I am so lucky that our sons have such a man as their role model. He teaches them so much about what a real man should be - hard working, responsible, loving, totally devoted to his family and his God, and fun too. Those boys always choose Daddy over Mommy, and I suppose that is the way it should be. Daddy is their favorite pal!

Then when Grandpa came over, it was his turn to open his gifts and homemade cards, followed by lots of kissing and squeezing of heads. My Pop loves to squeeze the heads of his children and grandchildren.

I feel so blessed to have my Dad so close, so that he is so involved in our lives. He is another wonderful mentor and role model for my boys - always supporting them in their activities and interests, and opening their minds to new things. I have a wonderful Dad!

One of the boys discovered actual grapes growing in our backyard, so we all ran out to take a look and sneak a taste. i had forgotten that we had planted those grape vines a long time ago, so it was a fun surprise. They were small, but very sweet and tasty!

We had a fantastic dinner of BBQ ribs (Even though the official rule is that the men do all the cooking on Mother's Day, and the women do all the cooking on Father's Day, my dad just loves to cook, and so usually insists he do the cooking on Father's Day since their is no other way he'd like to spend his day. OK by me!)

Then the boys and Lisa's kids entertained us with their World Famous Backyard Circus - as is tradition. (I must say, their circus gets better every year.) We were mesmerized by acrobatics, balancing acts, sword fighting, magic, a lion tamer, and Caleb, the amazing rubber man.

Bring in the Clowns! Luke was hilarious in his striped shirt with a pillow inside. He looked like Humpty Dumpty just sitting there.

The kids gave us piles of monopoly money, and if we liked their act, we were supposed to give them some money so they would so their act then come bagging for cash like a performing sidewalk monkey.

Take a bow, performers!

Happy Fathers Day Dennis and Grandpa! We love you!

Ward Big Bear Trip

On the last day of school, our ward headed up to Big Bear for an over-nighter at the girls' camp in Big Bear. The Hamptons, who are in our ward, and the camp caretakers, and they invited us up to start summer with them.

Things started off with a scavenger hunt for the kiddos.

The prize for finding them all was bubbles!

Cute girlies (and an old lady!)

What fun to just relax and enjoy the cool mountain air and each other.

Volleyball and frisbee kept everyone busy. Luke thought the frisbee was a plate.

Later we went into the lodge for some dogs and chocolate - both hot!

Then we played some silly games that required some races to blow bubbles with bubble gum.

Work it, guys! Hubba, Hubba Bubba!

"Is it time yet?" A silly skit that only the ladies got. Unfortunately, they were all in the skit. Hehe. Some people couldn't hold it together long enough to get to the punch line.

More hot chocolate.

More skits and fun. The little girls were having too much fun running in circles around the table! So easily entertained.

Another get to know you game involving M&Ms.

Then up to the fire ring for s'mores, of course.

Some headed off to bed, and some went back to hang out in the lodge. The guys talked in one corner, and the ladies in another. The kids played on the other side, some played the piano, and the little ones spread out on the middle of the floor with the dominos.

Soon, everyone had wandered off to bed.

We shared a cabin with about 5 other families. It was a miracle anyone got any sleep at all.

'Cept for me and Alysa. I can't believe no one else was eager for an all-nighter. Where were all the party animals anyway?

Out of bed, you sleepy heads!

Good morning!

Waiting for breakfast!

What a HUGE spread of food we had! A veritable breakfeast!

Yummy!

Enjoying the beautiful day with my beautiful friends.

Cutie kids.

The bean bag or "corn hole" game that we brought was a big hit. I don't think Dennis was beat once.

Horseshoes too!

Fun together.

It wasn't all play. Many of the ward members got to work helping to improve the camp - raking, painting, and putting siding on the lodge. Good work everyone!

Well, not everyone. Some of us just played. Oops.

But the time finally came for us all to go home. Kind of sad.

The camp out was over... but summer was just beginning!