Flyboys

My boys, my boys, and one little girl . . .

They may be off and living on their own, and some of this is just old memories coming up from the past, but I do love them. Think of them and wish I saw more of them.

My first flyboy is headed back out to work tonight after almost 6 months off work following an unfortunate back breaking accident. The accident, yes, from flying--not airline flying, (which is what he is finally headed back out to do) but a paragliding accident.



This one knew from the age of 2 he wanted to fly. I thought he might have forgotten during the elementary years, but then came Jr. High Career Day--
First career on his list: Get married (I know--how funny is that!)
Second thing on his list: Pilot.


The second flyboy, is still doing just fine, still working the Cloud9 shop and launching paragliders whenever the weather permits. He wasn't flying today -- or, well, unless you consider flying downhill (along with a few other tumbling incidents) as flying.



In Justin's defense, it was a heavy spring rain/snow day (you can see that the weather wasn't the best) and he really did do some great spins that I took as well, it's just this one keeps cracking me up. And, it was the first video I captured of the day. Great way to start.

(Lex is the one in purple. This is her first year of actual skiing and snowboarding.)

Yes, we like to have some good old family fun.

When your kids grow up... you have no say

Sometimes having adult children is almost enough to give you a heart attack. Yesterday was one of those days.

I almost lost him yesterday


This is a training where they launch over the lake, and proceed to do maneuvers that deliberately cause the parachute to fail. Sometimes things go wrong. Gives new meaning to boys will be boys.

A sign of the times: Things you'll do for a job and to be better at your work.
Cloud 9 Paragliding.

Stills:

In trouble

worst case...back up chute coming up through your first wing's lines

Lucky Lucky Lucky

Yahoo... some family pictures!

It's only been over 2 1/2 years.

...and one of just the kids

Cleaning up...

Whatever do you do with OLD pages that you just never quite finished...

And when I say old, I'm talking at least 5 to 10 years since I started them. Hey, there weren't any such thing as rub-ons, bling or glitter paper back when I did some of these.

With the ever useful-can't-waste-a-single-thing attitude that I inherited from my Depression Era grandparents I've decided I need to match up some of those half-finished pages with photos that have been sitting oh-so-lonely-and-unappreciated in my files - and here they are:








Of COURSE I had to add a little to them, play with them and in general just spiff them up enough to pass the mustard. I don't think they'll make my 'Cream of the Crop' list, but hey, they are done, they are in albums and I've got a few less projects in my to-do stack.

..and one that I never quite liked and had to change up a bit...



Sheesh - this has made me want to create some NEW pages, something up-to-date-less-embarrassing-and-a-little-bit-more-hip!

Saying Goodbye...

So far, so good. It's not been so long that I can't pretend that my husband isn't just off on a business trip.

I figure that in a few months my internal clock will start to wonder about his long absence, "...isn't he supposed to be home yet??"

Poor Justin, my baby boy. I really need to stop thinking of him that way, he is a grown married man now. It's just that for so many many years he was my youngest, my baby. It's hard to change that image. Particularly when he still has those puppy dog eyes of his.



We've said our goodbyes to him as well. I just feel so heartsick when I think of how newly married he and Amber are, how I would have felt if my husband had to leave me when I was that young.

Anyway, at least I am living close to family and I do have another grown boy that will be moving in, along with his wife, to take care of all the 'man stuff' that needs doing. Jason & Thai are wonderfully supportive, responsible and capable. It will be nice to have the time with them this year.

I have to share this great photo that Brian took of himself and his brother the day before he left. They actually look a lot alike here, not that the hats and sunglasses aren't adding to the illusion ;)



It was kind of interesting on the day of the Farewell. Brian was asked by the local news channel (Fox 13) for an interview. I followed him over, holding Lex, to stand by and watch. But they didn't let me just watch, they had me stand next to him and then they interviewed me too. What's funny is that I was SO NOT wanting to be on TV.

See, it was at the end of the farewell. A female soldier had just performed an extremely moving hula to the song 'Proud to be an American' (no, not in her uniform, but in a Hawaiian dress) and, although I am NOT the type that is moved to tears, I was then. The combination of the song, the Hawaiian influence - Hawaii was our first Active Duty station, back when the boys were young and possibly - just maybe ;) - I was feeling emotional about my husband leaving for war.

Anyway, I had NO makeup left, my voice was all catchy and tight from the emotion and they wanted to me to interview?!

Then, of all things, the ONLY interview they showed was mine! None of my husbands, none of the other soldiers and their families, just mine.

You know, it's weird when you hear your voice in a recording, I had no idea I sounded like that. I didn't recognize my voice at all. But, at least I didn't have any black streaks on my face from mascara and the lighting was favorable. Does anyone know how to pull a recording from a DVR/TIVO recording?

Well, now that all the Sctuff is over with, I might have some good 'girls only' time to get creative. I tell ya, the ideas are stacking up in my brain faster than I can get to them! Keep an eye out, I expect to be on the mojo train soon!

Rule #1

Amy's Scrapbooking Rules


- wait a minute, did I just say RULES??? In the creative arena are there are supposed to be rules???


Rule #1 - There are no rules


Example:

Many people think that it's a rule that you HAVE to scrap Lignin and Acid free.

Now HOW can anyone think that a scrapbook - a major portion of which is PAPER - can possibly be saved for ever and ever and ever?

If you save your negatives, if you archive your digital files, if you do all you can to safely keep all the original photos, then why does it matter if you have to reprint the photo sometime in the future?

And, lastly, just think how LIMITING it is to eliminate all the found items that come into your life, just because they might be acidic or heaven forbid, have lignin? Do you even remember what lignin is? I've forgotten.

Let's put it this way... If I worried about acid & lignin I would have never created this:



Or this



Or even this



How about you? Is there anything you would not have created? Leave me a post - or, just so we can all see it, upload on IL2C's gallery :)

I'm certifiable I'm sure...

Oh my.

Too tired to say much more.

If I ever want to move again, remind me how INSANE I must be to even start to consider it! If I ever move again I'm hiring it out! And we have not even really started the move - urgh.

Cute pictures of Lexy reading to the little kittens - ain't it adorable?


Oh, and here is Justin, my DS#2 and his new car ;) He's so proud of himself - can you tell? LOL!


Thought I would take a moment and do Lisa's blog challenge: list the last 5 things you do before you head out the door.

1- Make the bed
2- Check on the cats (food, water, are they in the house)
3- Make sure I have a cold Diet Pepsi for the drive, along with my multivitamin for breakfast.
4- Grab my work bag, Lexy's bag and my keys along with anything else I've set out to take.
5- I almost always have to go back in for something I forgot - lunch, jacket, books, brain ;)