Corey's Promotion

While we were in Indio, Corey was promoted. We we able to drive back and watch. It was really great. Corey looked good and Katy was so proud. After the ceremony we were invited to a tour of where Corey works. Kyle and Brayden especially liked that, trucks and guns.

Now that's one big tire!! It goes to the vehicle that moves shipping containers.

Kyle having a great time hanging out with the guys.

Superstar Katy!!

USS Midway

One of the highlights was touring the USS Midway.  It was commissioned in 1945. After serving at the end of WWII, Vietnam,  and Desert Storm, it was decommissioned in 1992. No other carrier served as long. I cannot explain how big it really is. Its length is almost the length of 3 football fields. Sam and I would like to go back and spend the entire day. We just did not have enough time to see everything. I wonder how long it would take for a new crew member to stop getting lost . . . Kyle really liked it even though it was educational.

Yeah, I finally got the pictures to upload.
This is the first plane you see when you board. It is a WWII plane. I'm not sure any more than that.

Someone must have told them about Katy, because she ended up behind bars.  You can see her wearing the headphones they give you there. It is a self guided tour. This way you can go at your own speed. When you get to a location on the carrier with a number, you press that number on the player and it tells you all the information.

There was a real plane (minus the wings) to climb in and see. Sam thinks it was an electronics plane. I couldn't believe all the knobs and gadgets there were.

Me on the flight deck behind a . . . a . . . a plane. Ask Sam, he'd know what kind. Okay I asked, Sam thinks it was an F18.

Sam and Brayden with another plane. You probably know what kind.

A helicopter. I'll ask Sam what kind and let you know.

Corey, Cade, and Katy

Pictures from the Presidential Suite

I mentioned we stayed at a beautiful resort by WorldMark. We were fortunate enough to stay in one of their 4 bedroom presidential suites. The place was absolutely gorgeous. We were all ready to move in and stay. There were 2 master bedrooms each with a jetted tub and a shower larger than our walk in closet. In fact, our bathroom was larger than the kids bedroom. WOW!!

The pool area was spectacular. There were 2 large pools, 2 kiddie pools, 3 spas, 1 splash area with spraying fountains, and 1 lazy river (tubes included). Each pool area had a covered play area. Considering how warm Palm Desert is the pool was a welcome relief.

Kyle is standing out on the balcony. Katy thought the patio was larger than her entire house. I don't think it was that large, but close. The balcony had 4 doors out to it. Each master bedroom had its own door out. On one end of the balcony was the jetted hot tub. We didn't have to go down to use the ones by the pool. We had our very own.

Doesn't Katy look like a movie star coming in from the pool??

Here's Corey pushing Kyle back in the pool. He wondered how I knew.

Here's Sam enjoying a steak dinner and chatting on the phone. Even on vacation we can't get away from the phone. LOL We all agreed that we would like to go again. 

Chad back from Bulgaria

Chad is back from Bulgaria with a renewed visa. Sis. Carter sent some new pictures of Chad. Some are from Bulgaria and some from a festival in Ukraine. I'm not sure what is what, but I don't care as long as I can see Chad. He looks good and only has 9 1/2 months to go. We love you, Chad.

Snow??

You guessed it. Yesterday morning we woke to snow falling and a white lawn. It seems so early to be getting snow. This is the end of our tomatoes. Next year we're going to build a small green house. This way we can plant earlier and have tomatoes longer. Cross your fingers that it really happens, but as for this year . . . goodbye tomatoes, hello snow.

More Pictures from the Trip

 Now that I'm home, I have a little more time to get some pictures of our trip posted. We had a great time visiting and being typical tourist in California.

These are some dang cute pictures from Corey and Katy's.

Cade sitting in a beach chair on the back patio. It was morning and no one else was up yet, surprise, surprise.

I really did fall asleep holding Cade. Of course I didn't know I had fallen asleep until I heard cameras clicking.

Brayden dressed up as a marine. Don't tell Becky.

Katy and Cade

Stay tuned for more, and more, and more . . .