Family Day

Don't make fun of my crazy hair - it was windy :O)

Today was such a fun day for us. We were invited to family day out at the flight line. Colton, Kaden and I got to watch Dave fly the helicopter for about an hour and a half. We watched him hover, land, take off and perform an auto rotation. It really was so much fun to see him fly and meet all of the people that he works with every day. His Instructor Pilot was so nice. Dave really lucked out in that department (most of the IP'S are a little grouchy). Dave flew great - even though it was SUPER - SUPER windy. It is so great to see him so happy.

**** If you want to watch Dave land his auto rotation click on the link *******************

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdka_VLZsxY

For those of you who don't know what an auto rotation is - here's a little explanation.

For a helicopter, "autorotation" refers to the descending maneuver where the engine is disengaged (turned off) from the main rotor system and the rotor blades are driven solely by the upward flow of air through the rotor. The freewheeling unit is a special clutch mechanism that disengages anytime the engine rpm is less than the rotor rpm. If the engine fails, the freewheeling unit automatically disengages the engine from the main rotor allowing the main rotor to rotate freely.
The most common reason for an autorotation is an engine malfunction or failure, but autorotations can also be performed in the event of a complete tail rotor failure, since there is virtually no torque produced in an autorotation. In some extreme situations, autorotations may also be used to recover from settling with power, if the aircraft's altitude permits.

THEY IS AMAZING

I got the cutest - cutest Christmas package yesterday. THANK YOU Sherry and my RS mom!! :O) I call Sherry's mom my Relief Society mom because she was the Relief Society President while Dave was deployed and took such good care of me - just as if I was one of her own girls. Lucky me - she still takes care of me. :O)

Sherry sent the cutest popcorn bucket with a movie and microwave popcorn. The boys were sooooooooo excited when they read that it was "butter lovers" popcorn. I heard Kaden say "Mom never buys this kind." They say thank you!!! Also LOVE the pj pants - so cute. Remember how they are my favorite things ever!!! :O)

My RS Mom sent me some very - very snugly one piece pajamas - which made me laugh and the cutest Christmas socks. I can't wait to wear my pj's - although I might have to swallow a few bravery pills to put a picture of me in them on my blog. Porter grabbed the socks right out of the box and said, "They is amazing!" He LOVES them - won't take them off. I have visions of him wearing them all summer long.

The boys love their game - they were super - super excited. Kaden said "This is from Kimmie's grandma? She must really like us!" :o)

Thank you so much!!!!!! We love you!!!!!!!!!!

The boys had a fun Christmas I think. Dave and I absolutely love watching them open up their gifts and they way their little faces light up! They were so funny this year. When Kaden opened up his gifts he would almost always say - "I love this --- but mom I know what the true meaning of Christmas is." (Good Boy)

Colton put thank you notes in our stockings this year. Such a sweet boy!

Porter got a geo trax train set from Santa - which he loved!!! He loved it so much that when it was time to open up the other gifts he would not do it. Dave kept saying "Porter you have a really cool one over here and he would say, "Um - no thanks." Just wanted to play with his train.

I love my boys!

(Just as a side note --- notice the marks on Colton and Kadens forehead...... they seriously worked as hard as they could to get a rug burn on their heads. It took some effort - but they managed -- BOYS! )

Christmas Eve Party 2008

We had a really fun Christmas Eve Party - thanks to all who came. We had lots and lots and lots and lots of food and then a little program - Complete with talent show. Here are a few clips.

Happy Christmas Everybody!!!! Gavin sang Jingle Bells - sort of ------- It went like this -----

Dashing through the snows

on a pair of broken skis

Over the hills we go

crashing into trees ---- you get it :O) Whitney played us some Christmas music and did an awesome job!Bribery worked great for the boys - they sang a rocking version of Jingle Bells complete with some pretty sweet moves!Porter just ran around them singing his part - no holding still for this kid An interpretive dance by the Kuhnis -- The Nutcracker -- Yep --

you should be sad you missed itThe Tarbett family has musical powers - so they led our music for us! We are going to miss you so much when you move home to Utah - but we'll see you soon!! Mindy played Away In A Manger while Rusty sang it - beautifully

Napolean ------ I mean Nate gave us a song that he learned while in the "Happy Hands Club!" :O) Did you hear ------- SANTA IS COMING -----------

Um ..... MOM!!!!

So it had been about 10 minutes since I had heard from Porter - so I sent Colton up to find him. He brings him down with some beautiful mascara on. I am so used to him doing things like this that I was like "Hmmmmm, wonder how I'm going to get that off." Colton was looking rather worried and said, "Mom, is it ok if he puts on makeup - I feel like that is not ok - maybe he wants to be a girl."

Christmas Lights BAMA Style

A couple of weeks ago we were introduced the "Crazy Christmas Lights" House in Enterprise. Our friends The Weavers took us with them to the drive through Christmas display. It was amazing! Everything was set up in themes with matching music playing. So Much Fun!!! The kids absolutely loved it. We stopped in first at Smoochies the famous ice cream parlor around these parts to get everyone ice cream. Ice cream in December you say -- Why yes, it is like 75 degrees here. Only in Alabama can you go look at Christmas lights while eating ice cream.