Fossil Rim

There's a place in Glen Rose Texas called Fossil Rim that allows you to drive through a wild life reserve to see and feed animals. Mostly it's a bunch of antelope/deer type animals, but there are zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, rhinos, emus and ostriches too.

Cory and I drove the kids down there one afternoon and both of the boys had a great time. Carter loved the fact that he didn't have to be strapped in while we were driving in the car, and Clay laughed his face off at some emus.

A long time ago, when we would go to this place for field trips, they would give you HUGE plastic cups of feed (as many per car as you wanted) and you were allowed to feed all of the animals by hand.

Looks like nowadays, the rules have changed some and you only get one bag of feed, and you're supposed to drop the food on the ground by your car. We started out following all the rules, but some of them were just so darn convincing.....












But I don't care how much these guys try and convince me. I am NOT feeding these things by hand!








But I sure wasn't about to pass THIS up!





The Zebras were AGGRESSIVE! Good thing that when we stopped for lunch halfway through, the cook told us stories about how the Zebras have bitten side view mirrors off of cars, and would do the same to your hands!

Colorado Part II

Pardon the Kazillion pictures. But, I've never been to Colorado Springs. I had to take a ton!

Here we are at the summit of Pike's Peak.



What a beautiful veiw!









Here we are on the Cogg Railway



Clay is intrigued by the camera



The city of Minnehaha on the way up Pike's Peak.







The cadets marching in



The "whole gang" at the AF vs. San Diego game.







Roll Call during the memorial service on the Terazzo






When you're a "4th degree" (or freshman as normal people say) you are required to run anytime you're on the Terazzo. And not only must you run, but you must run along these marble lines. If it is wet or slippery, you must walk at attention on these things.

Here is Carter and Adam practicing for 16 years down the road.



Here is Mike, Cory, Jim and Scott next to their plaque.



Here's the fam




Here we are by the capel. It's so gorgeous!





Here is Cory and Andres (Cory's roomate) in front of their room they shared.




Here is the ramp that used to say "Bring Me Men". Since that's not all PC anymore - they changed it to this.

Kids are Named the Darndest Things

As I was enjoying nap time today, I saw an article in my Parenting Magazine (one of the kajillion that were sitting in my mailbox) about baby names.

One of my best friends is pregnant and likes somewhat 'off the beaten path' names, so I thought I'd look and see if I saw anything she might like.

And Oh-Em-Gee!
The names...., dear Lordy, the names.
They are CRAZY..

Do you like colors?

How about the names Rust, Navy, Indigo or Teal?

No? Maybe you're into cooking.

How does Juniper, Clove, Anise, Cayenne, Basil, Thyme, Mace, or Sorrel sound?

No, no no. Those aren't right. You must be into Literature!

Imogen, Romeo, Zadie, or Salinger


I have no more words.

Colorado Part I

In September we left Chicago for Colorado Springs. Cory's parents went with us to babysit and we had a great time. We arrived 4 days early so we could do some sightseeing. I haven't ever been to the Springs or seen the ACADEMY. I feel like that word has to be in all caps or something. It's like A BIG DEAL and people there are quite serious about the whole thing.

These are mostly pictures of the 'touristy' things we did before the reunion actually started.


Oh also - try to ignore the dates on the pictures. It's driving me crazy because not only are they wrong, but I hate the fact that they're there altogether.


Here we are visiting the Cave Dwellings in Manitou Springs





I made Cory go horseback riding through Garden of the Gods. I know I know, It must have been AWFUL!


Clay says, "Go Air Force!"



I say, "Drink 4 Margaritas at once!"




Here's us all bundled up at the Royal Gorge.



It was like 10 degrees outside....




Snow on the mountains. It snowed all day on Monday. In case you didn't know. That would be the 20th of September!




Here are some pictures of the Garden of the Gods.








Here is Carter in the van we rented. We fit 6 suitcases, 6 carryons, a stroller and 6 people (2 of them in LARGE car seats.) all in a Toyota Sienna.
How? VERY STRATEGICALLY.

A Day in Downtown

Here is one of the days we went to downtown Chicago. We started off at the Shedd Aquarium then walked to the Sears Tower (yes, I know - that's a really long walk. But it was beautiful outside, I have a phil and ted and I'm from Osan gosh dernit!) and relaxed for a bit on the lawn across the street from the tower. It was a beautiful day!

Good News

I've been so busy preparing for this good news, that I completely forgot to mention it here for my loyal readers!

We're moving to California. EARLY! We're leaving Korea 6 months early! Holy Moly, that's like against the law or something.

But we're getting away with it.

Cory has been applying for Test Pilot School since 2006. He's been an alternate now for 3 years. We didn't really expect to get in the first year, most A-10 guys usually have to wait at least a year since they only take ONE A-10 guy.

Everyone told Cory he would be a "shoe-in" for next year. But when the list came out, he was an alternate again.

This last year, we were sure that he'd get in. Who was more qualified than the A-10 guy who has been an alternate twice!?
Well, apparently, someone was.

However, While we were traveling in CO, a few weeks ago. The Wing Commander called us on the EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBER.
"Oh my Gosh!" I'm thinking. "Who could be dead? We're all here!? Right? Am I forgetting someone?"

But he calls to tell us that Cory is being pulled as an alternate for the January '10 class.

We have a NLT in December and we leave Korea on Dec.12!

I am so excited about coming 'home' to the states. I am so excited to be in AMERICA. But it took me awhile to get excited. I know that sounds crazy to all of you Osanites. How could I not be excited to get-the-hell outta there right!?

Because I will never meet girls like I have at Osan
I will never live down the hall from Anna who can coach me through breastfeeding a sickly baby at 7am, 12,1,2,3,4,5,6,and 9pm everyday.
I will never be able to hop over my balcony to let kiddos on the playground go pee.
I won't get to dance on the pole at Xanadu anymore.
I won't get to just walk babysitters up a flight of stairs to go home.
I won't get to be a Draggin
I won't get to curse at crazy Korean drivers.
I WILL have to do my own laundry and cleaning
I WON'T ever know what happens to Ms. Hong after we leave
I won't get to see my best friend deliver her twin boys (even AFTER she's moving RIGHT ACROSS THE HALL FROM ME!)
Carter will not get playdates and trips to the playground everyday.
I have to start driving everywhere again.
I won't get to buy all of the cool new 'mom gear' that everyone else had on the playground yesterday.

I am so excited and so sad all at the same time.
But I am determined to enjoy my last two months!

Super Happy Fun Slide

My nieces have a water slide, and it's a big one.