Russ and I both went into work on Friday as normal.  But we knew it wouldn’t be a normal day.  There was just too much excitement floating around.  The Blue Angels were coming.

 

We all tried to focus on work, and I think we did manage to accomplish a few things, but I was glad that I’d planned to leave work early.

 

I headed home around 11:30.  I stopped by Wal-Mart for a couple items, and then rushed in the door, to change sheets, run the vacuum, spruce up the kitchen and bathrooms, and get things ready for our guests.  Russ, came in about an hour later, and got the lawn mowed.

 

Just as I was finishing up putting some laundry away, Perry, Sue and Don arrived!  It was so good to see them!  We chatted for a little bit, and then headed out the door to pick up the boys from daycare, and head to the base.  I’d promised them all a chance to fly the CH-47 Simulator, and Russ wanted to show them some of the jets that were in the hanger. 

 

We stopped at Russ’s place first.  He showed them his cube, and then we wandered around the hangar.  Just as we peeked outside to see the river, the Blue Angels flew over, performing a practice run.  It was so awesome to see them on such a beautiful afternoon.  It was a great preview for the next day’s Air Expo! 

After leaving Russ’s work, I took them to see my building.  Just as we were heading in, one of the Angels flew directly over the building, causing a couple of screams, and that adrenaline rush that happens when your heart beats out of your chest.  Just plain AWESOME!  Everyone had a great time looking over the simulators in the building, and we pretty much had the run of the place since most folks had gone home or were outside watching the preview. 

 

We left my building, and headed for the actual CH-47 Simulation Unit.  This is, essentially, a box with a helicopter simulator in it.  As we got near the door, one of my co-workers had just exited, but was lingering around.  I invited him to show off some if the Sim’s features, since my skills are pretty rudimentary.  He jumped at the chance, and we all had a great time flying. 

 

The evening was drawing closer, and we were getting hungry, so we headed home.  Russ had some good steaks marinating, and was eager to get them on the grill.  Perry had brought some good shrimp too, so we couldn’t wait to try them.  It was so beautiful out, and we’d put up our new gazebo, so it was an easy decision to eat outside.  We took our time with dinner, and it was just really nice spending time together in easy conversation. 

 

 The boys played in the yard, and were thoroughly filthy when I convinced them it was time to get a bath and get ready for bed.   

 

After the boys were in bed (it didn’t take long for them to drift off to sleep) the rest of us remained outside for a while telling stories and sharing a little gossip.  We then came inside to play a round of Balderdash, and then fired up the Wii to introduce them to bowling. 

 

 

It was great fun, and I think it was closing in on 12:30 before we all decided to head for our beds. 

 

Saturday morning, we needed to get up promptly to head for the Air Expo.  It was a little hard gathering everything all up, but we finally made it.  Just as we arrived, we ran into our friends, the Smiths, so we all headed up to the public seating area along the fence to watch.  Once we got things set up, we spent time wandering around looking at all the static displays and coercing free promotional items from vendors in the hanger.  We had a lot of fun letting the boys check out the moonbounces, and meandering our way to the carshow.  Don, Russ and I, especially enjoy drooling over the cars. 

 

 

It was getting close to the time the Parachute team was dropping, so we decided we’d better get back to our seats. 

 

The following was the AirShow Schedule:

1025-1055    RADIO ACTIVE (RC planes)

1055-1110    JET PORT-O-JOHN

1135             LAUNCH COLDEN KNIGHTS   (F-27)

                     HOLD AT 15K

1205-1225    JUMPERS AWAY & RECOVER F-27

1225-1228    OPENING CEREMONY

1228-1235    RED EAGLE TEASER 

1238-1250    LARRY KELLY    (B-25)

1252-1259    JET BUS TEASER

1301-1316    TIM WEBER   (X300S)

*1319-1334  F-16 DEMO     (F-16)

1336-1351    OTTO               (300C)

1353-1410    YAK TEAM DEMO

1413-1428    PATTY Wagstaff DEMO

1429             JET BUS FINAL

1436             PATTY VS JET BUS

1440-1455    RED EAGLE FINAL

1500-1525    FAT ALBERT PERFORMANCE

1525-1700  BLUE ANGELS PERFORMANCE

 

We had a fantastic time.  We laughed and oooooed and awwwed and wowowwowoed all afternoon. 

We did, however, mange to lose Jaxson.  I make light of it now, but was actually quite a serious incident, and God was just truly watching over that little boy for about 10 minutes.  We are just glad that he was found by someone we knew, and that he was returned safely and quickly.  We’ve learned that it’s very difficult to watch your children when you are constantly looking up to the sky.  Many people instantly stepped up to help, as my brain nearly shut down from panic, as I was screaming to the hundred people around us, “I’VE LOST MY SON! - NO SHIRT, NO SHOES, HE'S 2!!!”  Like I said, God was with him.

 

 

After the Angels awesome show was done, we piled in the van to head home.  This, however, took nearly two hours.  Just goes with the event, I suppose.  We went to the Chinese Buffet in Wildewood that Russ and I have previously enjoyed, but the dinner did not go well due to a good sized cockroach attacking Perry’s leg. 

 

Just as we were finishing our cockroaches…. I mean, dinner, Dave called to tell us he was sitting in our driveway.  He and his wife, Terry, and their dog, Vanessa, had arrived from PA.  We were glad to see them when we got home, and Sue and I quickly got them and the dogs settled. 

 

It was still early in the evening, so I let the boys socialize a little before getting them to bed, but I knew they were both pretty tired from being out in the sun all day (we all got a little color, so I dug out the Noxema).  Jax had a lovely meltdown before finally deciding that Mommy’s bed wasn’t so bad.  I never did get anything more than a diaper on him, but it was warm so it was an acceptable compromise. 

 

We enjoyed the evening with all of us together.  We really seem to make a nice group, and are never short on stories or laughs.  We shared pics from the Air Show, and then a little more Wii and Guitar Hero. 

That took us up to about 12:30 again, and then Russ and I tried to introduce them all to the British Series, SPACED, but I think we were all too tired to get the humor so we called it a day.  It was so fun; we really didn’t want it to end.

 

Sunday morning, most everyone got to sleep in a little.  The boys and dogs got me up, but while they played quietly, I stole a few more minutes on the couch before starting the coffee and pancakes.

 

The lure of bacon frying, finally roused the rest, and we had a yummy breakfast together in the dining room.  We squeezed us all in around that table, and it was a good scene right out of Norman Rockwell….. well sorta, anyway.

 

For most of the morning, we all just visited.  Liam got to show off his Star Wars Lego game on the Wii, and Jax found every way possible to get himself dirty outside.  Russ put the Indy 500 Race on TV around noon, but most of us hung outside chatting.  We hope to help Don get a website going to promote his Glass business so we were talking about that, and sharing ideas. 

 

A co-worker of mine, was taking his girlfriend to the Air Show, and needed a safe place for his White German Shepherd, so they stopped by to drop her off for a few hours.  She was a beautiful, well-behaved dog, and since he watched our dogs for us the weekend before, we were happy to return the favor.

 

Sue, Perry, and Don decided to head back home to PA around 2:00.  We hated to see them go, but understood.  It was just wonderful having them visit, and I’m sure we’ll repeat the time together soon. 

 

About this time, I knew that the Blue Angels would be flying over again.  Now, it’s not quite the same as being right up next to them on the base, but since our house is within the flight path, we got to see them fly over a few more times, as we sat out in the front yard to watch.  Even, Dawn, in Wyoming, got to hear them, because she called just as they were really starting their routine.  Sounds like Mom and Dad had a nice visit out there, and arrived home safely.

 

Just as the Angels were finished, the Indy 500 was over with Helio Castroneves as the winner.  I’d put a whole chicken in the over, and it was getting close to dinner time.  We all had a nice meal together in the dining room, and decided it’d be fun to haul out the old wrestling card game and give it a play after the boys went to bed. 

 

The Wrestling game was great fun.  It’s such a geeky game, but all of us had a grand time battling each other.

In the end, Russ’s Hulk Hogan won out much to Russ’s delight. 

 

The four of us played another round of Balderdash, and then, since Terry wanted to try out the Wii Playground Games, we gave that a shot too.  Time flies when you’re having fun, and even though I’d stayed up late the two previous nights, I managed to make it another.  Again, we tried watching a little TV to wind down the evening, but I think I lasted about 10 minutes before announcing that I was heading upstairs. 

 

I was up again, early with the boys and dogs on Monday morning, but none of us moved to quickly.  In fact, after the boys had had a bagel, and I’d had a few sips of coffee, we just cuddled together on the couch and watched episodes of Jon & Kate Plus 8 on TV (that’s a huge media frenzy topic lately, and the season premier was scheduled for later that night).

 

Russ got up around 9:30, and Dave & Terry shortly thereafter.  I got us all some breakfast, and then we decided it’d be fun to take the dogs to the dog park.  We had to take two vehicles and it was kinda on the muggy side, but Cleo and Vanessa had a good time sniffing around. Ashy, however, was having a terrible time breathing, so we cut our visit short.  I’ll have to get him into the vet this week. 

 

While at the dog park, Dave sorta shocked us by announcing that they were thinking they might consider moving down here to Maryland.  Dave’s college graduation had been the weekend before, but he’s still got one more class to finish before his degree is official.  He’s also not been satisfied with his job lately, and the both of them are fairly relocatable. 

Russ and I had already thought that they’d have some better occupational opportunities down here, but also know that they have some pretty deep roots in PA – or so we thought.  Apparently, they are thinking of selling their family home, and realize that there are better opportunities out there than in Bucks County, PA. 

 

So, this topic prompted, Russ and I to take Dave, Terry, and Vanessa on a bit of a St. Mary’s County tour.  They were curious about property here, so we began doing a little searching.  Every time we found a Realtor sign, we stopped to grab a flyer, and ended up finding some affordable spots.  Grant it, a lot of ducks need to get in a row before the relocation would come to fruit, but we all had a great time looking for dream houses. 

We killed most of the afternoon with our driving around, so it was no surprise that Dave & Terry said they’d need to hit the road when we got back to our house.  We knew they’d have a lot to discuss on the way home.  There’s no telling what their future holds, but if they’d like to make Maryland a part of it, Russ and I would be happy to have some dear friends living nearby.

 

I suppose it’s no surprise that after Dave & Terry left, and I got the beds stripped, I promptly fell asleep in the couch.  I lounged there for a couple hours, and Russ ordered us a couple pizzas.  I really must be getting old because I don’t remember feeling so whipped after a fun filled weekend as I did that afternoon.  Ugh.

 

Both boys were pretty tired too, so I didn’t get a lot of objections when bed time rolled around.  While they were in the bathtub, I managed to get them some clothes for the week, and some clean sheets on Liam’s bed. 

 

Russ and I then watched the Season Premier of Jon & Kate + 8.  This show has taken a negative turn, and Russ and I can’t help but watch.  I hate to see a marriage crumble.  There were so many signs of incompatibility, and there are so many ways, the pair could probably look for compromises to improve their relationship – but I really have no idea what it’d be like to raise a set of twins and a set of sextuplets all under the watchful eye of the TLC cameras, so I don’t have room to talk.  They need to end the show for starters, but now that there’s all this dirt on them, the public can’t seem to stop watching – us included.  It’s just sad, but maybe some of us watch because we hold out hope for that family.  I know I do.

Friday we headed up to Pennsylvania in the morning instead of noonish. We wanted to meet Paul and give him the ladders he purchased from EBay a few months back. He also had some shelving for us we wanted to use in our garage. We stopped in Annapolis at Cracker Barrel for lunch. Both kids had bouts with fevers earlier in the week so they watched video’s or napped on the way up. I stayed in contact with Paul by phone so we met up near my Mom’s when we got to town and made the exchange.

 

Mom was glad to see the boys and played with them for a bit but she was going to a dinner that night with her neighbor, Jane. Jane’s kids had purchased a tour and dinners of the world event at the Pearl S. Buck house for her 85^th birthday.  We went to dinner at Giuseppe’s and sat on the outside deck and enjoyed the evening. After dinner we walked it off by strolling around the New Hope shops where Erin bought two Indian style dresses.

 

We were back to the apartment a little before Mom got home and we got the kids to bed. Erin, Mom and I then watched a couple of home buying shows and Erin and I hit the hay at eleven as we had a big day the next day.

 

On Saturday our good friend, Dave, was graduating with his four year degree from Moravian college in Bethlehem. We arrived at Dave and Terry’s a little before eight and gave Dave his card and a couple of gifts to recognize the huge achievement. Dave has been going at night since 2003. We all rode up together to the college. Although it was very grey out the rain held off. The choir sing the appropriate songs for graduating including the school song. The speakers, students and faculty spoke of Mystical Paths and Magic Journeys and even used skittles to explain diversity. It was the typical analogies to a momentous step in one’s life. Erin, Terry, and I tried to make each other laugh over punning the announced names. It certainly helped pass the time as all the students were announced. Erin strategically moved around to get some pictures of Dave. Finally, Dave’s name was called and we all yelled out Dave’s nickname, “Hurley!!!” He smiled knowing it was us in the crowd.

 

After the graduation we were all hungry so Dave suggested we have a quick bite. A brew House in Bethlehem was very busy so we stopped at the Leithsville tavern on the way to Dave’s. We ate some good bar food, played a game of pool and had a beer to celebrate the day. Erin was nice enough to treat us. When we arrived at Dave’s we needed to hurry on back to Mom’s and get the kids. We stopped by Kmart to get the boys jackets (we left home), an Hawaiian shirt for Dave, a Emergency Road kit for Noah, and I got Mom a shredder as they were on sale under 20.

 

Noah had arrived and was busy playing with kids. Mom enjoyed the morning watching the kids and they behaved for the most part. When we arrived Noah was playing Star Wars with them and I helped him get a stuck Anakin jacket off him. We had a little package of car care items to celebrate Noah’s new car. Noah purchased a very clean low miles 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis during the week. He had been very patient on his search and worked very hard for a few years to pay cash for his new ride.

 

Noah was most appreciative of his car gifts. When we were ready to leave he offered to drive me up. It was a nice ride as Erin followed with the kids in the van. The car rode very well and Noah seemed very comfortable with the car. He seems to be a pretty good driver. It was good to catch up with him one on one.

 

Arriving at Dave’s, there were already quite a few people. He had the dinner catered and there was tons of different types of Italian Cuisine. It was a nice evening so we spent a lot of time on their big lawn catching up with friends. I talked for a while with Dave’s brother, Chris, who I have not seen in quite a few years. He has two girls, one three weeks old. Kid talk was big as the boys played around us. Liam and Jaxson also got to play with another little girl who was there.

 

We took a couple of tours around the yard to the two ponds and even back to Hurleywood. That is a spot on the back of the property where we used to have some great campouts back in the early 90s. There are still remnants of those days still back there like old benches that are falling apart. The woods brought back great memories of lots of good times.

 

A big downpour started late in the evening. The younger crowd was starting drinking games and that was the cue that we needed to get the kids home to bed. It was a nice night and very nice of Dave to cater the affair. Noah did great in the bad storm driving to Doylestown. We decided it was probably better for him to just get home that nasty stormy night. Erin and I then drove through the downpour back to New Hope. Mom was asleep as were all of us by midnight. It was a long but very significant day for our good buddy, Dave.

 

On Sunday the kids and us slept until 8:30. We were all tired from the day before. Mom cooked us a great breakfast and after everyone got showers and baths we packed up for the ride home. Jaxson was very irritable the whole day. We stopped at Arby’s as we had coupons. We had a bear of a time with him there. Jax does not do well with lots of travels and change. Most 3 YOs have that problem.

 

We got home around 4:30 and Erin cleaned her van while I caught up on Indy Time Trials. Erin and I watched the time trials after the kids were in bed. Shockingly BOTH of us completely forgot that it was Survivor finale last night! Incedible!!  We’ll have to see about watching it online.

 

Next weekend is Memorial day and a very fun weekend. The base is hosting the Air Expo for the first time since 2005 and the Blue Angels headline. Neither one of our companies did hospitality tents this year so it is general admission for us. Sue, Perry and Don arrive Friday afternoon. Erin is going to let them try the Chinook simulators and I may give them a tour of my hangar. Saturday night Dave and Terry may come down with their doggy, Vanessa.  It should be a fun weekend. We are just a few weeks away from our family vacation in the Shenandoah and also Liam and Jaxson’s new daycare at Creative Beginnings.

 

 

 

We were so glad to have finally reached the weekend.  What’s more, I’d won tickets to go see a Blue Crabs baseball game through work, so we were taking ourselves “out to a ball game” compliments of JF Taylor. 

 

We headed to the local stadium as soon as Russ got home from work.  After a long rainy week, we had to admit that it was a beautiful evening and it felt wonderful just to be outside.  We had to admit that for a local minor league stadium, this place was awesome!  It had a fun playground with moonbounces for the kids, tasty food, comfortable seats with cupholders and friendly folks all around.  Our seats were right in the front row along the first base line, so we were more than pleased.  Just as we were sitting down, a lovely baseball girl asked the boys if they’d like to play a game after the 8^th inning.  She explained the simple flag waving game, and I figured the boys could handle it, so we agreed.  She told us to go to the courtesy desk at the 7^th inning (at least I think that’s what she said). 

 

  

 

The game was so fun.  Jax and Liam didn’t quite understand it all, but they had their toys, and with a couple trips to the playground they were happy.  The Newark Bears were playing hard against our Crabs.  So, around the 7^th inning, I took the boys to the courtesy desk.  A bit later, another little fellow arrived with his parents.  The boys were excited, and the man behind the desk was enchanted with them while we waited.  The boys all made friends and were soon discussing Star Wars characters and practicing waving their flags.  This was all a good thing because the 8^th inning took FOREVER!  Finally, after spending about 45 minutes up there at the courtesy desk (fortunately, Russ was enjoying the game down below) the Baseball girls (do you call them cheerleaders?) came to retrieve the boys to take them on the field.  Jax was a little hesitant, but after some happy introductions, he figured it was okay to trust the pretty girl with the nice smile…. as long as Mommy wasn’t far away.  So they all went on the field right after the inning, and started waving their flags.  Liam had a white one (Vanilla), Jax a brown one (Chocolate) and the other little boy had a pink one (Strawberry).  The “object” was to wave the flag.  The faster you waved your flag, the faster your cow would go in a race they showed on the big screen.  It was 30 seconds of true stadium amusement… and even better that Vanilla won (must have been the cotton candy he’d eaten)!  Liam was so excited, he went to take a bow, and his hat fell off…. All captured on the big screen and to the crowd’s delight.  

 

  

 

  

 

It was a close game, but the Bears beat the Crabs by one run.  They had some nice fireworks after the game, and we all enjoyed them.  Of course, getting out of the parking lot took a little patience, but it wasn’t too bad.  Jax soon fell asleep, but Liam was pretty pumped up and stayed awake the whole way home.  We got home just a tad after midnight.  This wouldn’t have been so bad except we had to “open” our Garage Sale at 7 the next morning!

 

So, I dragged myself out of bed around 6am.  I still needed to put up signs.  This would have been more difficult had I not had the incentive at picking up some donuts at Sheetz along the way. 

 

Just as I pulled in the driveway, and opened the garage door, the first early birds were arriving.  Believe it or not, Liam was up just a few minutes after.  Then Russ even got out of bed and got Jax some breakfast.  I never knew a garage sale could be such a motivator to get out of bed!

 

It was a steady morning.  We priced things really low, and got rid of a bunch of it without much problem.  We made $232.75.  That will all go into the vacation fund.  It was actually a fun sort of morning, and we met some nice folks.  It’s amazing what people tell you when they are in the midst of perusing your junk.  Russ and I felt a little like bartenders after awhile.  The lady with the big family up the street came down and chatted with us.  Her youngest is the same age as Liam.  She invited Liam to come play in their backyard for a little bit, so he did and had a great time.  While Liam was gone, Jax had a fun time using sticks to bang on the logs we have by the basketball hoop in a sort of woodsy drum set.  He kept pretty good rhythm while singing the ABC song and The Wheels on the Bus.  Russ and I were entranced and amused. 

 

 

We shut the garage door promptly at noon.  We figured we did pretty well.  We had a couple of errands to run, and we were all growing pretty tired, so it was no surprise that all of us took a nap… except Russ who kindly mowed the front yard.

 

After the boys and I had a rest, we got up and got showered and dressed to attend a birthday party.  It was for Ava, one of Liam and Jax’s daycare classmates.  Ava’s brother, Chase, and Liam are good friends, so Liam was SO excited to go and play at Chase’s house.  We all had a good time, but Jax was suspiciously clingy.  I figured maybe he was just shy, or still tired.  He was warm, but they’d been playing outside.  Soon, I began thinking he was feeling a little TO warm.  He snuggled in my lap on the couch, while Liam played.  I told Liam that since Jax wasn’t feeling well, we’d have to leave right after cake.  He took this news pretty well, and I was proud of him for being a very understanding big brother.

 

 

Jax’s temperature was climbing fast.  I burst in the door, and made a bee line for the kitchen to take his temp and get him some Tylenol.  I got him settled on the couch.  Russ was eating crabs and watching the Indy Time Trials, so he could keep an eye on him.  Liam and I went to Wal-Mart to get diapers, which I remembered I was out of. 

 

The boys had no trouble getting to bed shortly after Liam and I returned.  It had been a LONG day.  I stayed up with Russ for a little while, but he understood that I was super tired too. 

 

Sunday was a lovely Mother’s Day.  I actually ended up sleeping in the twin bed next to Jax for most of the night because I was worried about his fever.  We all slept until about 8:00 which is pretty late for the boys and I.  I heard Russ banging around in the kitchen, so I smiled knowing he was doing the annual ritual of making us all breakfast for Mother’s Day.  I would have stayed in bed a little longer, but Jax was awake, and though, happier, he was still warm, and needed another dose of medicine. 

 

While Russ was cooking breakfast I went down to feed the dogs, but he informed me he’s already fed them!  So I snuggled with my two boys on the couch, and commenced to watching a couple dog shows on Animal Planet – something I rarely get the opportunity to do.

 

We all enjoyed a wonderful pancake breakfast, and Russ even CLEANED UP!!  Then the boys gave me the sweetest card.  It had sparkles on it, and Jax said, “I like sparkles, they are pretty Mommy” which simply melted my heart.  Liam had written his name very carefully, and all the letters were perfect, so that made me smile too. 

 

So, I know it was Mother’s Day and I suppose I should have just stayed on that couch all day, but it was SO pretty outside.  Russ and the boys were planning to take me to Lowe’s to go flower shopping too, so I told myself I had to at least pick up a little inside and get a load of laundry going before we could go. 

 

It was one thing that they all got me some beautiful things to brighten up the yard, but it was another thing that Russ helped me ALL AFTERNOON getting things tilled, staked and planted.  Jax was up and down with that fever, so I let him take a super long nap.  Liam wanted to play his Star Wars Lego game, so we let him do that for a while too, before we demanded that he play outside for a while.  Russ planted some Lilies and Impatiens out in the front yard while I mowed the back.  When I was done mowing, he spread out some good dirt in the garden and tilled up a little spot near the corner of the patio that I wanted to plant a couple things in.  Then he planted several plants under the garden I’m working on under the oak trees.  He even helped me put a fence around it all.  I just couldn’t believe it.  It was a beautiful and heart warming Mother’s Day gift. 

 

  

 

Obviously, after all that hard work, we just ordered a pizza for dinner.  Jax still wasn’t feeling well, so I got him to sleep soon after we cleaned up the pizza.  Since Liam didn’t take an afternoon nap, he went to sleep fairly easily too.  Again, I tried to stay up with Russ for a little while, but he was very understanding when I told him I needed to go to bed.  I thanked him (and the boys) over and over for a wonderful day.  It was a good weekend all around.