Vintage

There has been a car that I've had my eye on for quite some time. It is a 1959 Jeep, and I only found that out when I pulled over, finally, to look at the FOR SALE sign. Mark has come to understand this appreciation I have for old vintage cars and trucks. Now, not all old cars and trucks get the same attention from me. They have to have a certain quality about them. This for instance, I can see myself driving in a swimsuit and spackled sun glasses driving down the California Coast Highway with a surf board strapped to the top with Mark in the driver's seat. Can you see my vision? Or can you only see the beat up, old white clunker in the picture?

I had a dream..

that I was an ice skater who was auditioning for a movie, and my mentor was Jennifer Garner, a movie heroine of mine. Brief recap of my dream, at least what I can remember: There was a room where I would practice, just like any dressing room, but we were all on ice skates! I remember just how nervous I was. There was a mean girl there who I remember just wanting to beat so bad in the audition, and I can't even remember if I did or not! After the audition, my friend Jennifer Garner and I went running and found a group of people playing soccer in a park, so we joined in. So in short, it was an intimidating, but very motivating dream! ... motivation for working out...however, I have yet to work out.

I wonder

What Buckwheat thinks about. He loves to watch the world outside our little house. He loves the excitement of being let outside, but then after about 5 minutes or occasionally 15 minutes, he's knocking on the back door to be let in. Yes, he knocks in his own way. He is so curious to watch! I suppose the life of a dog would be kind of drab without exciting Harry Potter books to read, or without CSI shows to watch, or without conversation to have with interesting people. But I try to mix it up a bit for him with a bone or two.

Frogger

I saw a frog hoppping across the freeway on my drive home from San Antonio yesterday! Recently there have been crazy numbers of frogs and toads here in Texas. I guess every time there's a hatching (bugs or reptiles), there is a plague of them; everythings bigger in Texas. When I drive, I try to look out for frogs because they're so cute and they try so hard to get out of the cars' way. It reminded me of that game called "Frogger". This frog I saw only for an instant was under a car, then it waited for it to pass and then I nearly missed it because it hopped on to the shoulder just in time. What a little miracle dancer.

Speaking of 'plagues', nothing could plague me more than spiders. SO gross. They do to me what snakes do for others. I have nightmares, I shiver when I think of them for too long, etc. They just creep me out. I was walking across a parking lot here on bas earlier this week on Monday, and I'm so glad I look down at my feet occasionally because I was about to step on the BIGGEST spider I had ever seen, that wasn't a tarantula. I recalled this horrifying event to my friend and she says they are called "Wood Spiders". Here is a picture of one. It scares me just thinking about it. Where are all those frogs when you need them? wait - this spider probably preys on those poor little frogs.

Mark's Last Supper

Mark's last day before SERE training, or survival training started off nice and normal. We went to church, we were the music 'staff' in sacrament meeting, and then we went on to our meetings. I gave Sharing Time in primary and had the kids make little invitations for the Holy Ghost..it was cute! Then what was even cuter was the little girl I watched while her mom was conducting the primary music. She was in a fussy mood, but she fell asleep when I was given a couple tricks to do. Here is me with Claire: For dinner when Mark came home from his church meetings we had... HAWAIIAN HAYSTACKS! I called it "Mark's Last Supper", yeah.. he said he'll miss me.

Later on in the evening, Chelsea and Sven came over so Sven could buzz Mark's head like his for training. Since Chelsea and Sven want this baby soon, they brought over a ball to bounce on. She kept jumping off every time I'd try to take a picture, so here she is in remembrance of her bouncing hours:
The American Gothic we had to impersonate when I walked out to see my handsome husband like this!!! And then he handed me the rake and hoped I would smile:
I got a better one of "the Farmer" with Sven before the Lundberg's left. I'm going to miss my baldie! Jamie this reminds me of Rod right before your wedding.

Reeder's Digest

Mark and I set a goal when we first moved here to baptize someone. A few months ago (in January) I was over at a neighbors house... on a Sunday night for a girl's party. I always turned her down, but that night I had the feeling I should go; strange, eh? So I went and met a new neighbor who asked me if I was mormon after I turned down some drinks. We started talking and I found out she (Holly Pike) was a member and her husband is not. So I found her, and we became friends. Mark and Dan (Holly's husband) became good friends and Dan became interested in the church. It was a marvel how it worked out so smoothly. Dan and Holly are expecting their first baby (a boy - yes, like our other neighbors) this Thursday, and Dan knew his baptism had been coming soon.

Here is Mark with Dan, then all four of us together, then the Pikes with our missionaries. I have to warn you I look pretty shanty b/c we had been driving all day! no time for a shower... however, it was a wonderful night! Mark and Dan made Holly and me proud. Couldn't have been any better.

Lake Amistad

Saturday we were able to go out to the lake here with our neighbors, Chelsea and Sven. They have a really nice boat that just got a new engine, so it needed some water hours. Since I don't have any inclination to wakeboard or waterski, and just like to sit in the boat anyway, I thought this would be a great trip! It was a beautiful day. I didn't take any pictures of me, so sorry. ;)

Excuse my finger on the top left! We must have started moving. It's her fault she didn't smile:

but here's a nice one of Chelsea - she'll hate me if she sees it. So enjoy it while it lasts. She's expecting her first baby (a boy) any day now! And she was still still jumping in the water like a kid. Love it! And here is the handsome Mark.. who, like me, is in need of a tan.

And just because I'm so good and capturing such flattering moments on camera, here is one of Sven and Chelsea as Captain. They really are a lot of fun! And we'll really miss them.

I forgot about Harry

I had forgotten about a lot of pictures I have taken in the recent past and I am going to try to post more blogs in the next few days of these oh-so-fun pictures that I have snapped around Del Rio. Here is the opening night of the 7th Harry Potter book at the one and only supercenter in Del Rio... you guessed it! Wal Mart, aka Wally World. My friend Rachael asked if I wanted to go with her (I think so she wouldn't feel totally weird), and I said, "I better experience this at least once, especially since I'm reading the books and all." So we went and I had a fun time. Rachael was pretty quiet and trying to not be one of the 'wierd ones'. But I had wished we dressed up or done something crazy like that. I had made Mark a shirt (that I will take a picture of) that says on the back, "Well I have a Nimbus 3000". If you read the first H.P. book, and understand that Mark likes to go 'against the grain just because he can', then this would be kinda funny to you!

It was a lot of fun seeing all the excitement that everyone had. It was a really small Opening Night, but that is what I get for living on the border. I still got a "Slytherin" wrist-band out of it. Mark loved wearing it for a couple days. Yep - he's a Harry hater...how sad for him!

Reeder's Digest - Pilot Training Graduation

On Thursday the graduation fun began. My family drove through the base gate at 4:30 and we were supposed to be in our seats at 4:45. I met them at the gas station and then we raced to the retreat ceremony. I had to prod them along because they were dazed by all the state flags and landscape and the planes buzzing around. It was their first military experience, and they didn't know what to expect. We got to the retreat ceremony and began the 15 minute wait in the hot, humidified sunshine. It was fun to see my parent's reaction to all this. Then the boys marched out into the center and stood at attention while the three planes (the T-6, T-1, and T-38) did a triple flyby. I only video-d that, so I don't know how to attach it. But here is a picture of the retreat ceremony. Mark is right by the guy in the second row. You can see his toes and chin in the close-up:



here's the close-up:


That night we relaxed and ate enchiladas when Mark's family arrived after a full day of standby traveling.

The next morning we went to the breakfast, then the graduation ceremony. I'm still waiting on more pictures from Tessa's phone, but here's what I have. Mark is receiving his wings:

and then they do the awkward stand-for-a-minute and smile handshake:

When that was done, we got our picture taken by Mark's home teaching companion, Brandon Mackay. Here is everyone:


When we got to the flightline I got to pin on Mark's wings! I was so nervous, and they still came out crooked even after all my hard work to make them straight.


Then I gave my newly pronounced pilot a kiss.


Here's the parents: take a guess at which ones are from Vegas? .. I'll give you a hint: they don't go anywhere without those sunglasses!

and..the sisters, so cute!:


Mark's family left at 3am on Saturday, and mine stayed until Monday, so we got to see more fun places of Del Rio! On Saturday we walked over to Mexico and Tessa and I got a picture over the Rio Grande. No, we weren't patrolling the border:


Then on Monday morning, it was raining (again) while we said "goodbye" to my family. My mom is taking the picture, just so you don't think we kicked her out! :


oh! and here's a fun picture my dad snapped of me in the kitchen monday morning cleaning up breakfast. Who knew my dad liked to take pictures??


Here are our dates (as for now) for transition and Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
August 13 - Mark goes to Wilderness survival, Resistance Training (torture training), and Water Survival (in the Florida Ocean with sharks) I'm glad it's not me doing it. He will be doing this for two weeks.
September 13 - Report to Altus AFB, Oklahoma for C-17 training for 4 months.
January 31 - Report to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska!

The graduation weekend was wonderful! It came and went so fast. Uncle Stan and Aunt Linda, I hope we'll see you in Alaska!