day 18 - luncheon and visits

Stacey threw me a baby shower/luncheon today with a bunch of family, a few neighbors, and a few friends. It was so wonderful to visit with everyone, and so many people helped out! Stacey woke up at 5:30 and started her busy schedule (crazy momma!), I woke up at 7:30 to find her busy at work. AH! 

This was the little set up (can't see the helium balloons up higher). So cute with the teacup flowers as party favors: 

The games! This was what I looked like finding out I was about to taste baby food: My poor, poor baby!

The Barretts! From the bottom left, up and around: Saylor (with a tu-tu!), Allison, Chelsea, Keri, me, Aunt Ruth, and Karsten. Cute Tessa was taking the picture, dang it! 

Aunt Stephanie doing the Price is Right game. I lost big time:

I got a bunch of blankets which is PERFECT for Alaska! I'm really excited. They were all SO cute, and a lot of them were hand made:

Jordan, this face must have been meant for you since you weren't there. We missed you!

Holly! I can't believe we didn't get a picture together! But my sister did snap a cute one of your stylin' hair and cute boy Tucker. I am still trying to get over how cute he is! Thank you for coming. I'm so excited about the 'bathroom kit!' So helpful!: 
aaah, Kristen. your handmade blanket and camera strap slip-cover (see shoulder!) and your mom's burping rag (why can't they make up cuter names for baby-things??) and the little somethin' somethin' were so cute and thoughtful!
P.S. - When Kristen saw me she said, "Your pictures don't make your belly look as big as it is!" I said, "well, SOME do, but why the HECK would I put those on my blog?!" (or something to that effect.) It's true... Just wait until the Week 30 picture coming up soon. I've grown. AH!

After the luncheon's cleanup, Mark, Tessa, and I went to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Barrett. It was such a nice visit. Grandpa told Mark and me some of his stories from WWII when he served in Guadalcanal and other parts of the Japanese Islands. I really need to write them down before I forget. I told Mark that if he had been any other profession, I don't believe my Grandpa would have wanted to talk so openly about it. This is the first time I remember him talking like this. It was so interesting!

Mark snapped a picture of their grand piano's inscription. It was built in 1908 and is HUGE and heavy, and soooo nice sounding: 

There was a storm brewing outside again, with little to no rain in the parts that we were at. Molly and Michael had to run for cover during their tennis, though! Luckies: 

After Gma's and Gpa's condo visit, I said farewell to my sister (who's about to start a new adventure come fall!). I'll miss you, Tess!! I love you!

day 17 - preparations

Lots done today... including a couple of naps. But on the more exciting notes of things, we 

1. received cookies from a neighbor: 

2. picked up a courier cabinet from the same neighbor (looks great in Stacey's dining room!)

3. planted flowers in tea cups (pictures to come)

4. visited the other next door neighbor and saw her garden (dad, you'd love their garden!) 

5. made no-bakes (again! mmm... Mike's request this time around)

6. did sit-ups.. yeah right!

7. cooked pizzas

8. went to Costco, got wind blown

9. watched a storm roll in... how could there be no rain from THAT:

*Mark shot this. I told you he loves clouds!

10. washed and dried LOTS of strawberries: 
12. Mark made us Fried Rice - yummy! I love that he paid attention to Taiwan/Chinese chefs.

13. Went and saw Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. It was really cute and pretty dang funny. Mark and Molly were laughing quite a bit. So was I, but they really enjoyed it. 

14. Watched Jay Leno's last show tonight. He'll be missed! "D.C. stands for Da Capitol." - yes. 

Day 16 - temple, B. Bill, drive and Creamery!

Another long day and we're home (in Utah, at least!). We ate a spectacular meal (yet again!) from Sister Pann, divided into two cars (so Marty and Mamie could go to the airport), then three of us (Mike, Stacey, and myself) set out for a little site-seeing before our rendezvous. 

We started with the Denver Temple. We all think it was the first that Stacey's grandpa got to dedicate. How pretty:

Then we headed up the mountain to Buffalo Bill's grave site and museum: 

He was a Grand-Mason, a Colonel in Indian Wars, and received the Medal of Honor:

When we met up in the gift shop (where I found and purchased a turquoise necklace I lost YEARS ago, purchased at Yosemite NP, soooo exciting! - picture possibly to come), Mark hopped in Mike's car with me and we drove for a couple of hours. Mark got snap-happy with the camera. I love these grays in this tunnel!: 

Colorful Colorado: 

Mike's "jake-face" as I named it: 

After a Subway lunch, we shuffled some more, and I ended up in Mike's passenger seat. We now have the same car, so I was pretty comfortable! I got to see things that just a few years ago I would have looked past. Now, not seeing desert-y things often, I think it's beautiful: 

Beautiful rain clouds... I miss the feeling of a storm blowing in. Something so exciting about that:

Passed Castle Dale: 

We decided to take a detour to Provo (woo!!), and we drove past where my roommates and I walked together for our very first outing freshman year. I miss my roommates!

Then after driving past my dorm (Horne Hall, building number 5!), seeing my old dorm window, we stopped at the Creamery so these two could make fun of mine and Stacey's happy memories. Ha! These two!!: 

"The Cremary"

Enjoying their creams:

HA! What a funny family I've got. I love Colorado, but I didn't appreciate getting winded when I'd walk up stairs!! I'm back in Utah now where I can feel like a fit pregnant lady! It was amazing how much of an affect the high altitude had.. Kristina you are awesome for running that 10k there! Your lungs must be golden, even with asthma! 

Day 15 - Graduation!

Mike graduated today!! Mike is Mark's younger brother, and 24 yrs. old. His graduation today at the United States Air Force Academy began with .... 

VP Joe Biden:

(He gave a very good speech!!)

The toss of the hats JUST as the Thunderbirds flew over. It's amazing how it was timed!

After the ceremony, during the Thunderbirds' show: 

helloooo Thunderbirds!

(Stacey snapped this picture:)

This was when one F-16 broke off the group and flew straight up for 2 miles. It was so pretty:

Proud Stacey with her two USAFA grads: 

I'm so glad I got to see an AF graduation, since I didn't know Mark when he graduated:

Stacey snapped this one of Marty looking at his old F-15. What great memories he must have:

Waiting for the boys (you can see my burn starting to take effect..) near the Chapel:

big belly!:

"I sure appreciate what Mark went through." 

- Mark's wife (me)

(he wanted his wife to feel this way, way back before he met his 'future wife.' How funny.)

 Well, Mark AND Michael. I am so proud!!

Day 14 - parade, Columbine, Zio's, and Commission

We have had quite the last couple of days. This morning started out with the Cadet Parade in cold, drizzly Colorado Springs. 

Me and Molly (pre-freeze! Poor Mols was freeezing): 

LOOK!! P-51s from WWII. These made me and Stacey cry a bit.. it was really incredible seeing these planes fly over us. There were 5 total, and they barely were able to be there because of the weather. "The sound of freedom."

This was Mike's LAST parade!! Last time to stomp those fields and get incredibly muddy. That's why he's so dang excited!

Post-Parade... during the freeze. We were about to go pick up Mark and Mamie!

ha! Gotta love the Reeders:

After picking up Mark and Mamie, we swung by to see Columbine H.S. and the Gentry's. We hadn't seen the Gentry's since we were first married!

Columbines, CO's state flower: 

We barely made it to our reservations at Zio's... yum!

Next was the Commissioning Ceremony where Marty read Mike the oath, then Mark and Stacey pinned on his "butter bars."

The new 2nd Lt's celebrating with their bubbly. Mike's "bubbly" was none other than Gatorade! Goooo MIKE!

The commissioning STARTED at 10:00pm! By the time this was finished, it was about 12:00...

Good day, just exhausting! 

Congratulations, Michael! We are all so proud.

day 14 - exhausted!

today was sooo full, i am toooo tired to even put the card in the slot to upload pictures! 

tomorrow there will be TWO posts. ta ra. 

day 13 - Academy and Tweedle Dee...and Dum

We made it to Colorado Springs as hoped (flying standby, you never know!). For lunch we ate at Panera, and then we helped Mike pack up his Academy room: 

This is what he will wear for graduation on Wednesday (I love it!):

Foouuuur YEARS in this place...:

Mark and Michael are pretty determined guys to have toughed this out!

They attempted a jumping picture, but the camera caught the "after jump":

About to drive away from the dorm: 

While at the Academy's Visitor Center, Stacey found Marty some huge, awesome sweat pants. I, of course, had to try them on over my pants. ... I can't believe I'm publishing this picture! (size XL.... perhaps mismarked from XXXL):

Kristen, and Jess, remind you of a certain cupcake/pillow-stuffing night? 

After seeing myself in this picture, I realized my long lost siblings were THESE guys. How awful...: 

laugh, but don't scoff! 

I do this for my mom... She loves Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum. Right, mom?

Happy Memorial Day!