Audie Murphy Day 2008

For those of you who don't know, Kyle's parents live in a small town that just happens to be the home town of Audie Murphy, the most highly decorated war hero and Hollywood actor. Once a year, on his birthday, Farmersville, TX. hosts an Audie Murphy Day. There is a parade, a ceremony honoring veterans from all eras and branches of service, and a flyover to kick it all off. For the fourth year in a row, Kyle performed the flyover in the T-38 along with another pilot from our squadron. As usual, they did a beautiful job perfectly on time and in great position. My camera didn't get a great shot of them but here is what I got...

The day was huge success and everyone had a wonderful day celebrating Audie Murphy and all of our veterans! We also had another weekend enjoying the farm. We fed the two new longhorn steers, picked tons of plums, and took turns getting rides in Bill's Ford GT! What a weekend of firsts!!

Mike and Eric feeding Strauss

The fastest speed reached that day was by, none other than, Kyle the fighter pilot!

Picking plums

Gatlin and Grams, what a cheeser!

This ain't no fish tale!

Pardon the grammar, but it fits! Last time we went fishing at the farm, we caught quite a few "keepers". But none compared to the biggest fish ever caught out of Kyle's parents' largest lake. This bass weighed 5.5 pounds and was 23 inches long. Longer than Gatlin when he was born! Kyle put his entire fist in it's mouth to get out the lure, this thing was a beast!! And the person who caught this fish......... (drum roll please).............................

Was me!!!!!

Now, I am not tooting my own horn (toot toot), but check out that monster! No, really, I didn't do anything special, I just got lucky. I was using the same bait as everyone else was so, I just threw it in the right spot, I guess. (toot, toot)

Halloween in June???

Our squadron had a party a couple of weekends back themed "Oscar night". The idea was to dress up as your favorite movie characters. There would be "oscars" handed out for best costume male and female (Best Actor and Best Actress) and a lifetime achievement award. There were people dressed from all movies imaginable ranging from Karate Kid to Princess Bride to Hairspray. Kyle and I decided to go as Psycho. I am Janet Lee in the shower scene and Kyle is Norman Bates dressed as his mother. We didn't win but thought we looked good nonetheless. I will say, though, if you are ever thinking of doing this for a costume party, make sure you will be somewhere cold because that plastic shower curtain will cook you alive! Kyle swears that when he unpinned me from it that steam came out! Too funny! Gatlin was so funny. You would have thought he'd have been scared seeing his Mom half dead and his Dad dressed as a girl but all he kept saying was that he wanted to put his Nemo costume on from last Halloween and go with us! So sweet.

Our mystery plant

My mom had a hibiscus plant that she thought had died. When she was about to throw it out, it started sprouting a new base, if you will. So, she gave it to us to plant in our yard. As it grew, it looked more and more like a weed and was definitely growing like one! It was definitely not the same plant that had been in the pot a year before! It grew from four inches to about four and a half feet in three weeks.

So, we decided to talk to a local garden center about what it might be. After being told it was a mulberry tree and needed to be pulled up, we decided that was the end. But another guy told us it was a Rose of Sharon. Not knowing what to think, we went straight to the resident horticulturist. After going home and emailing him pics of the plant, this is what he said...

"This is a hibiscus native to Argentina and Brazil and found growing wild elsewhere in the tropical americas but seldom grown out of its range except by collectors. It’s botanical name is Hibiscus cisplatinus. The common Spanish names for it are Rosa de Agua or Rosa de Rio since it is partial to watery places."

He thinks that it was a random seed that happened to be in the pot from when it first was shipped here and that this particular plant grew once the other one died! We were so excited to finally know what it was and now, we have the most beautiful flowers. People in our neighborhood actually stop during their walks to look at them! Take a look!

Flowers as big as my hand!!

(I know, it doesn't take much to get us excited..) :)

Home away from home

We spent two weeks after Gatlin's birthday up at Kyle's parents' farm. Kyle was in school getting his ATP (airline transport pilot license) and his 737 type rating so that he can fly commercial airliners if he ever decides to go that route. While he was studying his little heart out, Gatlin and I enjoyed an extended visit with his parents complete with two more birthday parties for Gatlin, a visit from Hayley, Jacob, and Hunter, and the purchase of Gatlin's big boy bed! We had a fun filled two weeks and, in the end, Kyle passed his class with flying colors and is now qualified to fly the friendly skies and not spill anyone's coffee while doing it! Congratulations honey, you deserve a vacation!

Cake #2

Working hard on that candle!

Cake #3

Fun at the local water park

Gatlin enjoying ice cream with his cousins by the koi pond. This is the life!

Gatlin's new bed!

Gatlin turns three!!

Gatlin turned three May 24th and had a wonderful birthday party. It was Thomas the Tank Engine themed and we had a great time. There was pizza, cake, presents, singing, and tons of friends. I can't think of more fun to be had than that! Thank you to all who came and helped Gatlin celebrate. It was a very special day, indeed.

Opening gifts

The cake!

Some of the kiddos enjoying the pizza