Washington D.C.

Since we had to go to Arlington, VA for Kira's awards dinner, we thought we would make it a fun weekend trip for the whole family. We had a fabulous time driving around Washington D.C. taking in all of the sights. It was the first time the girls and I have been back east, and we even got a little snow.




Anyone who knows our family would be able to guess that the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum would be the place for us to be. We were able to get a chance to see the Wright Flyer, Mercury 7 capsule, and U2 spy plane. Brian ran into his good friends Orville and Wilbur and tried to buy a plane.



One of the highlights of the trip for Kelsey was getting to see the SR-71 "Blackbird" at the National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. We saw the space shuttle Enterprise, and the Mobile Quarantine Facility (aka NASA's Airstream trailer) where the astronauts returning from Apollo lunar missions were held to see if they brought back any moon germs. Also, we were able to see one of Kira's favorite type of aircraft. Kira's loves the V-22 Osprey, and the museum had a Bell XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft. Who doesn't love an aircraft that can take off, land, and hover like a helicopter, but with the speed of an airplane. I'm sure Brian would love one for his commute!

The sightseeing and museums were free, but the memories... priceless!

Congratulations Kira!

It was fun for our family to be able to attend this years Spaatz Association's Annual Dinner and Awards event held in Arlington, Virginia. It was even more wonderful that Kira was one of this years recepients of The Aerospace Leadership Scholarship. This scholarship will help her complete her private pilot's license. Kira was able to solo in June at Civil Air Patrol's Powered Flight Academy (two weeks of ground school and flying in Nebraska). She has continued with her flying lessons while attending college full-time and now she will be able to complete her pilot's license. Great job, Kira!

I Heart UPS!

I sent some of our documents that were apostilled (child specific petition, etc.) off to "the country that cannot be named" on Feb. 23 and they were received on Feb. 26. Amazing! Thanks UPS!

I was following the documents on their journey and Brian would let me know if he had been to that location on his travels for work.

Aliso Viejo (been there)
San Diego (go there every day)
Kentucky (been there)
Philly (been there)
Cologne, France (been there)
Warsaw, Poland (have not been there)...
FINAL DESTINATION (looking forward to going soon!)

Me too!!!

Re-Do Part 1

Of all our documents that we have sent in for approval, only one came back that needs to be redone (not too bad). The letter from the county assessors office needs to be redone. It only needs one small addition added to it (amount of living space needs to be added to the total amount of square footage of our home). Hopefully they will have that information and be able provide the documentation. They were really good getting the first letter ready for us. I am hoping that will be the same case with the new revision.

However, we still have NOT received the letter from our mortgage company. NOT HAPPY!!!

When Brian went to the lab for his blood work, they were not able to do it that day because he had taken something for his back pain (Tylenol, Motrin, something like that). Well, because his back was bothering him for such a long time (even after several chiropractor appts - Brian did a really good job this time!) he was not able to go back to the lab until he was not taking anything for his back pain. I am happy to report that his back is better and he got his blood work completed.