Two quail and two kids

Max and Zephyr have been hunting for pheasant (and/or quail) since we got to Kansas. They have been going on occassional Saturdays or days Max has off with some buddies from the squadron. He finally brought home two quail (good thing we're not relying on him for our food!-just kidding Max:)) last Saturday. JB was very eager to hold one and do everything his Daddy did with them. Gloria just thought, "oh cool, a birdie!"

Max and JB plucked the feathers off of them and I cooked the birds that at this point looked like mini chickens. They kind of tasted like chicken, but better. They tasted so good! They did not taste anything like dove (which can be good, but you have to work hard to make them taste good, I think). Anyway, Max finally fed his starving (not so much) family.

Stack Lion meets the other lions

Max, JB, Gloria and I went to the zoo on Saturday afternoon, a beautiful day. JB was very interested in having Stack Lion meet the other "stack lions." We were delighted to see that one of the lions was out and moving around. He even roared a few times and walked around.

We spent a good chunk of time watching the gorillas too because they were acting pretty funny, rough-housing and wrestling like brothers and sneaking up on a bigger gorilla who was keeping all of the food for himself.

The zoo in Wichita is laid out nicely and the animals are nice and frisky during the cool, yet sunny and mild winter. We even saw giraffes running around.

The one and only "Stack Lion"

This is JB and his "Stack Lion". One day we asked JB what his lion's name was and he said right away and very confidently "Stack Lion". We have no idea where he got this from but it has definitely stuck. It is now his favorite animal.

He left Stack Lion outside in the dark last night and he ran outside saying "I'm coming Stack Lion!" He also threw him to me down the stairs and said "Mommy, if the ground hurts him, give him a kiss." Of course the ground attacked him visciously so I had to kiss his nose.

BTW, I bought this lion for JB two years ago at Safeway and he didn't bat an eye at it, then one day it became his favorite "Stack Lion." It's funny how kids' minds work.

A Pleasant Morning at the Park

...until we got to the playground (see below for earlier "tornado" post)

The above pictures are at High Park, which has a long lake with bridges, geese, and ducks. Up on higher ground are the jungle gyms. Thankfully, the car was nearby there (see below).

Tornado warning!

I may have had my eye sight fixed, but now I've lost my hearing. JB, Gloria, and I went to a new park (new for us) called High Park in Derby. It has two playgrounds. Apparently the one we chose has the tornado siren right next to it because we all pretty much got our ears blasted.

No one else was at the park except for us. We were playing near the swings when a horn started up, not very loud at first, but then it got really loud, so loud that Gloria stopped what she was doing, made a 180 and made a b-line for Mommy. I could see she was crying because her mouth was wide open and she had a distressed look, but I couldn't hear her over the siren. The horn head is on a pole higher than the trees and was turning round and round. Every time it was pointed our way, it hurt my ears. I'd have to say it was the loudest thing I've ever experienced (Max says 150 decibles, 50% more loud than a shotgun blast).

I covered Gloria's ears as soon as I could and yelled to JB to cover his because I new the siren head would be coming around again. As I had my hands on Gloria's ears, I couldn't cover mine so I grabbed the kids and ran to the car. Boy, it was nice to be in the car. It was still loud, but didn't hurt anymore. I looked at my watch, 12:03 pm, and looked at the sky which was perfectly clear. It was a test. Although I'm glad they test them around here, I'll just make sure next time I'm not right next to the siren at noon on a week day (I think it may be Mondays and Wednesdays at noon depending on the weather.)

Anyway, it's been 55 minutes since the siren and JB is still talking about the tornado that got scared away by the siren. I can tell you it scared us away! Somehow, without my having to explain, JB knows that tornados "break trees." I'm glad we have a system where we can be warned about the tornado because I'd sure rather get my ears blasted than have me or the kids or anyone be picked up by a swirling monster.

We're not in Virginia anymore Todo (or should I say, Zephyr).

Don't Let Your Kids Try This at Home...

JB thought of a creative way to reach the light switch. He needs the light on in order to go to the basement to play with his toys.

HAWAII

Since there's not a whole lot going on here except for home improvement, I thought I would post a couple of Max's Hawaii trip pics...yes, a hardship tour. But he did bring me back some cool things and lots of pineapple!

Max's day in Hawaii

Max's view from his hotel in Hawaii. The hotel claimed it was a $1200 per night room, but that's sure not what the Air Force paid. (It was a lot less...)

JB's interpretation

We had a few inches of snow overnight. When JB went outside this afternoon while the snow was melting because it was near 50 degrees, he ran inside saying "What happened to the house Mommy? The house is drowning!" I don't really know how he knows the word "drowning" but I went outside to check it out and he pointed to the water falling from the upper roof to the lower porch roof. Dripping and leaking was heard everywhere as the snow melted in the warm sunshine and spilled off roof and down the drain pipes. It was kind of cool, like there were little waterfalls falling over our house. I wasn't really concerned that the house was drowning, just getting a good washing (after no precipitation for quite a while). It's fun having kids...comic relief when I need it most sometimes.

BTW, Max is no longer going to Japan but will still be going to Hawaii, which he is excited about since it is the only state he hasn't been to. He should be there now, so I guess he has been in every state. Now he's aiming for every country in the Middle East....:)...not really

Max's First Mission from McConnell

Max left early this morning for his mission to California, Hawaii, and Japan. He and his crew are refueling fighters that are going to be flying over the Pacific Ocean. Isn't it amazing that planes can be refueled in the sky over a ocean? Although waiting in California initially this weekend so that they can get an early start on Monday, he will be off to Hawaii and Japan and flying a lot on this ten day mission.

I guess this is a good preliminary trip before the "big one" when he is off to the Middle East probably in early February. It will get me a little accustomed to being alone with the kids in this new house so that I know a bit what to prepare for when he's gone for months. If I do decide to take a trip while he's gone the challenge will be to close up the house before we leave and make sure loose strings are tied and everything is secure.

Anyway, I will be relying on God for strength and peace while Max and I are separated by land and sea. This is only a ten day trip, I know it is a fun, interesting, and challenging one for him, and he may bring back some souvenirs, so all of these things make it easier. The fact that I have Jesus to run to and rely on every day is the biggest factor in making it bearable. Patience with the kids, peace while Max is away, safety for Max, and finding fellowship here are what I pray for the most.

For anyone wondering, I had my third post-surgery eye appointment a couple of days ago, and although the left is a bit worse than the right, I'm basically seeing 20/15 in both eyes and no more inflammation in either eye, just a bit of dryness. It's amazing to get up in the morning and be able to see right away.

JB in his post bath cacoon

Max called him a pea pod.

Max's work area in the garage is coming together.

Included in this photo is a picture of my new hair cut I got on New Years Day (plus the second eye-brow waxing I have ever had). I did not ask for a styling afterward but the lady cutting my hair said she "just had to see how the layers she put in looked" so she blew it dry and curled it for free.

I had been hesitating having my hair cut because I didn't want to get bits of hair in my unhealed eyes. It has been over two weeks now and I'm still seeing great.

Book Worm and Hair Rebel

Gloria loves books.

I was experimenting with putting her hair up since often her hair looks dishevled after she wakes up and I thought clips and hairbands would help tame it. I guess I didn't start playing with her hair early enough because she always takes it out and then it looks like she has a mohawk.

Boys and their toys

JB is having a lot of fun with a new marble track toy from Gramma Lois. Max enjoys playing with it also (with JB) when he has the time. Max majored in civil engineering at CSU before going to the Air Force Academy so he's all over building tracks and bridges and things...