Spring Break in Mexico

So we took a family vacation this Spring Break to Santo Tomas Mexico, about 2 hours south of the Arizona/Mexico Boarder. (No, not as scary and unsafe as all the news reporters broadcast). Oh, did I say Family?? Yeah pretty much, but I'll keep you wondering for now...

I flew to Phoenix Friday, March 18th, the next morning Britany and I got in the car and drove to Vegas...that was the meeting spot to pick up Savannah and Abigail for this visit!! After a long day of driving, eventually my girls met Britany's girls. Monetrey 7 and Alexandra 5. For being together for 2 weeks they all played and got along really well!

Britany has access to a private Beach House that is very secluded, safe, and big enough to spread out. Right out the back door and down a large hill is where the sand meets the water. We enjoyed a full week in our own little Paradise. Lots of days on the beach, in the water, one day hanging around in a Mexican Village, a fire in the sand with marshmallow roasting and s'mores and lots and lots of free time to enjoy each other. It was the best vacation ever, nobody wanted to come home and now we're wondering why we did. More pics on my Facebook if you want to go see them.

I passed my PV!!!

I know everyone already knows by now, but I passed the performance verification (PV) on tuesday. Unfortunatly, I did not pass on the first day so I had to do it twice. How it all works... we are trained on what is called the radar associate, basically a helper to the controller who actually talks to the airplanes, and then we are tested at the end of training in OKC. The test consists of an instructor who operated the radar and talks to the "airplanes" and an evaluator who came from another center and the evaluator determines whether or not the student can keep going. The only problem with this is that there are no real yes or no answers, and it is all subject to what one person thinks during that time. I got done and after a long time waiting in the hallway, I was told that I did not pass and would have a few more practice problems and the following day I would retake the test. I retook the test, and this time I had 2 new evaluators grading me, and they would both have to agree to send me home or else I would pass. I did the problem, and after waiting what again seemed like an eternity, they let me in, sat me down and told me I passed, then we went on with a debriefing. Of course I had lots to still work on, but they said they were very impressed with lots of great things I did that they hardly ever, if ever see students who are in the same situation as me do. So now I am officially considered and Air Traffic Controller, it will be awhile before I'm done training, but I can now finish up here and go home!!! Also, to show how subjective the testing was, the instructor who operated my radar during the problem (he is one of the few trained on operating it during these problems and sees many tests) told me today that he thought that I had passed and didn't know that I didn't until my lead instructor found him to discuss the problem I ran. He told me by his opinion I deserved to have passed the first time, that helped to make me feel better about myself that I didn't mess up that first test to much. Thank You all for your prayers, I did truely feel the help while I was testing!!!

What is really in your water...

Think its important you all view the facts and make an educated decision for yourselves and your family!!

Nathan and Company visit CO!!!

 Nathan, Emma, Logan and Porter come for a quick visit.  They left yesterday and as I'm writting this they are stuck in a snowstrom in Evanston, WY - fun, fun, fun.  Well, we did have a lot of fun with them this weekend.   
See the video!

Here in OKC life has been both ups and downs. The first month was slower than I thought possible, and this past month or so has been faster than I thought possible. As a quick update on how my training is going...

The first 5 weeks were just the Basics, very slow, all academic, and stuff I had mostly learned in college.

For the past month or so I've been in non-radar training, basically how to safely guide airplanes when I can't see them. It turns out that I will need this training more than most controllers, I was able to meet with the Denver center air traffic manager and he gave us what areas we'll be working in. I got Area 1 which covers all air traffic over the Colorado Rockies below 26,000 feet.

Today I just had my non radar finals. Nearly aced my written, but on my practical it was my worst easy problem yet. But now I'm on the final portion of training here in OKC, the Radar portion.

It has been fun in a lot of ways but still the hardest part is being away from Christy and Riley. So I cherish each time that they come out, it seems like Riley grows up so much each time that I see him, and learning so much. So here are some pictures from the past couple times they've come out.

This was our Christmas Tree this past year

Riley all ready for bed

Playing with daddy's phone

Getting ready to go home to Colorado

Beautiful Christy!

Riley helping out!!

Give me Liberty or Give me Death....

Always trying to make a difference in this world by defending our freedom! As an activist and member of "We Are Change Oklahoma" we are trying to be a voice for freedom while waking the minds of Americans to many of the things that have been used to take our liberty and reduced our freedom. This video is a compilation of just 10 major inconsistency's in the Oklahoma City Bombing that need to be investigated. I'm about 5 minutes in if you just want to see me but really, we should all be asking these questions and many more. Unfortunately the real answers are slow to come.



Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases. -Thomas Jefferson

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms [of government] those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.-Thomas Jefferson

Nana and Papa visit Everett

We're having fun visiting with Everett and parents.  He's a cute little dude as his dad would say.  The video is a THIRD pass - thanks for some new music Cam.  However, Darcey says she wants some different music so this version maybe updated when I get that.  Have fun watching this little fellow.

Everett is here!

(after) Christmas with the girls!

Had a great time with the girls in Utah December 29th thru January 4. I arrived in a snowstorm and enjoyed snow and cold almost everyday while there! We stayed with Aunt Carrie as normal and are grateful to her for always allowing us to cramp her style!

I can't believe what little ladies I now have. As you can see from the pics, Savannah must have a lot of her Dad in her, always being silly, especially for the camera. Abigail is living up the the meaning of her name, "Joy of the Father." She is always so sweet and loving.

Together we shared Daddy's Birthday together at Grandma Millers, went bowling New Years Eve, and crashed before midnight, (the girls did anyway), and Sunday had some good dinner with Uncle Fred, Aunt Tiff and cousins!

We played together a lot, laughed a ton and even cried from time to time. Miss my little girls but I'm grateful for the time we had together! Enjoy the pics.

Merry Christmas!!!

Simply crazy!

Riley entertains Papa

With Matthew out of town we've had opportunity to see Riley more often since he needed "qualified" baby sitters. Nana and Papa got him on Tues. and Papa had him all alone on Thurs. That's when Papa pulled out the camera and we had lot's of adventures.

 

See the action!!!

Tiffany

Just so you all know, I started a blog concerning Tiffany's current treatments and status. There were many people that wanted updates and so we opted to start a blog just for her.

Go to http://joyofthejourney.blogspot.com

Thank you all for your prayers! We feel them.

Nathan

Check out these dance moves!

Savannah & Abigal's Thanksgiving

Another good visit has come to an end..... 2 weeks, 2600 miles 5 states 38 traveling hours and one Wyoming speeding ticket (43 in a 35 along I-80 on semi snowy roads, go figure) and a lot of good memories made!

I'm happy to report that by the end of the visit, Abigail was no longer in Pull-ups, and was back to doing #2's in the toilet like we were doing with Daddy over the Summer! (Let's hope it stays that way this time)!

Both girls are growing in mind and body. Abigail is just a hair shorter than Savannah and weighs in at 42.6 lbs (I know, I know, shouldn't be giving out a girls weight but this is partly for the record so I don't forget). Savannah is the lightweight at 36.8lbs. Savannah is the ring leader in all things but is always sure to volunteer Abigail for any task or activity she does not want to be the first to try. Abigail will normally go along with it, she seems to have a lot of trust in her older sister.

They are both very sweet girls but show their emotions in different ways. Abigail will give hugs and kisses out of the blue while saying "my daddy, I wove you daddy." Savannah is always telling me about times we've shared in the past (very scary what she remember and how well she articulates it) and follow it up with, "...because you love me?" Savannah is very tenderhearted and goes to pieces if Daddy gets onto her. Abigail on the other hand, will normally give a look and run off finding a corner to hide in until Daddy comes to find her to make it better.

They are both very active and are non-stop from dawn to dusk and late into the night. Wait until you see the dance videos....

In backwards order, here is picture summary of all our fun times together.

Can you believe I let them ride shotgun? Common people, it's still a free country and they put the seat belt on without suggestion or help! Hey were did the Supergirl Tattoos come from?

Santa Cookies!!! Can you tell which ones Abigail was decorating?

Love riding our bikes....and getting to big for them. Abigail's helmet is too small for her.

Elvis is in the house!

How many Elvis' are there anyway?

Such a girl. Uncle Matt was using the bathroom at this time, after finding the door locked Savannah came in the to front room with had on hip saying, "Dad, isn't there another mirror around here?" She laughed when I pointed to the one in the kitchen, she then moved a chair in place, climbed up and began to apply her "make-up." When she was done she flipped her hair back saying, "there, now I look pretty for church!" Abigail of course had to do the same thing.

Rest stop in Kansas wearing our "team" for traveling. It just so happened OU and OSU were playing on this day. Though they look the same, Abigail is wearing an OU jersey, Savannah, OSU. They cause quite a stir in public. I don't think we've gone anywhere, including this rest area without someone asking if they are twins and commenting on how cute they are!

Silly girls while out "wish-list shopping!"

They're so young and yet the "PAPA(razzi)" still seems to follow them wherever they go!

Awwww, Papa playing horsey at G-ma Great's house.

Thanksgiving videos

 I went with Cameron to pick up his girls just before Thanksgiving.  We had a fun visit with Grandma Miller and the new liveins - Mary and Marty Nielsen for a couple of day before returning with the cute ladies for a Colorado Thanksgiving.  See the fun: 

1. Visit at Grandma Miller's
2. Colorado Thanksgiving - part 1 
3. Colorado Thanksgiving - part 2 

Carrots anyone?

Well, it looks like our first winter storm is rolling in later today, so I finished the garden harvest.
All that was left were the carrots and was I surprised when some giants and snaky carrots came out of the ground.  The long, snake like ones tasted OK but the big ones had an alien flavor and were rather fibrous.
Anyone want some?  They'll be around for awhile.  The two little carrots on the right are some normal ones about 5"-6" long to give a size comparison.

Visit to Alamagordo

We had a fun week in New Mexico with Darcey. We enjoyed watching her make some of her fantastic kitchen creations (and eating them too). We helped paint a bedroom and set up the nursery. It all would have been more fun if Rob could have been there too. Hurry home Rob.

For the baby shower!

Halloween treats (candied apples) for the office.

On the way home we stopped in at Carlsbad Caverns. This was the best cave we visited from all our "spelunking" this year .

Natural entrance to the cave - about 800 ft down.

Dibs adventures in China now COMPLETE!

The Chinese adventures of Dibbi the bear is now starting to show.  As the production crew has many other projects in progress new adventures will appear as they become available so stay tuned for the fun.  This post will be updated with those new videos.

When viewing make sure you select 480p or higher instead of 240p for a better resolution.  Happy watching.

1. Arrival in and traveling around Shanghai.
   
2. Buddhist scared mountain,porcelain capitol, crew fashion show.
   
3. Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, Yueyang Tower and gardens,
4. Jingzhou: visiting the Viking Primary School 
5. Three Gorges Dam 
6. The Three Gorges and the Lesser Three Gorges area. 
7. Shibaozhai Pagoda, Snow Jade Cave, Panda bears at Chongqing 
8. In Xian: Tang Dynasty Show, Terracotta Warriors 
9. Great Wall, Beijing Opera, Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace. 

Riley comes to Nana and Papas for a belated birthday visit.

Matt and Christy dropped in with Riley last Saturday and we had some birthday fun with them.  Here's some of that fun.  Hope you enjoy as much as we did.


Fun with Riley!!!