Kendall Bug's Ear Piercing

Kendall has been asking for over a year to get her ears pierced. We wanted to make sure that she knew what she was getting into prior to actually doing it.

She worked very hard learning her upper and lower case letters this year AND her birthday is on Thursday. So our birthday gift this year was getting her ears pierced. (And a few extra sets of earrings for after they heal)

The local mall unfortunately doesn't always have 2 people on duty to pierce at the same time so we celebrated this past weekend with her gift.

Sitting in Daddy's lap for courage

Excited and Nervous

The less than 30 seconds of crying

So tickled with her Hello Kitty earrings

Chocolate ice-cream afterwards!

What birthday present would be complete without riding in a space ship with your little brother?

The loot for after the Hello Kitty studs come out

Flowers for Kendall and I from Ben for the past couple of crazy months
And
My farewell gift from HMLA 467

Farewell HMLA 467

Today is our farewell to HMLA 467, to Ben flying the UH-1N huey, some good friends, a LONG commute, and to an "active" squadron.

It is hello to Ben learning to fly the UH-1Y venom huey, a training schedule (not sure what that will bring but at least Ben won't have a 2.5 hour commute time added to his long day!), and a new set of faces to learn.

Ben will still be at the squadron until mid to end July finishing up then he will be sent to California to learn the new huey.

We are excited to be on this new journey!

HMLA 467 Family Day 2011

We had a family Day for Ben's current squadron this past Thursday. I must say that after participating in several family days over the past 7+ years that this one far surpassed all the others!

It was so neat to actually see the guys fly out and shoot at the range. (I hear Ben talk about this part of his job but have never been able to witness it.)

Pretty weird (and neat) to hear (and feel) the guns shooting up some targets.

We also got to have some experience with some of the ground vehicles so that was cool for the kids (and us!)

Here are some of my better pictures from the day......





Yeah I felt like this too Kendall bug!

  



My husband's current airframe
UH-1N "Huey"





The 'war pig'





Cobra action
The other aircraft that makes up an HMLA squadron





The back of a Huey





Proud of her daddy





Kendall is happy as a clam watching the helicopters on Mr. Aaron's lap & holding baby Annaliese



Wordless Wednesday (Santa on a huey never gets old)

This past Sunday we went to Ben's annual squadron Christmas party. We have seen Santa fly in on a huey (Ben's aircraft) every year (except 1 year when he had to fly in on a cobra) for the past 6. It never gets old seeing santa hanging out the back & all the kids squealing and jumping up and down. This year was no different!

Santa about to land

A random shot of the kiddos in daddy's camo suitcase
No he was not going anywhere but brought supplies in it to cook the Marines in his shop some pancakes.

Kendall pre-Christmas party sporting her dress made my yours truly

Isaac looking for santa

Balloon princess crown

Still not trusting Santa

Kendall just going up to get her present....not wanting to sit on santa!

10,000 beads?! WOW I love it santa!

Loving his new 4-wheeled vehicles!