3 down, 8 to go!

Just a quick update, Mom is just wrapping up her first week of Southwest Training and has passed her first THREE tests! We couldn’t be more proud of her!! She takes eleven tests total throughout the next four weeks, so it’s a long process but what a relief to have the first week over with I am sure. In the short conversations dad has been able to have with mom in the evenings, it sounds like they are definitely keeping everyone on there toes. People have been leaving and I am sure that doesn’t make anyone feel safe. They had their makeovers on Wednesday (how fun!) and uniform fittings this week also! Amongst the studying, she keeps saying what an amazing experience this is. Monday and Tuesday are her next test, and Dad said she has been studying all weekend. Please keep her in your prayers that she will be able to stay alert during her classes and calm and assured in her tests. Keep up the hard work mom!! We are ALL rooting for ya!

She's leavin' on a jet plane...

Mom left very early Sunday morning for Southwest Training in Dallas, TX! Dad and Cody took her bright and early and were able to snag just a few pictures just before she went through security. She has been studying her little heart out for the past six months and this last week has been crunch time! We are all so proud of her dedication and hard work and know she will go far. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers for the long journey she has ahead of her. We love you mom!!

Katelynnes On Her Way...............

It's hard to believe this day is here. Katelynne and Kyle left for New York this afternoon @ 12:30 pm. Last night we had our final family get-to-gether. Ashlie said it best today on the way home from the airport "mom I don't think I can take another good-by" we've had way too many these past 15 months. Through all of the tears we do know that Katelynne is doing what God has directed her to do and we trust God to comfort our hearts!

Katie & Cody preparing their last meal together for a while, they were a great team and we've had some wonderful dinners!

Auntie Kate shares a few last minutes with the grandkids

A get-to-gether is always a good time for ice cream sundae's

O.K. Landon, what do you think is inside the box?

Oh, my! A huge spider!

Let's get rid of that thing!!!

A final picture before heading home, school comes early!

Airport arrival, Joey........you look great with the pink bag!!!

O.K., do we pass the weight limit? Sweating it out!!

We made it! They took the bags and now we're off!


Joey, Kylies long time boyfriend, Kyle, Marta her mom and Jeff her dad

Mom, Dad & the girls........they always will be our little girls!


Sad goodbyes!



Laughter and tears...........that's a good sign!

O.K. girls it's time............

and their off!

One last glance........

and their on their own!

Two very sad dads, letting go of their girls is very hard!

Ouch!

On Thursday Cody dislocated his knee cap. It wasn't a pretty picture. He was at school and we had to have a ambulance transport him. As they were buckling him into the ambulance the knee cap moved back into place. The paramedics thought it was best to continue transporting him to the hospital. X-rays looked OK. He's doing better now, just hopping around on crutches. I'm sure that will be a expensive ride across town!

Mom's Southwest Packet Arrives

On Friday I was expecting a overnight delivery of my Southwest Package. This is to be delivered 2 weeks prior to my training date. It consits of all of the information I will need to start my training. It also contains everything I will have to study and memorize for the first test I will take on the 2nd day of training. If I get below a 90% I go home immediately.

Katie had to run an errand and was so excited when she drove down the cul-de-sac and saw the UPS truck, she whipped out her camera, thought she'd grab the perfect shot of Mom's arrival.....only to find out it was a package being delivered to the wrong place!!

Eventually it did arrive and she got a picture!

On Saturday with my dress code information now available, Ashlie and Katie layed out all of my clothes and took pictures of how to cordinate them. I have to be in business dress at all times. Thanks for your help girls! I wonder what my room mate will think when I whip out my pictures before getting dressed every morning!

Here's a sample of how they dressed me!

A Cousin's Sleepover................................ Hosted By Auntie Kate!

Auntie Kate loves her nieces and nephews. She knows that she is really going to miss them so she wanted to have a "Cousins Sleepover" before she left. The evening got off to a "Blonde" start! You'll love this story!

The plan was to make pizza with the girls. I told her I would prepare the crust and it would be ready when she got back with the grand kids. The only sun available to help it rise was behind the car. I told her to be sure to move the bowl before pulling the car out of the driveway...........Needless to say she forgot, until she heard a certain sound. The bowl was stuck under the car. If we pulled it one way or another it would break the oil pan under the car. We had to get our neighbor to come over and help us jack up the car so we could retrieve our pizza dough and bowl!!!! He's still shaking his head. I did warn him that it was a "Blonde Moment" before I asked for his help!

Making Pizza for everyone

Aunti Kate helped to make a fort in the playroom. They popped popcorn and watched video's!

The kids loved it!

They kept the fort up for bed time, it was quite cool!

Story time

Next morning, Keagan was up before dark to shoot Quail with Papa & Uncle Matt! He then practiced his bow an arrow in the back field, behind our house. Everyone else was still asleep!

Keagan loves to shoot at the deer target in Papa's tomato garden.

He's got the form!

Meanwhile the sleepyheads were waking up!

Sooooo Papa saved the morning with doughnuts!

Then it was time to play before heading home!

Landon loved the coloring books, the colors in the Tupperware were years of Crayola's left over when school got out and we cleaned out the book bags!

A little on the tired side, but still a good mommy!

What a fun time everyone had................thanks Aunti Kate, you made some very special memories! They can't wait until you come home at Christmas!

Katelynne Begins to Say Goodbye !

Katelynne begins her packing..............it took 6 large boxes to ship clothes and items for her dorm ahead of time. They will be waiting for her when she arrives in New York.

Kylie, (Katie's college roomate) Kylie's boyfriend Joey, Kylie's nephew and Katelynne after shipping their boxes to Word of Life Bible College..........they shipped 13 boxes together!!!

Katelynne and Claire at our going away BBQ with some of Katie & Kylies friends and family

High School girlfriends at the BBQ

Longtime and dear friend, Mary McBride

Sisters!!! Longtime friends and sisters, Erika and Alexa. The foursome often did things together while growing up. Erika was in Ashlie's wedding and now lives in Los Angeles and Alexa is going to be working in New York city with WYWAM.