Polly, Din, and Deedlebug

You know you've lived in the deep south for almost three years when...

1.  Your daughter occasionally responds to your directives with a "Yes ma'am" and it a) doesn't really surprise you and b) doesn't unnerve you as much as you'd have thought.

2.  Pulling up to the base gate and hearing the gate guard wave you on with a "Pursheeatechew,"  and you understand exactly what he's saying. (I appreciate you.)

3.  You hear the words "Ya'll" and "might could" creeping into your own casual lexicon.

4.  You automatically wave at anyone who passes you in a car while you're walking, and at the pedestrians you pass while in your car - and feel guilty when you drop the ball. 

5.  You automatically assume everyone you meet is a devout Christian and are mildly surprised and taken aback when someone confesses otherwise (instead of the other way around!). 

Spring Highlights 2 - Dinner with some Bigwigs

Early this month, the base had some pretty distinguished visitors: General Welsh (the Chief of Staff of the Air Force) and Chief Cody (Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force) and their wives Betty and Athena flew in from the Pentagon to spend a day or two with our folks.   I got to have luncheon with "The Wives" and then dinner at a local restaurant that evening with everyone, including local leading politicians and citizens.  Always an interesting time. 

Okay, my eyes are closed in this picture and that stinks, but you can't very well ask the General to pose for another shot because you don't like how the first one made you look.  And I am not going to be deleting this one, eyes closed or not.  This man was extremely nice.  He has a gift for making you feel like you're the only one in the room when he talks with you, even if you're in a crowded room.  He gives you his full attention and is genunine in his interest.  He meets hundreds and hundreds of people, and I frankly wouldn't be surprised if he remembers most of them.  He told me very directly that if I thought Matt was working too hard and not taking a break, I was to call him up at the Pentagon.  I giggled, because of course, he was kidding.  But then he said, "I'm not kidding.  Call me, or shoot me an email, and I'll fix it."   Well okay then.  His wife Betty was really nice, too.  An excellent public speaker, and strong advocate for Air Force families.  (As well as a fitness instructor, personal trainer, nutrionist...)

I was seated next to Cheif Cody during dinner, and we talked about living in Newport News.  He had been stationed there and knew exactly where our old neighborhood was and even ran on the trail I frequented at Newport News park.  He asked me how I met Matt, so he got the condensed version of that story which he found highly amusing.  I wish I could have been seated between him and Athena, because I would have loved to talk with her more.  She was very down to earth and friendly. 

 

First strawberries of the season

Normally, our local strawberry farm would have been open for weeks by now.  But this year, the plants suffered from a certain fungus over the winter that thwarted their growth.  We were waiting on tenterhooks all last month and this to find out whether they would even open the patch up for picking and then with a sigh of relief, we saw the "u-pick" sign come out.  The plants are very small, but the berries are delicious and were well worth the wait. 

Molly had a very good time picking and eating.  She pulled the "Blueberries for Sal" version in strawberries.  Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk.  She pretty much ate all of her hard work.  

 

A work of art

Sophie loves Van Gogh's A Starry Night, so for Christmas, Grandma send this do-it-yourself kit to create a likeness of the masterpeice.  When Grammy and Pops came for a visit at the end of March, Sophie was revved up to get down to business with her artist Grammy. 

Spring Highlights 1 - Matt and Sara's formal outing

Sara came to see us during her spring break week.  She came to us tired and a little rumpled, because only the previous night she had flown back home to Florida after a Mission trip to New Orleans and had not had much sleep.  Imagine how fun it was, then, to rest up for a few days and then get all gussied up for a formal dinner event on the base with her dad.  

Sophie Turns SEVEN!

Din makes it into the newspaper

Yesterday Sophie came home from school and went right into her room to create this newspaper article.  I'm still recovering.

She STILL loves floating in the water!

Valentine's Party

Well, another February, another Valentine's Day party.  Two things were different this year: first, our party was actually on February 14th, because the kids were on their Winter Break.  Second, there were two groups this year: the younger set (Molly's crew) and the older set (Sophie's peeps).  Needless to say some of the organized activities were given the boot in the face of the ensuing chaos.  And while was it was, um, busy, it was also loads of fun.  As usual.