The Hills' Adventures: Lake Powell

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Lake Powell

Lake Powell 2008

Cousins:left to right:

Tyler holding sister Abigale, Jake holding crying sister Natalie, Dallas, Nowell, Mia, Sean holding cousin Max and Katie

My parents have been taking us to Lake Powell every year since I was a teenager. It is so much fun. We've missed a few years having babies and parents in the hospital. I was going to miss this year having a new baby and all, but my sister, Emilee had a baby girl, 8 weeks before me and she was going so we all went. I'm so glad we did. The babies did great and my kids had a BLAST with their cousins.

Cassie, Natalie, Emilee, Abigale

This picture reminds me of that song, "sisters, sister, dadada...." I don't remember any more of the song. Do you?

Emilee is 28 months older than me. She has two boys, Sean (9), Tyler (6). Jake and Dallas have a lot of fun with them. In fact, Jake stayed at Grandma's this week, he has been having fun adventures with Sean. He will be home tomorrow. We miss him.

Nowell and Katie

My oldest brother, David and his wife, Robyn came with a few of their children. Nowell is one of 5 girls (they also have 2 boys). Katie and her had a sleepover one night. They were really cute together, after they warmed up. Katie gave herself another hair cut so she has bangs again, they had just finished growing out from the last haircut she gave herself.

Mike introduced fishing to the Lake Powell adventure. Condie's don't fish so it's always exciting when the first fish is brought in. (Exciting... and there are other words to describe the reaction of Condie girls seeing and smelling cat fish.)

There were TONS of frogs on our beach. We saw children holding frogs all day.

Jake on the banana boat (water weeny) with the girls. Alright!

Lake Powell, Pals.

Katie was by Grandma Condie's side the whole trip. They're favorite was eating M&M's on the beach.

Dallas letting everyone know who's really in charge on the fiery ride.

Jake and Sean gearing up to go snorkeling.

Natalie and Daddy just chillin'.

3 comments:

Nicole said...: That looks like it was so much fun!; July 16, 2008 at 8:01 PM
The Royce's said...: Fun! Fun! We really need to get our twin husbands together and go on a camp-out or something uh?; July 19, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Erik & Marcie +3 said...: Fun! I love the picture of Natalie sleeping on Mike. So cute. I need another vacation. Ugh. : ); July 21, 2008 at 1:02 PM

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FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES

"Work is no fun." Jake 9 years

"Candy." Natalie 22 months

"Oh mom, could you change her diaper somewhere else, it's making this taste disgusting." Dallas 7 years

"I know the answers to everything!" Katie 5 years

"The prophet says if you don't spend time with your kids, you'll regret it." Jake 8 years

"Mom, I wished you lived on Jupiter."
"Dad made me change my mind."
"What do you want to do before you die?"
"Mom, I dropped my hot wheels in the toilet." Dallas 6 years

"Come on husband, you need to read our daughter a story...I'll do it myself."
"When will you be able to go? I'm exhausted with you."Katie 4 years

"Dad, Mom lets us get one choice. You just get us what we need." Katie (4) and Dallas (6)to dad at the store

"No", "Toe", "Nose", "Hi mom" "Hi Dad" "a-da-no?" Natalie 19 months

DREAMS DO COME TRUE--Mike's New Job

Mike was recently selected to fly AH-64 Apache attack helicopters for the Idaho National Guard! We'll be in Alabama for flight school for two years, then back to Idaho where he'll be a part-time Apache pilot(this video is from the Utah Guard, but you get the idea).

[Mike] I recently embarked on a great adventure. My whole life I’ve been fascinated with military aviation. As a kid I could name any jet or chopper flying. I studied them, built models of them, drew them. But I never pursued my dream of flying because I didn’t think life in the military would suit me and my future family, and I thought that passion was something I'd grow out of. So I chose a career I considered more practical. In my 20s, though, I began regretting not taking that path. That regret grew worse and worse.

Long story short, in the fall of 2008 I put it all on the line and finally went for it. I joined the Army National Guard here in my home town, with the long-shot hope of flying the AH-64 Apache helicopter (the best attack helicopter in the world). The training just to be considered was tough and required quite a commitment: nine weeks of Basic Training, 8 weeks of Officer Candidate School, academic and physical tests, a 6-year commitment regardless of the outcome, plus the preparation on my own time. All that, just to qualify to go before a "flight board" that selects future pilots. The field is very competitive, but failure was not an option—given the wars we’re fighting, I didn’t want to be in the Army, stuck on the ground. I had to succeed.

By some miracle, everything lined up perfectly and I was selected for flight school, despite my lack of experience and prior service, and despite being 3 years over the age limit (I got an age waiver).

In the spring of '10 my family and I moved to Fort Rucker, Alabama for two years of flight training, after which I’ll come back home to Idaho and be a part-time pilot. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. Getting selected to serve my country, flying the world's best attack helicopter, based right in my home town, is incredible. It still blows me away.

I have the best wife in the world for supporting me in this adventure. She initially told me to do something about this ache in late summer of '08. She encouraged me every step of the way, even while I was gone for months on end, leaving her to manage the home, business, and take care of our babies. And Army pay is not good, especially considering my life may someday be on the line in Afghanistan, Iraq or who-knows-where-else. Thank you, thank you, Cass, for all you are to me.

We may not have it all together...But together we have it all.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Lake Powell

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DREAMS DO COME TRUE--Mike's New Job