The Hills' Adventures: Summer Adventures

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Summer Adventures

Since Mike is gone for most of the summer we decided to spend most of our time at Grandma Condie's house. Some of our adventures in a nut shell.

The Dinosaur Museum

Natalie digging for fossils. She's a natural.

Katie digging. This was the most fun for the kids, something they could touch.

The boys could have stayed here all day. I'm thinking of giving Mike a project to build one of these in the backyard, hours of entertainment.

Shark bait.

Cousins...Abigail is my sister Emilee's little girl. She is 8 weeks older than Natalie. They get along really well, can you tell:).

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90 degrees + a pool full of ditch water + cousins = that's right, vomit and fevers.

Every one loves Grandma!

Grandma's house holds many adventures...

Jake catches butterflies.

Lessons on the pecking order

Friends, cousins and Popsicles...All you can handle.

The hammock...My personal favorite.

Baseball and lessons on good sportsmanship:).

Good Eatin'.

Horses

Children's own personal parade

Best of all... Good folks and laughter!

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The Heber Creeper Train

The boys were so excited for a train ride. Although, they were anticipating a bit more speed. The cowboys who hijacked the train made up for it though.

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Hike up to Timpanogos Cave

A mile and a half up a steep mountain was very tiring for these tough guys, but they made it. The cave was awesome and the hike back down was slow.
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And some fun reunions with some old friends.

Dixie Sullivan, me, Sally Eves and Kimee Greer

We have really multiplied. (minus Jake) Dallas is sitting next to his first girlfriend, Sally's daughter, Kate.

4 comments:

Heather and Don said...: What a fun adventures! Dallas looks like a "pro" on the horse!; July 1, 2009 at 11:30 AM
The de la Houssaye's said...: Hi Cassie! Cute pictures you have the cutest kids! We would love to have you for the blessing, yes it is this weekend in Logan.; July 1, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Erik & Marcie +3 said...: Looks like a blast Cass! I'm so glad you've been able to be with your Mom and Dad.; July 3, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Maria said...: wow, i'm exhausted reading all of the fun! it's always so great to spend time with family...that's for sure!; July 9, 2009 at 12:17 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.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Summer Adventures

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DREAMS DO COME TRUE--Mike's New Job