Building Planes

A few weeks back, when we went to the Lost Nation Airshow, Uncle Sam & Aunt Deb bought some planes for the kids. They needed to be assembled, so it was going to be a little fun project for everyone.

Well, maybe more fun for some.

First, Reagan needed to read the instructions.

Then there was the assembly help.

It contained many small screws, so glasses were needed.

Ready for take-off!

I'll Fly Away

Another beautiful summer week is in the books.

Summer is just flying by.

Speaking of flying we headed to the airshow at Lost Nation Airport for the Gathering of Eagles XIV. Bill and I have gone to this event many times. He even took a ride in the Yankee Lady, a B-17 (bucket list) a few years before we were married with lots of other "responsibilities."  We took the kids when they were just over a year old so Daddy and Uncle Sam could introduce them to one of their passions; military aircraft. It is safe to say that we plan to make this a bi-yearly (because it only comes around every other year) tradition.

We arrived at the airshow and were quickly joined by Uncle John, Aunt Jan, Uncle Sam, & Aunt Deb. Again, 6 on 2 is the best ratio for twinado safety at events like this! It also allows me a little time to take pictures, something I can't really think about when I've got to keep one eye on a Whirling Dervish.

I say it all the time, but the twinadoes are SO SO SO SO lucky to have these four people in their lives. They have cared about them since the day we knew they existed when they were just 4 week in utero-even before that really, they have watched them grow from their first breath, and they are the people (besides Mommy, Daddy, & Grandmas) that the kids love most in this world. They know they are safe with them and better yet, I know they are safe with them.

After the airshow, we all retired to our backyard for some lunch, pool time, and margaritas. Lunch eventually turned into dinner and then a feature of Clifford's Really Big Movie.

It was an unexpected day of awesomeness. Sitting around with friends, a margarita in hand, watching planes fly over our house while the kids bopped around in the pool. No deck work, no housework, no errands.

A mini vacation in our own backyard.

We should do that more often!

Perfect Weekend....Almost

It has been a near perfect weekend at the pchak house. The only dark spot was finding out the news that an old friend of Bill's passed away suddenly in her sleep at age 53.

For the last 2 years we dialed back our 4th of July festivities considerably. With two babies, a new house with lots of construction, and just being plan tired all the time, I couldn't think about having 80 people over for a cook-out. This year we decided to ramp things up and get back in the swing since we have a lovely new deck. Next year when level 2 of the deck is complete, I think we'll be back to warp speed for the festivites, so put it on your calendar now: July 3, 2011.

As always when hosting a large party, I feel like I never get to spend quality time with people. I'm either checking to make sure the kids are OK, setting up food stuff, or passing out jello shots (an 11 year old tradition.) I always hope everyone is having fun.

The 4th is the only time I miss our Euclid house since we could just move the party to the front yard for fireworks viewing. We can't do that at our house now, but we do have the lake, which offers awesome sunsets almost every night in the summer. I'll take that over fireworks any day. (Euclid also cancelled their fireworks display this year, so I didn't even spend 1 minute missing our old house this year.)

Great food & drink, wonderful friends to share it with, a beautiful sunset, lots of friends for the twinadoes to play with, and the memories of those that are no longer with us.

We are blessed.