Krav Maga

A good friend of mine, Heather, is an instructor in Krav Maga - a no nonsense kind of self-defensive fighting. A few of us got together for a girls night where Heather took us to her gym. We had the whole place to ourselves, which only encouraged the Charlie's Angel in us all, and allowed us to bring it without reservation.












Heather started with technique; she taught us the proper way to stand, move, throw a punch, and the signature Krav Maga move: a groin kick.







We even drew blood. Okay, it was really a crack that was already there that got busted open while punching, but hey, it makes us look tougher!







After we learned the basics we moved on to specific attacks. Here we are learning the "Buck 'n Roll"





We also practiced choke holds from behind and front, and then had some fun learning how to defend ourselves with sticks and knives. Bottom line is this: it was a friggin' awesome girls night, and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. Thanks Heather!

The Upgrade... Aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!

It's finally happened!!! We've been praying for this upgrade for months!! And now, after some pretty heavy duty, non-stop training, and grueling tests, Danny is the newest (and sexiest) Captain of the Dornier 328!!


AT A GLANCE


From this: Dornier 228, (19 passenger)



To this: Dornier 328, (30 passenger)



From this: 228, old steam gauges



To this: 328, glass cockpit, completely computerized



(IF YOU WANT MORE DETAILS OF THE UPGRADE, KEEP READING)

A MONTH OF BOOT CAMP


Danny spent 3 long weeks cramming his brain in ground school learning the 328 from nose to tail. He memorized insane amounts of data, including electrical, hydrolic, fuel, and avionic systems, and also limitations for weight, airspeed, altitude, pressurization, and temperature.

After passing his written test, he flew to Toronto, Canada to spend 10 long days in this...



...a flight simulator that he said was impressively realistic, completely to scale of the real cockpit. He had days of flawless flights and days of not so flawless flights while honing his skills in disorientation recovery, or trying to push out of stalls, extinguishing engine fires and bringing it in on one engine.

His last few of days were spent testing with an FAA rep. He passed an oral exam, and then came the rigorous check ride. As if he wasn't anxious enough about it they broke it up over three days and gave him a co-pilot he'd never flown with before... not cool. He finished just hours before he was scheduled to board his flight back home. When I got the phonecall that he had passed, I could FEEL the relief in his voice pouring through the phone!! It was awesome.

** I found a note I wrote to Danny on the first night that he was in Canada. It reads, "I went into our closet to get ready for bed. I saw all your shirts hanging up and I stroked the sleeve of each shirt remembering what you look like in it. When I finished all the shirts I grabbed a big armful of them and hugged them as though it could somehow transport my hug to you. I love you. Good night. xoxo"

WELCOME HOME


His flight home arrived close to 10pm, but that didn't stop him from waking the kids up just to hug and kiss them and hold their sweetness again. He missed them almost as much as they missed him! The kids and I had worked together on some "Welcome Home" banners and posters that were hung in each room of the house. We're so proud of him! Stet took a while to really wake up...


...until Dan pulled out the bag of Canadian souvenirs...

Danny served his mission in Calgary, Alberta, and these were his favorite treats when he was there: KINDER SURPRISE. They're hollow chocolate eggs with little toys inside. So yummy and fun!


We are SOOOOOOO HAPPY to have our Daddy back and feel complete again!!





Our family owes everything surrounding this HUGE BLESSING to Danny and his dedication, determination, sacrifice, and unbelievable hard work. His hands not only provide our family with food, clothing, and a roof over our heads but with honor, patience, gentle teaching, and strength. He does it purely out of love for us, and respect for his role as a father and husband. He is so admirable, I couldn't ask for a better role model for our children. Thank you, Babe, for everything. You amaze me.

AND SO WE SAY GOODBYE...


Here's Danny with his first officer, George, on his last day flying the Dornier 228.



Let's take a moment to bid farewell to this bird. The first time he sat in her cockpit as First Officer was in June, 2003, he had only 250 hours under his belt! This plane has greeted sunrise after sunrise with him behind the controls, and they've had some good times together, like, birds in the engines, a lot of passenger puke, dirt landing strips, amazing Grand Canyon thunderstorms, long talks with co-pilots, crazy climb-outs, topless river guides, a few (uninvited) kisses and phone numbers, ice covered wings, giving prisoners a "little bump", and a massive 3500 hours of flight time. He knew the ins and outs, the ups and downs, the all arounds and flew her like she was meant to be flown...

For me, the 228 has played an important role in our story. This is the airplane that flew me out to the Bar10 Ranch on the day that Danny first learned he would be a Daddy. (Sunday August 22, 2004)

But the cream of the crop, all time greatest moment in the 228 was November 17, 2008 when this airplane hosted our three kids' first flight with their Daddy as their Captain. She's part of our journey, inscribed in our family history forever. Thanks for the good times...

Conference Weekend Tradition

General Conference Weekend means a few things in our home... pajama's all day, cereal all day, naps between sessions, and the kids' favorite: it's time to measure how much their little spirits have grown. We started this tradition one year ago, Avery was 3 and Stet 1. Gage was just a twinkle,(or was it a twinkie)but he made his mark this year.


Um, no, Avery did not cut her own bangs... that was me. I love them! Danny thinks it makes her look like a boy. What do boys know about girl hair anyway? The cut was actually straight when I cut it, but then her hair dried. Oops! Darn cowlick!!


Stet is intense! This measuring stuff is serious business... focus... steady...



I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY CAN GROW SO MUCH IN A MATTER OF MONTHS!!!

What Makes the World Go Round...

There have been SO MANY of these funny moments lately, way too many to keep up with, but here are some that I've written on scraps of paper. Enjoy a laugh or two.

Avery - "When my belly button is black that means I'm super-de-duperty sick and I'm not ever going to feel better."

Avery - "Can I have some more water? This one's all dry. I mean, it's still wet, but when it's been sitting out for a long time it gets all dried up... but it's still wet."

Stet - "Can I have fruit snacks instead of Christmas tomorrow?"

Avery - "When was I first shot by a love arrow?"

DAD: "What did you do today?"
AVERY: "We made a fire with grass, and sticks, and rocks, and tree junk."
DAD: "Do you mean bark?"
AVERY: "Yeah."

Stet - "Shoo fly, don't bugger me!"

Avery - "Are teeth made out of fishsticks?"

Stet - "I did a pancake crap!"

MOM: "Here kids, you get these cookies because you were so obedient at the pool today."
AVERY: "Mom, why do you get a cookie?"
MOM: "Um, because I'm an awesome Mom and I took you to the pool today..."
STET: "I get a cookie because I'm an awesome Stetson."

Avery - "I've seen the Holy Ghost before. He goes 'crunch crunch' like a soft puffy cloud."

Avery - "My shoes are made of beef! Soft, dry beef!"

Avery - "Nobody on the whole earth is going to play 'I Spy'... except in Africa."

BE ALIVE

Some people watch, as others do,

While others are out doing.

Some, while wishing, waste away,

While others are becoming.

Equally all are given life,

But only few are LIVING.

- JLDS

This one's for you, Carli...

nawm, nawm, nawm, "Oh my gosh, this is sooooooo goooooood."


"Seriously, mmmmmmmmmmmmm"


Elder Cody Duke (at the forefront) left for his mission to Birmingham, England this last week. -sniff- This was the last time we'll see him for two long years... We love you Cody! You'll do great!

Gage's First Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to our sweet baby boy!! We celebrated with cake at Kevin and Carli's in Utah, then the next day a little family party at home.










We're so proud of you, Gage! You bring peace to our hearts and joy to our home! Thank you for your good morning snuggle loves, and your kisses, and your beautiful smile. You'll do great things!

My First Half Marathon

This was crazy!! It was miserable, and beautiful, and fun, and painful. I LOVED IT!!

It all started about a year ago when I decided to take up running as a hobby and outlet. About five months ago I got a call from my SIL, Scarlet, telling me I needed to sign up for the Hobble Creek Half Marathon in August. "Oh sure, that will be fun." I said... right. Five months later I'm thinking, "Aww, crap. I'm really gonna do this!"

Here's me and Scarlet, the one behind this whole scheme, hanging around at 5:30am waiting for the buses to take us up the canyon to the starting point.


Avery jumped in on the last stretch, what a champ!


My SIL Carli met me with Gage about a 1/4 mile before the end so I could carry him across that glorious finish line for his first birthday.


You can't read it from this distance but Danny had made a sign for Gage's back that read "It's my 1st Birthday!!!" The crowd was cheering for him as we passed by.


So, I finished, in horrible time competiviley speaking, but I finished. I can honestly say that there wasn't a single ounce of competitiveness in my blood for this race. I was just thoroughly enjoying the whole experience of it: the scenery, being passed up by 60 year old men, taking a leisurely stroll from about mile 9 to 11, cramping in muscles I didn't know existed, doing cartwheels for the onlookers. It was really very casual, I knew I'd finish eventually. You sign up, you show up, and you finish, right?


Yay, we made it! Scarlet finished in 2:20, she rocked it! Way to go sexy mama!!




This was the best part, seeing family at the finish, it just highlighted the whole experience and meant so much to me that they'd come out and support me in this achievement. Thanks guys!!


"Someone peel me off of this grass and throw me in a hot bath."

Fun with Cousins

We spent our last night in Utah at Danny's brother's home. We always have a great time visiting Kevin and Carli. They crack us up like no one else, and their kids are so fun.

Avery and her cousins Samantha, Jessica and Tyler put on a play for us. I think Avery was a princess who got kidnapped by pirates. Pretty darn cute if you ask me. Watch out for Tyler. If he batted those eyes at me, boy I'd give him anything too.


The best thing about having a plethora of Uncles is that no matter which one you visit you can always count on a 4 wheeler ride. Uncles are the best.


Danny adores his two brothers. Too bad Randy couldn't be here for this sweet ride... Kevin even chased off some neighborhood scoundrels with his bad boy bell.

Family Reunion at Heber Springs Camp

We had a BLAST at this year's Bean Family Reunion. Yes, I am descended from a Bean tree and proud of it!! My mother's parents have over 200 descendants in just three generations, I don't really have anything to compare that too but it sounds HUGE so I think it's amazing.


We spent a morning on the CHALLENGE COURSES! Avery was so brave on this ginormous swing. We were proud of her.


Avery's in the zone...


...and release!


Danny's turn.


He was like a little giggling kid. It made me laugh.


"I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away..." Quite the rush.


Here we had to save all of our family from our sinking cruise liner, don't let them fall into the shark infested waters!






On this one Danny was reliving his scouting days. He had to retrieve "the antidote" without falling into the lava and bring it back to safety. Way to go hero!!


Stet was having some trouble following the promptings of the "still small voice". But he looked cute... (not tied into the principle there :o)


Rockin' the boat!! These canoes were so fun.




Our little sailor.



A little movie for your entertainment. This was our cabin.



We left the reunion the day before Gage's birthday so before we headed out I made everyone sing "Happy Birthday" to him at lunch time. He was all smiles and even clapped at the end. What a crowd pleaser.






All in all we had a FANTASTIC time with our crazy fun family. A perfect way to bid farewell to summer. Oh wait, we're still in the hundreds here. I'll let you know when summer's over... probably sometime in November.