Lonely In the Lone Star State

So, I arrived today, Sunday, in Texas to start training for my new job as a pilot for American Eagle Airlines... and I miss my family every second that I am gone. I am guessing the fact that I have nothing to do yet is a considerable factor, but it is not the only one. It seems so easy to go away on an exciting new adventure until... the ones you want to share that adventure with aren't there. Don't get me wrong, I am excited for this new career and the challenges that await me. I know that for my family and I this is what we need. I know I am supposed to be here in Texas for the purpose of training so that I can be a good and safe pilot. I just wish challenges like this didn't have to be. I love my wife and two beautiful children so much that it pains me to know that I could be there holding them, instead of on this cold machine pouring out my soul. For my family, and for me, I can make it. I know that there is help from above in times like these. These are the times I rely on that help the most. I love my family and I know that as the father I must do this for us. I pray this time flies by as fast as the plane I will be flying!!! Love you guys!

Emmi's Quiet Book

I loved making Zoe and Jaxton's quiet book so much I wanted to make one for my niece Emmi. She is going to be 5 years old this month so I tried to make the pages a little harder. I really enjoyed making this. Every time I was working on it Zoe would ask if it was for her or her cousin Emmi. Zoe loved every page so I think I will have to remake these pages for her book. I am happy to report that i even came up with some of my own ideas. I already sent it to Emmi and my sister said she hasn't let it out of her sight. I am so glad she likes it.

Finally!!!

The day Nathan has been looking foward to his whole life is finally here. He just got hired by American Eagle Airlines as a first officer. They are a regional company owned by American Airlines. We are all so excited and happy to see his dreams come true. He has worked so hard and now it is paying off. It is kind of funny now that he is done with Air Traffic Control school that he gets a pilot job but as least he has options now. If Air Traffic Control offers something better in the near future we will have a decision to make about which road to take, but for now he has a start on a career, doing something that he loves! We don't have all the details yet about where he will be based, which type of aircraft he will fly or when it actually starts, but we do have the offer letter and thats all that matters! We do know that he will have to do some ground training in Dallas for about 6 weeks starting at the end of August or beginning of September. It will be an adjustment for all of us to have Nate gone so much. I am nervous to be home alone with the kids and still working, but we will all adjust. We are just so happy because this is what we have been waiting for! And maybe I'm happy because i feel a vacation with free flight benefits commin on!!
In July we went to Nate's Family Reunion up around Jackson Hole area. We went camping for a whole week. Yes we slept in a tent for 7 NIGHTS! No there was no running water. There was a water spicket. There was an outhouse. We were able to shower 2 times because we had activities planned at pools. We went to a rec center and a hot spring which had showers. You may be asking yourselves why I would do something so crazy but we had a BLAST. We also got to go to Yellowstone, I had never been before. The whole drive home both kids kept saying how much fun they had camping. They do this reunion every 2 years, and while we were there I kept thinking back to the previous reunion when I had a 17month old and a 4 month old. Now that was crazy. We did have so much fun though. Here are some recent pictures