Family Portraits

It's been a long time since we've had family portraits done. In fact the last time we had them taken K was 3 days old. The kids are getting so big so fast. 

5 and 2 years old these two are a pair when they are together. But they never cease to show their love for each other. 

In kindergarden already, she's becoming a young lady and I just hope she doesn't grow up too fast. I'll miss the times she wants to pretend. Usually it's princess or some sort of animal but it's always fun while it lasts.

This little one is a handful. And we are still wondering where her blue eyes and blonde hair came from. She is constantly into anything she can get her hands on. Very curious about everything but she is also very sweet; your heart just melts when she runs up and gives you a hug.

And of course where would our family be without "us". We've had 6 years together now, almost 7. I can't say it's been paradise the whole ride but I wouldn't change it for anything. 

Families are Forever

Walnut Canyon

On the same weekend we visited Montezuma's Well we also stopped by Walnut Canyon.  This is a Canyon carved out by water, and because of the water supply it became popular for the Hopi indians. They  built houses in the cliff walls of the canyons. It's beyond me why they would build a house in a wall, I mean talk about waking up on the wrong side of the bed. But it is definitely a neat and beautiful site. 

In this picture you can see the stairs that take you on the island trail on the right side of the picture.

Because of the time that we arrived at the park the island trail was closed. This trail leads down into the canyon where you can see up close some of the cliff dwellings. Some of them you can even walk into. 

So instead of being able to get up close and personal with the dwellings we walked the outer rim trail which took us up above the canyon so we were able to see the dwellings from up above.

There are dwellings all along these cliffs, keep looking for some closer shots.

Along the lighter colored rock you can see a gap in the cliff. This is one of the dwellings. How would you leave and get home every day if you lived here?

I wouldn't mind seeing the view every morning though.

In this picture you can see another one of the dwellings. And that rim of trees that connects the canyon is part of the island trail that we didn't get go on.

We were all a bit disappointed that we couldn't get closer to the dwellings. I guess it's motivation for us to  head out for an adventure again so we can see them.

Counting down the days

I know I said 2 weeks to go last week but there is actually 2 weeks now. I leave on Feb 6th, but the Performance Verification is on Wed and Thursday. Anyway, the days are counting down. With only a week I'm not so sure I'm ready yet, but I'm still pushing along with the problems. My biggest struggle is issuing traffic to aircraft BEFORE it needs to be issued. If I could get that down without having to think about it I think I will be ready.

 We're just about set with finding a house (with any luck we'll get a deposit on the rental next week before someone else takes it from under us). The only thing left to do is find a school for Iolana. It has served to be harder than I thought, especially since I am not able to visit the school myself. 

There is a montessori preschool and charter school there but they do not currently have any open slots. So we'll put in an application for both the kids and see what happens and in the mean time keep looking for something else that fits us. Poor Adam is stuck packing up the house, and doing a lot of the leg work with relocating, all the while going to work and watching the kids. He's holding on really well with all that he's responsible for right now. And I'm thankful to all the people who have helping in watching the kids for us during these 3 months.

And to not leave you empty handed, here's a few pictures of the apartment I ended up moving to back in December to have room for the family. This is Citadel Suites who does a lot of housing for the FAA Academy students. The internet connection is great and I haven't had any problems with anything really. 

The beds aren't too bad. A bit on the hard side but the pillows are nice a fluffy.

The fireplace is nice and there's enough space to keep you from going crazy! 

The kitchen is a decent size and you have a separate dinning room too.

2 weeks to GO!

So it hit hard on friday thinking that I only have 2 more weeks of Academy before we take the PV and hopefully am out of here. We started simulations on Monday and it didn't seem to bad. I haven't been as good as I think I should be but the instructors think it went ok. 

That was until Friday. Friday's simulation had 31 operations 16 arrivals, 8 departures and some vehicle crossings. It didn't' sound like it was going to be that hard to handle. But, little did we know there was this Seneca who was flying at MACH 80 around the traffic pattern. You enter him into the pattern, he does a touch and go, and before you can approve him for Closed Traffic he's halfway around the airport already! It was crazy. Needless to say things didn't go so well on Local Control on Friday. I had three runs at it and 2 of them were plain crappy! I did 200% better on the last run but even then I screwed up major twice and because of that I fell behind and was struggling to keep up with the aircraft at the end. I had an IFR arrival end up going around because I didn't clear him to land. It was awful. 

To top things off one of my classmates has a husband in academy too, and his PV - performance evaluation was on thursday. He FAILED it because he didn't catch an incorrect read back of a runway. This guy has been an ATC for 10 years (as a contractor)! And he failed his PV the first time around. That does not make me feel any more relaxed about the whole thing. All I got to say is that I better be on top of things by friday or I am in for some serious practicing! 

But worries aside I'm glad it's almost over. I've been missing the family since they left from the New years. Things have been pretty boring here since their departure. Everything is changing once again. New house, new job, new schools, new ward. At least there's one, Correction, two things that ALWAYS stay the same. The gospel is true no matter where you are and your family is always there to see you through the changes. I hold on to those things as my anchor and I can withstand anything that comes.

What I'm learning

Who knows what an Air Traffic Controller does? Raise your hands. What do you think of when someone talks about air traffic control. Well I'm gonna tell you a little of what I'm learning so I can do what those guys do. Within a 5 week period we learn the basics of air traffic controlling and then we get to apply our knowledge in the sims and the lab. (I'm sure everyone will be messing up quite a bit in the beginning.)

There are 5 "blocks" in the first basics class...the one I'm in now. Each block ends in a block test. So far we've taken 2 block tests. I think our 3rd on is at the end of this week. So far we've gone through regulations, the radar system, air traffic management and where they fit into the whole picture. We've gone over who does what in each facility; I've learned a bunch of acronyms or the FAA language. (The government sure does like to make up their own languages...NASA did it, and apparently FAA does it too.)

In This block we're learning about the differences in airspace classes, what the rules are for flying in each class, fundamentals of aerodynamics and wake turbulence and what causes it. Tomorrow we will continue our lesson on Basic Navigation. And when I say basic I mean basic. Who doesn't know what latitude and longitude lines are, where the equator is and what the Prime Meridian is? And really, how hard is it to calculate time, distance, and speed. 

s = d/t

This lesson is definitely boring for me, but then again, I am a rocket scientist as they keep pointing out in class. Sometimes I feel like I have to live up to being a rocket scientist even though I know as much about being a pilot as I do about bungee jumping! I've liked learning all I have though and I'm sure I'll love it once we get into the actual flight control part of the job. 

The good thing about this job is there is ALOT to expand upon. Three facilities to train in (if I choose to do so); Tower, TRACON, and the En-Route Centers, at least 4 positions in each facility (some have more than 4), Traffic Management (again if I choose to go that path). And of course each time I move to a higher rated facility (airport/area that increases in the amount of traffic per year) my pay increases. Anyway, until tomorrow, or the next time I decide to post. *smile*.

To find out more about ATC click on the title of this post.

FAA Academy

I thought I'd tell you a little bit about the FAA Academy since I'll be staying here for the next 3 months. The picture above is called the Staford Building. This is where I'll be for the second half of the stay. Inside are the simulators and labs where we'll put our money where our mouth is. Show the instructors that we can actually control traffic rather than just learn about it. 

These three pictures should actually be lined up in a row but I don't have the software installed to do that, and well, I didn't want to wait to post this till after I got the software. Building 14 is actually the Academy building. That's where most of the introduction classes and basic instruction classes are taught. My class is in the basement. The picture next to building 14 is building 25, they are actually connected. I don't do much of anything in building 25 but in order to get to the cafeteria in building 1 we have to cross through it. And that leaves the last picture which is the headquarters building has all of our admin offices in it. Other than what's pictured I don't venture off to too many other buildings. 

The cool thing about the FAA base is that there are tunnels between the buildings running underground. Most of them are conditioned. It definitely beats walking in the freezing cold and wind at 20 degrees. 

Ooh we also had another test on friday I passed with flying colors; got a 100%. We'll see if I can keep that up for another 4 weeks. I've been told that this is the easy class and it gets much harder when we get into the Staford building. All I can do is wait and see. 

Drum Roll Please

Yes, so results of my test I took earlier today... 

After 8 hours of lectures I found out that I got a 93% I missed two questions. Both of which I knew the answer if I had just slowed down a bit. But I try not to go too slow or fast cause then I start second guessing myself. So, I passed! Yea! Although if I were to miss any I would like to have missed 4 so that way I could have taken the test again. But a 93% is good.

This grade isn't actually a part of the overall class grade. The only test that counts is the comprehensive test at the end of the class. (about mid december) But the instructors have a goal of 90% or higher and you don't retake. On the final test you have to get a 70% or better (out of 100 questions) to pass.  One test down....4 more to go until the final!

Where I'm at

The wind really does come whistling down the plains. But I'm not sure about the waving wheat. I haven't seen any of that yet. 

The weather in OKC is almost constantly windy so I've been told. It's no wonder that this part of Tornado Alley. Other than the wind the weather has been real pleasant so far. 

Without a car there's not a whole lot that I've seen yet. But I am on the 3rd floor! So, it if wasnt for the bigger hotels right across the street from me I'd actually be able to see Kansas from here! Well, alright maybe only Texas but still! It is really really flat here. Nothing to hold the wind back at all so it just comes whooshing through!

Here are some pictures of the hotel and surrounding area where I'm staying.

Oklahoma City

I made it and survived the first week! It seems that most students that I've talked to had between 3weeks to 3 months to get the OKC. Me, I had 4 days, but, I did it and I'm still breathing. 

I'm living in an extended Stay sort of deal with a kitchen and fridge. I'm not sure I'd be the same person afterwards if I had to eat out 3 meals a day for 3 months. There's only so much restaurant food one can take before you go crazy (either that or you can 50 lbs). 

The week seemed to go by quickly, and from what I hear they only get quicker. I sit in class for 8 hours a day while we get lesson after lesson taught to us. We have gone through 6 lessons in the past week. After each lesson we take a test which is graded but does not count toward your grade. It's more or less a comprehension test for you. Then at the end of a block another test is giving. This one is more like a check point. You're given two chances to take the test. The goal is go get a 90 or higher but it's not required. 

I think there are 5 block tests and then at the end of the 5 week course we take THE TEST. This test you are required to get at least 70% before you can move on to the next class. I've been told there's a 95% rating for those who make it through to the next class. Which means that in our class there will probably be at least one person who doesn't make it through. If you don't make it through, I assume you pack up and head home, and hopefully you didn't quit your day job.

I'll post some pictures soon of my adventures through this journey. And I can't wait to see my family again. Luckily I get to see them over the holidays. Being away from everyone really does help me to see how much they mean. As the old saying goes, you don't know what you have till it's gone. 

Just a little Reminder

This week I had just a little reminder of all the blessings that are in my life. Monday night I got a call from a Young Lady in our ward who needed someone to watch her children while she went to work on Tuesday. I said I would do it. Bright and early Tuesday morning I picked up her children at her work (she has no car); 3 year old, 1.5 year old and 3 month old. Iolana loved having a playmate all day, so did Kaylin. 4pm rolls around and I head back to her work to hand over her kids. I waited outside for about 20 minutes before I called her work to find out what was going on. The manager tells me no one by that name works here.  I call Adam at home to have him give me the number from caller ID when she called Monday. All I found was a cricket message saying the phone was off. 

At this point I'm wondering if I'm going to be having a sleep for an indefinite about of time. I decide to get the kids out of the car and go inside to see for myself if Diane truly doesn't work there. As soon as the kids get out of the car the immediately recognize auntie across the way. I learn from Auntie that Diane is still working. So we camp out in the restaurant. 

To sum up the rest of the story she and her boyfriend and children live in a one bedroom trailer that they rent from a friend. There is no lease/contract/nothing; he just lets them stay there. 1/2 the rent was paid on time and the landlord wanted the other half now, so he camped out at Diane's work to get it. Only problem was, in giving him her check there was no money for food or medicine (baby has a respiratory problem). After a "talk with the landlord and cashing her check I dropped them off at the house and who should we find??? The landlord with 2 of his friends waiting outside her door. I was ready to turn back around, but I didn't want to leave her there alone with these guys. I ended up taking her kids to Auntie's house while she tried to find her boyfriend. With the kids at least safe I left the saga and made it back home. But the story doesn't end here.

We called up the elder's quorum president to get this family some help. A new apartment, new job, new boyfriend would all be nice, but, they at least needed some food and medicine. If nothing else, this experience reminds me that there are those who have it so much worse than I do and because of that I must give of what I have when it is needed. Not when I think it's convenient to give, but when someone else is in need. 

So, make it a point to give something of yourself everyday that you may be blessed!

New Piano

This week has been something else! It seems we picked the week to do everything that's been on our to-do list this week. About a month ago Adam handed me a box of tools and said, "Sell these on ebay, they are tools that I don't need/use anymore". I just got around to putting them on ebay Saturday night. 

I haven't heard anything from the FAA yet, but if/when we do, I wasn't going to take our piano with us. It's just too much to move around so often. So, I posted it on craigslist and with

in 1.5 hours I got a call about it. Then about an hour after that I got another call. The first guy came to see the piano that night with his family (nice family too) and he took it. Yipee! This piano has been around a while, and around the globe. I remember using

 this piano to practice when I wasn't even a teenager yet. I will miss it. 

However, I had to sell the piano and Adam's tools so we would have enough money to get me a digital piano! It's a Yamaha CLP-230. 

We picked it up on Wednesday. I wanted a CLP-240 (at least) and that's what I thought I was getting. But, Miss I-don't-pay-attention-to-details (except at work apparently) didn't notice the actual model number on the piano. Adam had mentioned it talking about the polish but it went right over my head. Needless to say I was a  little bummed to think I was getting a CLP-240 and find out (after we already gave the guy cash and were on our way home with the piano) I got a 230. Even so it's a nice piano. A little low on oomph in the speaker department but sounds great with headphones. I'll still be on the look out for the piano I'd like to have and when I find it I'm sure we can sell this one for at least what we paid for it,  perhaps a little more!

Octoberfest!

Happy to be at Octoberfest.

Saturday in between conferences we went to the Tempe Octoberfest. The Tempe Sister City program put it on with a ton of sponsers. Admission is free but not much else! In any case we went yesterday and both kids had a blast. We were there for about 3 hours and I didn't hear any whining the entire time! I was very impressed. It was overcast and there was a nice breeze that cooled you off. As we got there I was thinking to myself, of course the day I thought the girls could play in the water is the day that it's really too cold for them too! I thought it was a marvelous day none the less.





There were quite a few things at Octoberfest, a lot of raffles and drawings for free stuff. There were carnival rides (and food), some blow up bounce rings, a riding bull, rock wall (which I never did seem to find) and carnival games. However, instead of paying an outrageous $2.oo for one slide down the blow up slide, we took our chances with the free activities.





Since Oct 1st when I got out the Halloween decorations Iolana has been wanting to have her face painted like a clown. Saturday, she got her chance. Marshmallow was a face painting clown who was more than happy to paint her face up like a clown. She was so excited, she didn't want to wash it off when it was time for bed.







Kaylin loved the bubbles and the trees. I'm not really sure how to explain what it was. There were nerf balls and baskets and flat trees with holes cut in them to put the balls. Both girls had a great time gathering the balls and putting them in the holes, then pushing the balls out of the holes, and starting the process all over again. If only I could be that easily entertained.




Iolana also liked the Lego station where she could build anything she wanted and then they put it on display for everyone to see. Then, they would pick the best models at the end of the day and the winners model will be placed in the Lego store for everyone to see. The only way you'll find out if you're model won is to visit the store (I see the trickery involved, you can't fool this mama).

And of course we had funnel cake before we left, oh and Iolana and Kaylin got to ride the Ferris wheel. Kaylin didn't want to get off and Iolana said she wasn't scared after she got off! Both kids were out before we got home which allowed us a little time to watch the rest of conference without the noise of kids! I mean how does anyone expect parents to get a whole lot out of conference when you're busy trying to keep them quite! I'm sure the day will come, I'm just not sure when. :)

A Light at the End of the Tunnel

It had finally happened! Earlier this week the FAA sent me a tentative offer letter! I am to report to the Prescott Airport (of all places) for "duty". I'm excited to know that I'm still in the running. If all goes well and I pass all the tests and make it through training academy I'll be controlling the airways of Prescott. I'll get to go back to where my life without parents began...college. It's really a nice place, but I'm sure it'll have a totally different feel to it now that I won't be bound to my room, or the library. or computer lab, or the engineering lab, or...well you get the idea. So with any luck you'll be seeing another update from me in a month saying I'm off to academy in Oklahoma City. Anyone know of someone who lives there? I'll need a place to say for about 2 months!

We'll actually get decent health care that doesn't cost as much as Antarctica, and perhaps we'll make enough for Adam to get a TV that won't die after a few months.

On a More Positive Note

Today in class we had a great lesson by the Relief Society President on Gratitude. It was noted that the first step in changing your thinking patterns toward being positive is to have a grateful heart. Instead of looking at your life and seeing what you don't have (or in other words the cup is half empty), you need to look and see all the things and blessings that you do have (the cup is half full). There were wonderful stories shared both personal ones and ones from previous talks. And I was thinking about how easy it is to find the bad or wrong things that are around. After all that was my job while I was working at NASA; to look for the holes in someones theory/plan, or find the mistakes (if any) in a document. I was always looking for the things that could go wrong and fixing them.

Unfortunately my work ending up affecting the rest of my relationships as well and I found myself pointing out the things my dear husband did wrong, or the bad habits he has. I seldom said I was grateful for much of anything. We had our "discussions" about this but change was difficult. Perhaps in one way, this is break I've been able to have from working was an answer to his prayers. Being able to stay home this past year and a half I've been able to slow down my pace a bit; stop and smell the roses as they say. I've been able to shift my focus from trying to find the wrong, to finding the good. I'm still not 100% but I'm definitely getting better than I was, and I do feel I'm a happier person for it.

Our relief society pres gave us an assignment to list out 5 things a day that we are grateful for. We are to record these things in a small flip book that she handed out to everyone and we'll see if after some time we are not a happier people. I urge you to have a go at this assignment too!

Frustration

I've been feeling frustrated as of late. Especially with Blogger! I've been working on some new backgrounds (just yesterday and today anyway) but, I can't upload them to Picasa or blogger and use the full size image. It'll only let me link to the "large" file size which is roughly 800 x 600 pixels. But I need a bigger image than that if I'm going to use it as my background. GRR, frustration. I will have to find some other means to link to the image before you guys can see it. Until then sorry for the black hole look...

Where are You From?

I've had this blog for a while now and like everyone else out there I really don't know who looks at it. So...I have finally added a quaint map to do the work for me. And I'll be able to ask the age old question, "Am I popular?!" I believe I already know the answer to this question but I'll let technology do the work for me.

Is everyone ready for school to start? Here it starts next week!! Can you believe that?? It starts early every year, I say they should just get it over with and go to year round school. It's definitely heading in that direction anyway. I am now at the point of trying to figure out where Iolana will be going to school next year. There's a slight problem though. I don't even know where we're going to be next year. What is with the FAA? Yes I've heard it before...."It's the government". But come on, I submitted my application in February! When they decide to let me know where I'm going to be stationed, we can figure out where Iolana will be going to school. Lord, please give me patience to get through this anticipation.

Apples and Tomatoes?

One might mistake a slicing tomato for an apple from a distance. But make no mistake, this is a tomato that she's eating and a big'un to boot! She has ventured into limes and lemons as well, but no where near a much as Iolana. And notice the necklace. She insisted on wearing it. I might end up having two little princesses at home. The Lord does work in mysterious ways, perhaps this is the way He is pushing me to become more feminine.

Catch Up

Playing catch up tonight as you can see. I've been hearing about everyone's summer vacations which have been really great so far! I don't have a whole lot to tell you about ours except we've been swimming at least once a day and I'm starting to think I'm a fish! Iolana has been in swimming lessons and is doing great! When we started out the summer she would barely stick her nose in the water, let alone where whole head! Now she's jumping into the water without any floaters and will swim (doggie paddle mainly) to the side. She has even jumped off our friends diving board! I'm very amazed at how fast she has decided to learn to swim.

Kaylin is doing well in the water too. While Iolana swims in her class we participate in a child parent class. Kaylin will hold her breath while we go under the water, she'll blow bubbles, splash, kick, and she likes to walk off the edge and have me catch her (as soon as she learns how to jump it's on!).

I might finally have a job here soon with the FAA. I've taken my interview and now I have to wait yet again. We're hoping this leg of the process won't take as long but there's no telling with the government (no offense Jed). Other than the FAA I haven't heard back from the other folks I've applied to but I'm not giving up that easily. In reality I don't really have to work, but, if I want to be rid of my school loans within my lifetime, I'd better get a job. Of course I'd rather have one that I will enjoy, so we'll see where these leads get me. Otherwise, I may end up somewhere just to "pay the bills" for a little while. At this point we are just trusting that the Lord guides me into the right job/path. And when I get a job, that will alleviate some of the stress on Adam. He has been a real trooper working tons of overtime and not getting much of a break let a lone sleep to keep him going! How can you not love a man who puts his family's needs above his own.

Time To Get Pretty

Iolana has always been into make-up. I'm really not sure where she learned about make-up since she sees me put on make-up about as often as you see a man wear a dress! But she knows about make-up none the less and LOVES to put it on. She knows where my bag of goodies hides and is constantly asking me if she can wear my make-up.

(You see, she got her make-up taken away when we found nail polish and blush/eye shadow on the carpet!!)

Make-up is now something that we only do on special occasions (or when Iolana asks really nicely and she's been a good girl). This time Iolana gave Mom the make over. She didn't do too bad.

Sometimes I wonder

Did you ever have an idea that you thought was a good one, but turns out that while executing your idea you decided that it wasn't such a good idea and what they heck were you thinking??!!!

I had one of those moments this last week. Iolana has a dolphin wind up statue. The top section is broken as you can see, so I thought I would fix it with super glue. Good idea right?? .... Bad idea.

The super glue ran down the side and as I pushed the top section down I was actually gluing my finger as well. I tried to get it off but it was stuck. I had to resort to scissors to cut my way through. Luckily I didn't have to cut much of the rubber/foam, or my skin, to get free. I didn't get a picture of my finger stuck but you can see where my finger was stuck. Sometimes I wonder how much of my senses I am loosing now that I'm home all day with my kids! :)