National Museum of the United States Air Force

One of Wright-Patterson's claims to fame is the National Museum of the United States Air Force.  This is something Brydon had visited often when his family lived in Ohio and has always been a favorite.  He would often talk about this museum and how cool it was.  Of course, for many years Brydon wanted to be a pilot and was obsessed with airplanes, so this museum was perfect when he was in high school.  He is actually so devoted to this museum that when we visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, he could only think about how this museum was better.  We went twice because it is literally so huge.  This museum is 3 giant hangars and has an outdoor exhibit that we did not get a chance to see.  It was amazing and I learned more about planes and Air Force history then I ever knew existed.  The Air Force does have an interesting history and it has be really neat to learn about it.  I couldn't believe the size of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in WWII or how huge some of our missiles are (check out both in the pictures below) .  Caleb loved this place and is becoming as obsessed with airplanes as his father was/is.  Caleb's room is now decorated with fighter jets just like Dad's office.  I most definitely could do worse than 2 boys who love to look at cool airplanes!

My Teacher Heart is so Proud

We have been working for sometime with Caleb on learning letters, sounds, and writing his name at his own pace.  Just all those fun things to get ready for school and to learn how to read.  My son is a huge perfectionist and doesn't like to try anything until he can master it.  So reading and writing has been interesting.  Well yesterday, I finally pulled out the beginner reader books I have been saving and we did a guided reading lesson.  It was so fun to have dad come home and have Caleb read him stories for the first time.  He did get a little flustered on the last book but was able to work through it.  He loves holding a real book in his hands and reading it.   It is so fun to watch your own child learn and grow.  He is only 4 years old and I am excited to see him feel proud to be a reader. 

We also have been working on telling time a little bit so Caleb is showing Daddy what he knows about time so far. 

Pool Accomplishments!

Today was a big day for Caleb.  During swimming lessons he decided to finally try going down the water slide for the first time, and he loved it!  So when we went from our evening family swim, he really wanted to go down the slide again.  But during open swim there are rules about the slide, and in order to slide you must swim the entire width of the pool on your own without touching the bottom.  So Caleb decided to try this.  He failed the first time and tried again and failed.  This really upset him and so we had a moment of anger filled with "This is not fair, why do they ask so much, this is too hard.....etc."  We gave him a hug and told him not to worry about it.  He didn't have to pass the test today.  Well he played for a few minutes on his own and then suddenly came and touched the side wall and starting swimming.  He swam and swam with of course his dorky parents cheering him on and and jumping up and down beside him.......AND HE MADE IT!!!  So he got to go down the water slide all by himself.  It was so much fun!  I love being a mom and moments like that just make it so worth it.

Here are some fun videos of some of the cool things Caleb is doing in the pool now that two weeks ago he wouldn't even consider doing.  Technology is wonderful and allows you to show off to the grandparents! 

The Columbus Zoo

We really like to visit zoos.  We have been lucky to visit zoos in Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas.  We have also been to the First Zoo in the Nation, the National Zoo, and have now visited the Best Zoo in the Nation.  The Columbus Zoo was recently declared the best zoo, surpassing the San Diego Zoo.  It really is a magnificent zoo and we had a great day visiting!  It is huge and I wish we had had more time to see everything it had to offer.  Our favorite exhibits were the Manatee's and of course the Bears.

Ohio Trip

The trip to Ohio was so different from the trip to Utah. We got to drive through the heart of America, which I had never seen before.  It was a wonderful trip, full of many new experiences.

Check out this cool McDonald's at a rest area in Missouri.  It is in an over pass over the interstate.  And of course catching a glimpse of the St. Louis Arch.  It was so cool to see.  (No worries, Caleb took the picture for me as we were driving.)

The best moment was of course getting to see daddy after 9 weeks of being apart.

Eating ice cream at Young's Jersey Dairy was a big highlight.  I had heard so many great stories about this place our entire marriage and it was so fun to finally get to go.  The ice cream was amazing!!

Visiting the Columbus Zoo and The Air Force Museum.

Caleb got to go to his first Carnival.  A small carnival was set up just outside the base and we were able to go visit while Daddy was doing some studying.  Caleb loved the rides and met a cute little friend.  It was freezing cold though, especially since we had been so used to the warm Texas spring.

We got to meet all of daddy's friends and coworkers that he spent ten weeks with and see where he went to school everyday.  The place was dreadful.  It was an old building they were using temporarily and so the custodians didn't clean anything and there were no windows at all.  It was a long 10 weeks.

This was the view we had during the drive home.  A completely opposite scene from the trip through New Mexico.  It was so beautiful and made you just want to go roll in the grass.

Then and Now

While we were at Temple Square, Caleb remembered some pictures we had taken of him when he was a baby. He really wanted to take pictures in the same place and in the same way. We didn't get it quite exactly the same, but they were close. It is cute to see the difference. He is no longer my baby anymore!!! What a big, handsome boy!

Utah Trip

Here are some of the pictures from our Utah trip.

We saw this just as we crossed the border of Utah.  We thought it looked like a giant ice cream scope with whipped cream and a cherry on top!  The things we do to entertain ourselves.

It was really exciting to learn some of my birth father's family genealogy as I was able to get information from my grandparents head stone.  Although I never felt like I had to search for my birth father or that there was a hole that needed to filled, I have been so grateful to connect with that part of myself.  I really feel it just adds more richness to my life and doesn't detract from the great family I grew up with. 

Caleb got to go roller skating for the first time with Uncle Michael, Kohl and Max.  We had so much fun.  Caleb loves Kohl and Max and talks about them almost everyday.  They are his best "brothers"/cousins and he is wants to see them again so badly.  It was great to spend so much time with them. 

I got spend a day with one of Brydon's cousins and his wife and son.  I sure wish we lived closer to them.  It was nice to finally meet his amazing wife and we had a great time chatting and visiting Temple Square.  I love Temple Square!  It was fun to capture this picture of our two boys.  Right now they are the only Manning boy great-grandchildren and so here is the future of the Manning name so far.  I think it is looking pretty cute and bright right now!

Yep this is BYU's campus.  I had to take Caleb to see where mommy went to school.  We got to walk through a small portion of the campus and the Museum of Art.  Caleb thought it was a beautiful school (which it is) and now tells us that he will be going to college at the pretty school mommy went to!  So right now BYU is winning ;)

I really found New Mexico to be so different than anything I had ever seen before.  You would often drive for quite a ways seeing nothing and then you would find this random house in the middle of no where.  I never saw a yard with grass, they all had dirt yards.  I always believed Wyoming was barren but I think New Mexico gives it a run for its money. 

Our view for most of the drive through New Mexico and Texas.  There is something beautiful about the clear blue sky and endless prairie.  We sure are lucky to live in such a beautiful and diverse country.